| Basic info | Taxonomic history | Classification | Included Taxa |
| Morphology | Ecology and taphonomy | External Literature Search | Age range and collections |
Chelidae
Taxonomy
Chelidae was named by Gray (1825). It is extant. Its type is Chelus.
It was reranked as the unranked clade Chelidae by Maniel and de la Fuente (2016).
It was assigned to Eupleurodira by de la Fuente and Iturralde-Vinent (2001); to Cheloides by Gaffney et al. (2006); to Pleurodira by Gaffney (1975), Apesteguía et al. (2012); to Panchelidae by Maniel and de la Fuente (2016); to Testudines by Frank and Ramus (1996), Shea et al. (2020); to Pleurodira by Kuhn (1966), de Broin (1987), Carroll (1988), Lapparent de Broin and Molnar (2001), de la Fuente and Bona (2002), Martinelli and Forasiepi (2004), Joyce et al. (2004), Previtera and González Riga (2008), van Dijk et al. (2014), Gasparini et al. (2015), Silva Lacerda et al. (2020); and to Pleurodira by Thomson and Georges (2009), Oriozabala et al. (2020), Maniel et al. (2022), Moyano-Paz et al. (2022), Agnolín et al. (2023), Oriozabala et al. (2025).
It was reranked as the unranked clade Chelidae by Maniel and de la Fuente (2016).
It was assigned to Eupleurodira by de la Fuente and Iturralde-Vinent (2001); to Cheloides by Gaffney et al. (2006); to Pleurodira by Gaffney (1975), Apesteguía et al. (2012); to Panchelidae by Maniel and de la Fuente (2016); to Testudines by Frank and Ramus (1996), Shea et al. (2020); to Pleurodira by Kuhn (1966), de Broin (1987), Carroll (1988), Lapparent de Broin and Molnar (2001), de la Fuente and Bona (2002), Martinelli and Forasiepi (2004), Joyce et al. (2004), Previtera and González Riga (2008), van Dijk et al. (2014), Gasparini et al. (2015), Silva Lacerda et al. (2020); and to Pleurodira by Thomson and Georges (2009), Oriozabala et al. (2020), Maniel et al. (2022), Moyano-Paz et al. (2022), Agnolín et al. (2023), Oriozabala et al. (2025).
Subtaxa
Acanthochelys, Australochelida, Baalemys, Birlimarr, Calvarichelys, Chelinae, Chelodininae, Chelus (type genus), Chelymys antiqua, Chelymys arata, Elseya (syn. Pelecomastes), Emydura, Hydraspis, Hydraspis arenarius, Hydromedusa, Hydromedusinae, Mendozachelys, Myuchelys, Naiadochelys patagonica, Pelecomastes ampla, Phrynops (syn. Parahydraspis), Platemys, Platemys bergii, Platemys entreriana, Platemys holmbergii, Platemys mesopotamica, Platemys robusta, Platemys torrentium, Prochelidella, Pseudemydura, Rheodytes, Rionegrochelys, Trionyx argentina, Yaminuechelys
Synonyms
|
Synonymy list
| Year | Name and author |
|---|---|
| 1825 | Chelidae Gray |
| 1829 | Najadochelys patagonica Staesche |
| 1868 | Hydraspididae Cope |
| 1869 | Chelydidae Gray pp. 613 |
| 1871 | Chelydidae Cope p. 236 |
| 1871 | Hydraspididae Cope p. 236 |
| 1875 | Chelydidae Cope p. 17 |
| 1875 | Hydraspididae Cope p. 17 |
| 1885 | Platemys torrentium Burmeister |
| 1889 | Trionyx argentina Ameghino |
| 1893 | Platemys bergii Ambrosetti |
| 1893 | Platemys entreriana Ambrosetti |
| 1893 | Platemys holmbergii Ambrosetti |
| 1893 | Platemys mesopotamica Ambrosetti |
| 1893 | Platemys robusta Ambrosetti |
| 1897 | Chelymys antiqua De Vis |
| 1897 | Chelymys arata De Vis |
| 1897 | Pelecomastes ampla De Vis |
| 1898 | Chelydidae Gadow p. 21 |
| 1911 | Chelyidae Jaekel p. 186 |
| 1928 | Chelydidae Perrier p. 3115 |
| 1929 | Naiadochelys patagonica Staesche |
| 1934 | Chelydidae Rusconi p. 32 |
| 1934 | Hydraspis arenarius Rusconi p. 32 figs. Fig. 6 |
| 1946 | Chelydae Kuhn p. 58 |
| 1953 | Chelyidae Stirton p. 613 |
| 1966 | Chelidae Kuhn p. 31 |
| 1975 | Chelidae Gaffney p. 429 |
| 1987 | Chelidae de Broin p. 134 |
| 1988 | Chelidae Carroll |
| 1996 | Chelidae Frank and Ramus |
| 2001 | Chelidae Lapparent de Broin and Molnar |
| 2001 | Chelidae de la Fuente and Iturralde-Vinent |
| 2002 | Chelidae de la Fuente and Bona p. 78 |
| 2004 | Chelidae Joyce et al. |
| 2004 | Chelidae Martinelli and Forasiepi p. 260 |
| 2006 | Chelidae Gaffney et al. p. 33 |
| 2008 | Chelidae Previtera and González Riga |
| 2009 | Chelidae Thomson and Georges |
| 2012 | Chelidae Apesteguía et al. |
| 2014 | Chelidae van Dijk et al. |
| 2015 | Chelidae Gasparini et al. |
| 2016 | Chelidae Maniel and de la Fuente |
| 2020 | Chelidae Oriozabala et al. p. 3 |
| 2020 | Chelidae Shea et al. p. 429 |
| 2020 | Chelidae Silva Lacerda et al. |
| 2022 | Chelidae Maniel et al. |
| 2022 | Chelidae Moyano-Paz et al. p. 17 |
| 2023 | Chelidae Agnolín et al. |
| 2025 | Chelidae Oriozabala et al. p. 4 |
Is something missing? Join the Paleobiology Database and enter the data
|
|
If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.
Fm. Chelidae Gray 1825
show all | hide all
G. Acanthochelys Gray 1873
+
†Acanthochelys cosquinensis de la Fuente 1992
Acanthochelys macrocephala Rhodin et al. 1984 [Pantanal swamp turtle]
Acanthochelys pallidipectoris Freiberg 1945 [Chaco sideneck turtle]
Acanthochelys radiolata Mikan 1820 [Radiolated Brazilian swamp turtle]
Acanthochelys spixii Duméril and Bibron 1837 [black spine-neck swamp turtle]
Unr. †Australochelida Joyce 2021
+
Subfm. Chelinae Gray 1825
+
G. Mesoclemmys Gray 1873
+
Mesoclemmys dahli Zangerl and Medem 1958
Mesoclemmys gibba Schweigger 1812 [Gibba turtle]
Mesoclemmys heliostemma McCord et al. 2001 [Yellow-crowned toad-headed turtle]
Mesoclemmys hogei Mertens 1967 [Hoge's side-necked turtle]
Mesoclemmys nasuta Schweigger 1812 [Guyanan toad-headed turtle]
+
Invalid names: Batrachemys nasuta Schweigger 1812 [synonym]
Mesoclemmys perplexa Bour and Zaher 2005 [Cerrado side-necked turtle]
Mesoclemmys raniceps Gray 1856 [Amazon toad-headed turtle]
+
Invalid names: Batrachemys raniceps Gray 1856 [synonym]
Mesoclemmys tuberculata Luederwaldt 1926 [Tuberculate toad-headed turtle]
Mesoclemmys vanderhaegei Bour 1973 [Vanderhaege's toad-headed turtle]
†Mesoclemmys vanegasorum Cadena et al. 2020
Mesoclemmys zuliae Pritchard and Trebbau 1984 [Zulia toad-headed turtle]
Invalid names: Batrachemys Stejneger 1909 [synonym], Bufocephala McCord et al. 2001 [synonym], Ranacephala McCord et al. 2001 [synonym]
Subfm. Chelodininae Baur 1893
+
G. Chelodina Fitzinger 1826
+
Subg. Chelodina (Chelodina) Fitzinger 1826
+
Chelodina (Chelodina) canni McCord and Thompson 2002 [Canns snake-necked turtle]
Chelodina (Chelodina) gunaleni McCord and Joseph-Ouni 2007 [Gunalens snake-necked turtle]
Chelodina (Chelodina) longicollis Shaw 1802 [Eastern snake-necked turtle]
Chelodina (Chelodina) mccordi Rhodin 1994 [McCord's snakeneck turtle]
†Chelodina (Chelodina) murrayi Yates 2013
Chelodina (Chelodina) novaeguineae Boulenger 1888 [New Guinea snakeneck turtle]
Chelodina (Chelodina) pritchardi Rhodin 1994 [Pritchard's snakeneck turtle]
Chelodina (Chelodina) reimanni Philippen and Grossmann 1990 [Reimann's snakeneck turtle]
Chelodina (Chelodina) steindachneri Siebenrock 1914 [Steindachner's snakeneck turtle]
Subg. Chelodina (Chelydera) Shea et al. 2020
+
†Chelodina (Chelydera) alanrixi Lapparent de Broin and Molnar 2001
Chelodina (Chelydera) expansa Gray 1857 [Giant snakeneck turtle]
†Chelodina (Chelydera) insculpta De Vis 1897
Chelodina (Chelydera) parkeri Rhodin and Mittermeter 1976 [Parker's snakeneck turtle]
Chelodina (Chelydera) rugosa Ogilby 1890 [Northern Australian snakeneck turtle]
+
Invalid names: Chelodina siebenrocki Werner 1901 [synonym]
Subg. Chelodina (Macrochelodina) Wells and Wellington 1985
+
Chelodina (Macrochelodina) burrungandjii Thomson et al. 2000 [Arnhem snake-necked turtle]
Chelodina (Macrochelodina) expansa Gray 1857 [Broad-shelled snake-necked turtle]
Chelodina (Macrochelodina) kuchlingi Cann 1997 [Kuchlings snake-necked turtle]
Chelodina (Macrochelodina) oblonga Gray 1841 [Narrow-breasted snakeneck turtle]
Chelodina (Macrochelodina) parkeri Rhodin and Mittermeier 1976 [Parkers snake-necked turtle]
Chelodina (Macrochelodina) walloyarrina McCord and Joseph-Ouni 2007 [Kimberley snake-necked turtle]
Invalid names: Chelodina (Macrodiremys) McCord and Joseph-Ouni 2007 [objective synonym]
Chelodina longicollis Shaw 1802 [Eastern snake-necked turtle]
Chelodina mccordi Rhodin 1994 [McCord's snakeneck turtle]
Chelodina novaeguineae Boulenger 1888 [New Guinea snakeneck turtle]
Chelodina pritchardi Rhodin 1994 [Pritchard's snakeneck turtle]
Chelodina reimanni Philippen and Grossmann 1990 [Reimann's snakeneck turtle]
Chelodina steindachneri Siebenrock 1914 [Steindachner's snakeneck turtle]
G. Flaviemys Le et al. 2013 [Manning River sawshelled turtle]
+
Flaviemys purvisi Wells and Wellington 1985 [Manning River sawshelled turtle]
G. Chelus Duméril 1806
+
†Chelus colombianus Wood 1976 [Chelus colombiana]
+
Invalid names: Chelus lewisi Wood 1976 [synonym]
Chelus fimbriata Schneider 1783 [Mata mata]
Chelus fimbriatus Schneider 1783 [Mata mata]
G. Elseya Gray 1867
+
Elseya albagula Thomson et al. 2006 [White-throated snapping turtle]
Elseya branderhorsti Ouwens 1914 [White-bellied snapping turtle]
Elseya dentata Gray 1863 [Northern Australia snapping turtle]
Elseya irwini Cann 1997 [Irwins snapping turtle]
Elseya lavarackorum White 1994
Elseya macrurus Cann and Legler 1994 [Cann's snakeneck turtle]
†Elseya nadibajagu Thomson and Mackness 1999
Elseya novaeguineae Meyer 1874 [New Guinea snapping turtle]
Elseya oneiros Joseph-Ouni et al. 2020
Elseya schultzei Vogt 1911 [Schultzes snapping turtle]
†Elseya uberrima De Vis 1897
Invalid names: Pelecomastes De Vis 1897 [synonym]
G. Emydura Bonaparte 1836
+
Emydura australis Gray 1841 [Australian bighead turtle]
Emydura krefftii Gray 1871 [Krefft's river turtle]
Emydura macquarii Gray 1831 [Murray River turtle]
Emydura signata Ahl 1932 [Brisbane shortneck turtle]
Emydura subglobosa Krefft 1876 [Redbelly shortneck turtle]
Emydura tanybaraga Cann 1997 [Northern yellow-faced turtle]
Emydura victoriae Gray 1842 [Victoria shortneck turtle]
G. Hydromedusa Wagler 1830
+
†Hydromedusa casamayorensis de la Fuente and Bona 2002
Hydromedusa maximiliani Mikan 1820 [Brazilian snakeneck turtle]
Hydromedusa tectifera Cope 1869 [Argentine snake-necked turtle]
+
Invalid names: Platemys antiqua Ameghino 1882 [synonym], Platemys fossilis Ameghino 1882 [synonym], Platemys laevis Ameghino 1882 [synonym], Platemys robusta Ameghino 1882 [synonym]
Subfm. Hydromedusinae Baur 1893
+
G. Myuchelys Thomson and Georges 2009
+
Myuchelys bellii Gray 1844
Myuchelys georgesi Georges and Adams 1992
Myuchelys latisternum Gray 1867 [Serrated snapping turtle]
Myuchelys purvisi Wells and Wellington 1985
G. Phrynops Wagler 1830
+
Phrynops geoffroanus Schweigger 1812 [side-necked turtle of Geoffroy]
Phrynops hilarii Dumeril and Bibron 1835 [side-necked turtle of Saint Hillaire]
†Phrynops paranaensis Wieland 1923
Phrynops tuberosus Peters 1870 [Guianan Shield side-necked turtle]
Phrynops williamsi Rhodin and Mittermeier 1983 [Williams side-necked turtle]
Phrynops zuliae Pritchard and Trebbau 1984 [Zulia toadhead turtle]
Invalid names: Parahydraspis Wieland 1923 [synonym]
G. †Prochelidella Lapparent de Broin and de la Fuente 2001
+
†Prochelidella argentinae Lapparent de Broin and de la Fuente 2001
†Prochelidella buitreraensis Maniel et al. 2020
†Prochelidella cerrobarcinae de la Fuente et al. 2011
†Prochelidella palomoi Maniel et al. 2022
†Prochelidella portezuelae de la Fuente 2003
G. Rheodytes Legler and Cann 1980
+
†Rheodytes devisi Thomson 2000
Rheodytes leukops Legler and Cann 1980 [Fitzroy River turtle]
G. †Yaminuechelys de la Fuente et al. 2001
+
†Yaminuechelys gasparinii de la Fuente et al. 2001
†Yaminuechelys sulcipeculiaris Oriozabala et al. 2020
Invalid names: Chelydidae Gray 1869 [synonym], Chelymys antiqua De Vis 1897 [nomen dubium], Chelymys arata De Vis 1897 [nomen dubium], Hydraspididae Cope 1868 [synonym], Hydraspis arenarius Rusconi 1934 [nomen dubium], Naiadochelys patagonica Staesche 1929 [nomen dubium], Pelecomastes ampla De Vis 1897 [nomen dubium], Platemys bergii Ambrosetti 1893 [nomen dubium], Platemys entreriana Ambrosetti 1893 [nomen dubium], Platemys holmbergii Ambrosetti 1893 [nomen dubium], Platemys mesopotamica Ambrosetti 1893 [nomen dubium], Platemys robusta Ambrosetti 1893 [nomen dubium], Platemys torrentium Burmeister 1885 [nomen dubium], Trionyx argentina Ameghino 1889 [nomen dubium]
Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| E. Perrier 1928 (Chelydidae) | Cou se rétractant incomplètement sous la carapace. Les écussons cornés typiques sur la carapace et sur le plastron, qui est formé des 9 os ordinaires (pas de mésoplastron); doigts distincts avec 4 ou 5 ongles. |