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.
INFRAORDER TRIONICHOIDEA
SUPERFAMILY KINOSTERNOIDEA
FAMILY KINOSTERNIDAE - MUD TURTLES
The family Kinosternidae is the sole representative of the Superfamily Kinosternoidea in Paraguay. There is a single Paraguayan species. Mud Turtles are semi-aquatic.
Mud turtles have dermal papillae on the chin. The plastron is attached to the carapace by a suture or ligament. There are 23 marginal scutes. Inframarginal scutes are present but do not always separate the pectorals from the marginals. The entoplastron is present in some species, absent in others and there are 8 or 9 bones in the plastron. The nuchal bones have more or less well-developed lateral extensions. Temporal region moderately emarginate. Tail short.
REFERENCES
Fouquette MJ (unpublished) - Synopsis of Recent Reptiles to Genus - Arizona University
Whitfield P Ed.1984 - Longman Illustrated Animal Encyclopedia - Guild Publishing, London.
