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Global diversity of turtles (Chelonii; Reptilia) in freshwater

  • FRESHWATER ANIMAL DIVERSITY ASSESSMENT
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Abstract

The turtles are an evolutionary ancient group of tetrapod vertebrates, and their present-day distribution and diversity reflects the long and complex history of the taxon. Today, about 250 of the total of 320 species recognized are freshwater turtles; most of these inhabit tropical and subtropical zones. Diversity hotspots occur in Southeast North America, regarding Emydidae, and in the Indo-Malayan region, mostly Geoemydidae and Trionychidae. Chelidae are predominantly Neotropical and Australasian, while Pelomedusidae are African. The majority of genus- and species-level taxa are regional or even local endemics. A majority of freshwater turtles are threatened in varying degrees, mostly by habitat modification and collection.

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Acknowledgements

I thank Estelle Balian for her patience and support, and Peter Paul van Dijk for his fruitful comments as reviewer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Reptiles et Amphibiens, Systématique et Evolution, Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle, 25 rue Cuvier, Paris, 75231, France

    Roger Bour

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  1. Roger Bour
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Correspondence to Roger Bour.

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Guest editors: E. V. Balian, C. Lévêque, H. Segers & K. Martens

Freshwater Animal Diversity Assessment

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Bour, R. Global diversity of turtles (Chelonii; Reptilia) in freshwater. Hydrobiologia 595, 593–598 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-007-9244-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10750-007-9244-5

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