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 PLEURODIRA
A single Paraguayan family represents this suborder. It is characterised by a bony carapace with horny epidermal scutes. Neurals are reduced in number and lacking in some species. There are 11 plastron bones including the mesoplastron and and an intergular scute is present. The plastron is attached by suture and the pelvis is attached to the plastron by suture. Lachrymal absent. Quadrate contacts with the basisphenoid. Cervical vertebrae have broad transverse processes, the more posterior one with high neural spines. Centra are all single. The head retracts by 1 to 3 lateral loops and the toes are webbed. The neck is often as long as the plastron.
REFERENCES
Fouquette MJ (unpublished) - Synopsis of Recent Reptiles to Genus - Arizona University
Whitfield P Ed.1984 - Longman Illustrated Animal Encyclopedia - Guild Publishing, London.
