Animalia
Chordata
Reptilia - This includes snakes, lizards, crocodiles, and turtles. Reptiles are cold-blooded vertebrates that have scaly skin. Most reptiles lay eggs.
Testudines - This includes all turtles and tortoises. There are three suborders:
| Suborder | Description |
|---|---|
| Pleurodira | Side-necked Turtles |
| Cryptodira | Includes all other living species of turtles and tortoises |
| Amphichelydia | Includes all extinct species |
Cryptodira - Sea Turtles are part of the Cryptodira suborder. It includes freshwater turtles, tortoises, snapping turtles, sea turtles, and soft-shelled turtles.
Cheloniidae or Dermochelyidae - Sea Turtles are part of two families.
Family Cheloniidae - Sea Turltes that have shells covered with scutes (horny plates).
Family Dermochelyidae - Only includes one species, Leatherback Sea Turtle. It does not have
a shell with scutes, instead it has skin like leather.
| Common Name | Genus | Species | Endangered Species Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loggerhead Sea Turtle | Caretta | caretta | Threatened |
| Green Sea Turtle | Chelonia | mydas | Endangered/Threatened |
| Leatherback Sea Turtle | Dermochelys | coriacea | Endangered |
| Hawksbill Sea Turtle | Eretmochelys | imbricata | Endangered |
| Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle | Lepidochelys | kempii | Endangered |
| Olive Ridley Sea Turtle | Lepidochelys | olivacea | Endangered/Threatened |
| Flatback Sea Turtle | Natator | depressa | Not on the list |
According to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Endangered status means a species is considered in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range; threatened means it is likely to become endangered.If you want to read more about the different Sea Turtle Species, visit my Sea Turtle Species Page.
Do you want to watch a Sea Turtle Swim? Click Here. This movie can be found at the naturescapes website, which was developed by Annette Lamb and Larry Johnson.
Link back to the Sea Turtle Home Page.
Link back to my Home Page.
The photographs and movie on this page can be found at naturescapes, which was developed by Annette Lamb and Larry Johnson. See their Sea Turtle Photographs.
Sea Tutrle Movie:
Lamb, A. and Johnson, L. (2004). http://tipt3.utoledo.edu/starters/turtle/seaturtle.mov. Naturescapes Starters. http://tipt3.utoledo.edu/starters
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