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Chelonioidea (sea turtle)

Reptilia - Testudines

Taxonomy
Chelonioidea was named by Baur (1893) [also said to be Agassiz 1857]. It is extant. Its type is Cheloniidae. It was considered monophyletic by Kear (2006), Karl et al. (2012) and Karl et al. (2012) and Karl and Nyhuis (2012).

It was replaced with Chelonioidae by Hay (1930); it was corrected as Chelonoidea by Gaffney (1975), Gaffney (1975), Hirayama and Hikida (1998), Parham (2005) and Haidr and Acosta Hospitaleche (2017); it was reranked as the unranked clade Chelonioidea by Parham and Pyenson (2010); it was misspelled as Chelonoidea by Zangerl (1960), Kuhn (1966), Nicholls (1988), Carroll (1988), de la Fuente et al. (1995), Karl (1996), Hirayama (1998), Karl and Tichy (1999), Joyce et al. (2004), Kear (2006), Parmley et al. (2006), Karl and Tichy (2007), Danilov and Parham (2008), Karl et al. (2012), Karl et al. (2012), Karl and Nyhuis (2012), van Dijk et al. (2014), Cadena and Parham (2015), Rhodin et al. (2017), Cadena et al. (2018) and Myers et al. (2018).

It was assigned to Eucryptodira by Gaffney (1975), Gaffney (1975) and Hirayama (1998); to Testudines by Kear (2006); to Polycryptodira by Hirayama and Hikida (1998) and Karl and Tichy (2007); to Durocryptodira by Danilov and Parham (2008); to Panchelonioidea by Parham and Pyenson (2010); to Cryptodira by Karl et al. (2012), Karl et al. (2012) and Karl and Nyhuis (2012); to Pancryptodira by Cadena and Parham (2015); to Cryptodira by Parham (2005) and Cadena et al. (2018); and to Cryptodira by Baur (1893), Wieland (1909), Zangerl (1960), Kuhn (1966), Nicholls (1988), Carroll (1988), de la Fuente et al. (1995), Karl (1996), Karl and Tichy (1999), Joyce et al. (2004), Parmley et al. (2006), van Dijk et al. (2014), Rhodin et al. (2017), Haidr and Acosta Hospitaleche (2017) and Myers et al. (2018).

Synonyms
Synonymy list
YearName and author
1890Pliochelys Portis
1890Progonosaurus Portis p. 25
1893Chelonioidea Baur p. 673
1909Chelonioidea Wieland p. 102
1960Chelonoidea Zangerl p. 285
1966Chelonioidea Kuhn p. 27
1975Chelonoidea Gaffney p. 4
1988Chelonioidea Carroll
1988Chelonioidea Nicholls p. 185
1995Chelonioidea de la Fuente et al.
1996Chelonioidea Karl
1998Chelonioidea Hirayama
1998Chelonoidea Hirayama and Hikida p. 70
1999Chelonioidea Karl and Tichy p. 63
2004Chelonioidea Joyce et al.
2005Chelonoidea Parham p. 75
2006Chelonioidea Kear
2006Chelonioidea Parmley et al. p. 344
2007Chelonioidea Karl and Tichy
2008Chelonioidea Danilov and Parham
2010Chelonioidea Parham and Pyenson p. 232
2012Chelonioidea Karl et al.
2012Chelonioidea Karl et al.
2014Chelonioidea van Dijk et al.
2015Chelonioidea Cadena and Parham p. 3
2017Chelonoidea Haidr and Acosta Hospitaleche p. 2
2017Chelonioidea Rhodin et al.
2018Chelonioidea Cadena et al.
2018Chelonioidea Myers et al.

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Life
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
RankNameAuthor
Reptiliomorpha
Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
Sauropsida
classReptilia
Testudinata(Oppel 1811)
orderTestudinesBatsch 1788
suborderCryptodira
superfamilyChelonioidea
superfamilyChelonioidea

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.

Superfm. Chelonioidea Baur 1893 [sea turtle]
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Fm. Cheloniidae Bonaparte 1832
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Subfm. †Allopleuroninae
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G. †Allopleuron Baur 1888
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Allopleuron hoffmanni Gray 1831
Allopleuron qazaqstanense Karl et al. 2012
G. †Glyptochelone Dollo 1903
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G. †Protosphargis Capellini 1884
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Protosphargis veronensis Capellini 1884
G. †Ashleychelys Weems and Sanders 2014
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Ashleychelys palmeri Weems and Sanders 2014
G. †Cabindachelys Myers et al. 2018
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Cabindachelys landanensis Myers et al. 2018
Subfm. Carettinae Gray 1825
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G. Caretta Rafinesque 1814 [loggerhead]
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Caretta caretta Linnaeus 1758 [loggerhead sea turtle]
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Invalid names: Caouana elongata Gray 1844 [synonym], Caretta atra Merrem 1820 [synonym], Caretta gigas Deraniyagala 1933 [synonym], Caretta nasuta Rafinesque 1814 [synonym], Chelonia pelasgica Bibron and Bory de Saint-Vincent 1833 [synonym], Chelonia pelasgorum Valenciennes in Bory de Saint-Vincent 1833 [synonym], Testudo caouana Lacepède 1788 [synonym], Testudo cephalo Schneider 1783 [synonym], Testudo corianna Gray 1831 [synonym], Testudo lauanna Meyer 1790 [synonym], Testudo marina Garsault 1764 [synonym], Testudo nasicornis Lacepède 1788 [synonym], Thalassochelys corticata Girard 1858 [synonym]
Caretta patriciae Zug 2001
Invalid names: Caouana Cocteau and Bibron 1838 [synonym], Halichelys Fitzinger 1843 [synonym], Thalassochelys Fitzinger 1835 [synonym]
G. Eretmochelys Fitzinger 1843
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Eretmochelys imbricata Linnaeus 1766 [hawksbill turtle]
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Invalid names: Caretta bissa Ruppell 1835 [synonym], Caretta rostrata Girard 1858 [synonym], Caretta squamosa Girard 1858 [synonym], Chelonia pseudocaretta Lesson 1831 [synonym], Chelonia pseudomydas Lesson 1831 [synonym], Chelonia radiata Cuvier 1829 [synonym], Eretmochelys squamata Agassiz 1857 [synonym], Onychochelys kraussi Gray 1873 [synonym]
Invalid names: Herpysmostes Gistel 1868 [synonym], Onychochelys Gray 1873 [synonym]
G. Chelone Linnaeus 1758
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Chelone costata Owen 1853
Chelone girundica Delfortrie 1869
Chelone jessoni Lydekker 1889
Chelone vanbenedeni Smets 1886
Subfm. Cheloniinae Oppel 1811
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G. Chelonia Brongniart 1800 [green sea turtle]
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Chelonia cuvieri Gray 1831
Chelonia girundica Delfortrie 1869
Chelonia gwinneri Wegner 1917
Chelonia harvicensis Woodward 1830
Chelonia hoffmanni Gray 1831
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Invalid names: Chelone camperi Owen 1851 [synonym]
Chelonia hofmanni Gray 1831
Chelonia mydas Linnaeus 1758 [green turtle]
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Invalid names: Caretta cepedii Merrem 1820 [synonym], Caretta esculenta Merrem 1820 [synonym], Caretta thunbergii Merrem 1820 [synonym], Chelonia agassizii Bocourt 1868 [synonym], Chelonia albiventer Nardo 1864 [synonym], Chelonia bicarinata Lesson 1831 [synonym], Chelonia formosa Girard 1858 [synonym], Chelonia grisea Eschscholtz 1829 [synonym], Chelonia lachrymata Cuvier 1829 [synonym], Chelonia lata Philippi 1887 [synonym], Chelonia maculosa Cuvier 1829 [synonym], Chelonia marmorata Dumeril and Bibron 1835 [synonym], Chelonia tenuis Girard 1858 [synonym], Chelonia virgata Schweigger 1812 [synonym], Testudo cepediana Daudin 1801 [synonym], Testudo chloronotus Bechstein 1800 [synonym], Testudo japonica Thunberg 1787 [synonym], Testudo macropus Gmelin 1789 [synonym], Testudo viridis Schneider 1783 [synonym]
Chelonia oligocena Ciobanu 1977
Chelonia parvitecta Cope 1870
Invalid names: Chelona Brongniart 1805 [synonym], Chelonia castanea Eschscholtz 1829 [nomen oblitum], Euchelys Girard 1858 [synonym], Megemys Gistel 1848 [synonym], Mydasea Gervais 1843 [synonym]
Tr. Cheloniini Zangerl and Turnball 1955
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G. †Glarichelys Zangerl 1958
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Glarichelys knorri Gray 1831
G. Natator McCulloch 1908
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Natator depressus Garman 1880 [Flatback turtle]
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Invalid names: Natator tessellatus McCulloch 1908 [synonym]
Tr. †Rupelchelyini Karl and Tichy 1999
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G. †Rupelchelys Karl and Tichy 1999
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Rupelchelys breitkreutzi Karl and Tichy 1999
Invalid names: Carettini Zangerl and Turnbull 1955 [empty]
G. †Chelyopsis Smets 1887
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Chelyopsis halleri Karl 1989
Chelyopsis holsaticus Dames 1894
Chelyopsis littoreus Van Beneden 1886
Chelyopsis raabei Karl and Schleich 1994
G. †Dollochelys Zangerl 1971
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Dollochelys rogovichi Averianov 2002
G. †Eochelone Dollo 1903
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Eochelone athersuchi Moody 1980
Eochelone brabantica Dollo 1903
Eochelone monstigris Grant-Mackie et al. 2011
Eochelone voltregana de Lapparent de Broin et al. 2018
G. †Erquelinnesia Dollo 1887
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G. †Gigantatypus Kaddumi 2006
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Gigantatypus salahi Kaddumi 2006
G. †Itilochelys Danilov et al. 2010
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Itilochelys rasstrigin Danilov et al. 2010
G. †Lembonax Cope 1870
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Lembonax polemicus Cope 1870
Lembonax propylaeus Cope 1872
G. Lepidochelys Fitzinger 1843 [Ridley sea turtle]
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Lepidochelys kempii Garman 1880 [Kemp's Ridley turtle]
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Invalid names: Testudo viridisquamosa Lacepède 1788 [synonym]
Lepidochelys olivacea Eschscholtz 1829
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Invalid names: Caretta remivaga Hay 1908 [synonym], Cephalochelys oceanica Gray 1873 [synonym], Chelonia dussumierii Dumeril and Bibron 1835 [synonym], Thalassochelys controversa Philippi 1899 [synonym], Thalassochelys tarapacona Philippi 1887 [synonym]
Invalid names: Caouana ruppellii Gray 1844 [nomen nudum], Cephalochelys Gray 1873 [synonym], Chelonia dubia Bleeker in Gray 1864 [nomen nudum], Chelonia polyaspis Bleeker 1857 [nomen nudum], Testudo bomarii Meyer 1790 [nomen oblitum]
G. †Lusochelys Pérez-García and Antunes 2024
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Lusochelys emilianoi Pérez-García and Antunes 2024
G. †Lytoloma Cope 1870
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Lytoloma bruxelliensis Dollo 1909
Lytoloma cantabrigiense Lydekker 1889
Lytoloma crassa Bergounioux 1952
Lytoloma elegans Bergounioux 1952
Lytoloma wemmeliensis Dollo 1909
G. †Miocaretta Deraniyagala 1967
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Miocaretta lankae Deraniyagala 1967
G. †Osonachelus de Lapparent de Broin et al. 2014
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Osonachelus decorata de Lapparent de Broin et al. 2014
G. †Pacifichelys Parham and Pyenson 2010
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Pacifichelys hutchisoni Lynch and Parham 2003
Pacifichelys urbinai Parham and Pyenson 2010
G. †Procolpochelys Hay 1908
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Procolpochelys charlestonensis Weems and Sanders 2014
Procolpochelys susensis Shikama and Suyama 1976
G. †Puppigerus Cope 1870
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Puppigerus breviceps Owen 1841
Puppigerus camperi Gray 1831
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Invalid names: Lytoloma trigoniceps Owen 1849 [synonym], Puppigerus longiceps Owen 1841 [synonym], Puppigerus nessovi Averianov 2005 [synonym]
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Invalid names: Puppigerus latiscutatus Owen 1841 [synonym]
Puppigerus grandaevus Leidy 1861
Puppigerus parvisecta Cope 1870
Invalid names: Eochelys Moody 1968 [objective synonym]
Subfm. †Syllominae
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Bryochelys waterkeyni Van Beneden 1871
G. †Kurobechelys Shikama 1956
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Kurobechelys tricarinata Shikama 1956
G. †Syllomus Cope 1896
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Syllomus aegyptiacus Lydekker 1899
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Invalid names: Chelonia marylandica Collins and Lynn 1936 [synonym], Peritresius virginianus Berry and Lynn 1936 [synonym]
Syllomus crispatus Cope 1896
G. †Tasbacka Nesov 1986
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Tasbacka aldabergeni Nessov 1987
Tasbacka danica Karl and Madsen 2012
Tasbacka ouledabdounensis Tong and Hirayama 2002
Tasbacka ruhoffi Weems 1988
G. †Trachyaspis von Meyer 1843
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Trachyaspis aegyptiaca Lydekker 1889
Trachyaspis hantoniensis Lydekker 1889
Trachyaspis lardyi Meyer 1873
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Invalid names: Testudo varicosa Costa 1851 [synonym], Trionyx bellunensis Misuri 1911 [synonym]
Invalid names: Trionyx melitensis Lydekker 1891 [nomen dubium]
G. Zangerlchelys Hirayama 2006
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Zangerlchelys arkansaw Schmidt 1944
Invalid names: Chelone acuticostata Bergounioux 1954 [nomen vanum], Chelone bellunensis Bergounioux 1954 [nomen vanum], Chelone gastaldii Portis 1879 [nomen vanum], Chelone murua de Vis 1905 [nomen dubium], Chelone simonellii Porta 1898 [nomen vanum], Chelone sismondai Portis 1879 [nomen vanum], Chelone sordellii Porta 1898 [nomen vanum], Chelone strobeli Porta 1898 [nomen vanum], Eocheloniinae [empty], Eochelyinae Moody 1967 [empty], Eretmochelyinae Deranyiagala 1953 [empty], Pliochelys derelicta Portis 1890 [nomen vanum], Progonosaurus pertinax Portis 1890 [nomen vanum]
G. †Cimochelys Zangerl 1960
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Cimochelys benstedi Mantell 1841
Fm. Dermochelyidae Lydekker 1889 [leatherback]
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G. †Arabemys Tong et al. 1999
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Arabemys crassiscutata Tong et al. 1999
Subfm. †Dermochelyinae
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G. †Cosmochelys Andrews 1920
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Cosmochelys dolloi Andrews 1920
G. Dermochelys de Blainville 1816 [Leatherback sea turtle]
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Dermochelys coriacea Vandelli 1761 [Leatherback sea turtle]
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Invalid names: Chelonias lutaria Rafinesque 1814 [synonym], Dermatochelys porcata Wagler 1830 [synonym], Sphargis angusta Philippi 1899 [synonym], Sphargis mercurialis Merrem 1820 [synonym], Testudo arcuata Catesby 1771 [synonym], Testudo lyra Lacepede 1788 [synonym], Testudo tuberculata Pennant in Schoepff 1801 [synonym]
Invalid names: Chelonias Rafinesque 1814 [nomen oblitum], Chelyra Rafinesque 1832 [synonym], Chelyra Rafinesque 1815 [nomen nudum], Coriudo Fleming 1822 [objective synonym], Dermatochelys Wagler 1830 [synonym], Dermochelis Cuvier 1829 [synonym], Dermochelis atlantica LeSueur in Cuvier 1829 [nomen nudum], Scytina Wagler 1828 [synonym], Sphargis Merrem [synonym]
G. †Egyptemys Wood et al. 1996
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Egyptemys eocaenus Andrews 1901
Egyptemys oregonensis Packard 1940
G. †Eosphargis Lydekker 1889
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Eosphargis breineri Nielsen 1959
Eosphargis gigas Owen 1880
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Invalid names: Anglocetus beatsoni Tarlo 1963 [synonym]
Eosphargis insularis Cope 1872
Invalid names: Anglocetus Tarlo 1963 [synonym]
G. †Maorichelys Karl and Tichy 2007
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Maorichelys wiffeni Karl and Tichy 2007
G. †Mesodermochelys Hirayama and Chitoku 1996
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Mesodermochelys undulatus Hirayama and Chitoku 1996
G. †Natemys Wood et al. 1996
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Natemys peruvianus Wood et al. 1996
G. †Psephophorus von Meyer 1847
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Psephophorus polygonus von Meyer 1847
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Invalid names: Psephophorus calvertensis Palmer 1909 [synonym]
Psephophorus rupeliensis Van Beneden 1883
Psephophorus scaldii van Beneden 1871
G. †Turgaiscapha Averianov 2002
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Turgaiscapha kushmurunica Averianov 2002
Invalid names: Chelonia californiensis Gilmore 1937 [invalid subgroup], Psephophoridae Goette 1899 [synonym], Sphargidae Gray 1825 [synonym]
Unr. †Dermochelyoidae Williams 1950
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G. †Alienochelys de Lapparent de Broin et al. 2014
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Alienochelys selloumi de Lapparent de Broin et al. 2014
G. †Corsochelys Zangerl 1960
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Corsochelys bentleyi Schwimmer et al. 2015
Corsochelys halinches Zangerl 1960
G. †Ocepechelon Bardet et al. 2013
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Ocepechelon bouyai Bardet et al. 2013
Fm. †Desmatochelyidae Williston 1894
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G. †Atlantochelys Agassiz 1849
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Atlantochelys mortoni Agassiz 1849
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Invalid names: Protostega neptunia Cope 1872 [objective synonym]
G. †Neptunochelys Wieland 1900
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G. †Kimurachelys Brinkman et al. 2015
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Kimurachelys slobodae Brinkman et al. 2015
G. †Leviathanochelys Castillo-Visa et al. 2022
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Leviathanochelys aenigmatica Castillo-Visa et al. 2022
G. †Nichollsemys Brinkman et al. 2006
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Nichollsemys baieri Brinkman et al. 2006
Fm. †Protostegidae Cope 1873
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G. †Archelon Wieland 1896
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Archelon ischyros Wieland 1896
Archelon marshii Wieland 1900
G. †Bouliachelys Kear and Lee 2006
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Bouliachelys suteri Kear and Lee 2006
Subfm. †Chelospharginae Zangerl 1953
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G. †Teguliscapha Nessov
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Teguliscapha rossica Nessov 1988
G. †Chelosphargis Zangerl 1953
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G. †Cratochelone Longman 1915
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Cratochelone berneyi Longman 1915
G. †Desmatochelys Williston 1894
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Desmatochelys lowii Williston 1894
Desmatochelys padillai Cadena and Parham 2015
G. †Notochelone Lydekker 1889
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Notochelone costata Owen 1882
Invalid names: Notochelys Owen 1882 [replaced]
G. †Pneumatoarthrus Cope 1870
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G. †Protostega Cope 1871
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Protostega eaglefordensis Zangerl 1953
Protostega gigas Cope 1871
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Invalid names: Protostega dixie Zangerl 1953 [synonym], Protostega potens Hay 1908 [synonym]
Subfm. †Protosteginae Wieland
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G. †Calcarichelys Zangerl 1953
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Calcarichelys gemma Zangerl 1953
G. †Microstega Hooks 1998
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Microstega copei Wieland 1909
G. †Rhinochelys Seeley 1869
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Rhinochelys amaberti Moret 1935
Rhinochelys cantabrigiensis Lydekker 1889
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Invalid names: Rhinochelys cardiocephalus Seeley 1869 [synonym], Rhinochelys dayi Seeley 1869 [synonym], Rhinochelys eurycephalus Seeley 1869 [synonym], Rhinochelys jessoni Lydekker 1889 [synonym], Rhinochelys platyrhinus Seeley 1869 [synonym], Rhinochelys rheporhinus Seeley 1869 [synonym], Rhinochelys sphenicephalus Seeley 1869 [synonym]
Rhinochelys elegans Lydekker 1889
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Invalid names: Rhinochelys brachyrhina Lydekker 1889 [synonym], Rhinochelys macrorhina Lydekker 1889 [synonym], Rhinochelys mastocephalus Seeley 1869 [synonym], Rhinochelys stenicephalus Seeley 1869 [synonym]
Rhinochelys nammourensis Tong et al. 2006
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Invalid names: Rhinochelys dacognathus Seeley 1869 [synonym]
G. †Santanachelys Hirayama 1998
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Santanachelys gaffneyi Hirayama 1998
G. †Terlinguachelys Lehman and Tomlinson 2004
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Terlinguachelys fischbecki Lehman and Tomlinson 2004
Fm. †Toxochelyidae Baur 1895
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G. †Cynocercus Cope 1872
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Cynocercus incisus Cope 1872
Subfm. †Lophochelyinae Zangerl 1953
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G. †Lophochelys Zangerl 1953
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Lophochelys natatrix Zangerl 1953
Lophochelys niobrarae Zangerl 1953
Lophochelys venatrix Zangerl 1953
G. †Neurochelys Moody 1980
G. †Oertelia Karl et al. 2012
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Oertelia gigantea Oertel 1914
Subfm. †Macrobaeninae Nessov 1984
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G. †Toxocheloides Nessov and Khozatsky 1981
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Toxocheloides narynensis Nessov and Kaznyshkin 1985
Subfm. †Osteopyginae Zangerl 1953
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G. †Propleura Cope 1870
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Propleura borealis Wieland 1904
G. †Rhetechelys Hay 1908
Invalid names: Lytolominae [synonym]
G. †Porthochelys Williston 1901
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Porthochelys laticeps Williston 1901
Subfm. †Toxochelyinae Zangerl 1953
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G. †Thinochelys Zangerl 1953
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Thinochelys lapisossea Zangerl 1953
Invalid names: Glyptops belviderensis Cragin 1902 [nomen dubium]
Invalid names: Pandermochelys Joyce 2004 [empty], Pliochelys Portis 1890 [nomen vanum], Progonosaurus Portis 1890 [nomen vanum]
Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available