Clemmys

Summary

Clemmys is a genus of turtles currently containing a single extant species, the spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata).

Clemmys
Spotted turtle (Clemmys guttata)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Superfamily: Testudinoidea
Family: Emydidae
Subfamily: Emydinae
Genus: Clemmys
Ritgen, 1828
Species

See text

Taxonomy edit

In the past, several other species were included in the genus, including a number of fossil species. DNA analysis has restricted the genus to containing only the spotted turtle.[1][2] Fossil species are now restricted to the Neogene of North America as far back as the Miocene.[3]

Extant species formerly in Clemmys

Fossil species

  • Clemmys hesperia Hay, 1903 - Pliocene
  • Clemmys owyheensis Brattstrom & Sturn, 1959 - Miocene (Hemphillian)

References edit

  1. ^ Feldman, C.R. and J.F. Parham. (2002). Molecular phylogenetics of Emydine turtles: taxonomic revision and the evolution of shell kinesis. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution 22:388-398.
  2. ^ Spinks, P.Q. and H.B. Shaffer. (2009). Conflicting Mitochondrial and Nuclear Phylogenies for the Widely Disjunct Emys (Testudines: Emydidae) Species Complex, and What They Tell Us about Biogeography and Hybridization. Systematic Biology 58(1):1-20.
  3. ^ Holman, J.A.; Fritz, U. (2001). "A new emydine species from the Medial Miocene (Barstovian) of Nebraska, USA with a new generic arrangement for the species of Clemmys sensu McDowell (1964) (Reptilia: Testudines: Emydidae)". Vertebrate Zoology. 51 (19): 331–353.