Designed by Paul Smith 2006. This website is copyrighted by law.
Material contained herewith may not be used without the prior written permission of FAUNA Paraguay.
Photographs on this web-site were taken by Paul Smith, Hemme Batjes, Regis Nossent,
Alberto Esquivel, Arne Lesterhuis, José Luis Cartes, Rebecca Zarza and Hugo del Castillo and are used with their permission.
SUBORDER CRYPTODIRA
Two Paraguayan families represent this suborder. Cryptodirans have well-articulated cervicals, typically with double articulating surfaces. The neck is retractile in S-shaped loops. Quadrates are separated from the basisphenoid by basipterygoids. Lachrymals absent and nasals present only rarely. No mesoplastra. Pelvis not attached to the plastron and attached only to the sacral ribs. Contains aquatic, semi-aquatic and terrestrial species.
REFERENCES
Fouquette MJ (unpublished) - Synopsis of Recent Reptiles to Genus - Arizona University
Whitfield P Ed.1984 - Longman Illustrated Animal Encyclopedia - Guild Publishing, London.
