INFRAORDER CHELONIOIDEA
SUPERFAMILY TESTUDINOIDEA
FAMILY TESTUDINIDAE - TORTOISES
The family Testudinidae is the sole representative of the Superfamily Testudinoidea in Paraguay. There are two Paraguayan species in this family both classified in the same genus Chelonoidis. Tortoises are terrestrial Testudines found in dry, arid habitats where they are herbivorous.
Testudinids have a non-cruciform plastron united to the carapace by a suture to a broad bony bridge. There are 23 to 25 marginal scutes and no inframarginals. There are 9 bones in the plastron and an entoplastron is present. The temporal region is widely emarginate and the postorbital small. The legs are robust and there are no more than two phalanges per digit. There are several distinct sutures on the top of the head.
Key to Adults of Paraguayan Tortoises
1a Carapace mostly yellow with black outer edges to the dorsal plates. Head black. Legs lacking red spots........................................................................................................................................... Chelonoidis petersi
1b Carapace mostly black with large, square yellow spot on each dorsal plate. Head extensively yellow on dorsal surface. Legs spotted with red.............................................................................................. Chelonoidis carbonaria
REFERENCES
Fouquette MJ (unpublished) - Synopsis of Recent Reptiles to Genus - Arizona University
Whitfield P Ed.1984 - Longman Illustrated Animal Encyclopedia - Guild Publishing, London.
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