Cryptodira

E77477

Cryptodira is a major suborder of turtles characterized by their ability to retract the head straight back into the shell by bending the neck in a vertical S-shaped curve.


Statements (46)
Predicate Object
instanceOf taxon
turtle suborder
characteristic cervical vertebrae allow vertical flexion
neck bends in vertical S-shaped curve
retract head straight back into shell
clade Casichelydia
Testudinata
class Reptilia
commonName hidden-neck turtles
contains box turtles
pond turtles
sea turtles
snapping turtles
softshell turtles
tortoises
diagnosticFeature dorsoventral neck flexion
specialized cervical vertebrae articulation
distinguishedFrom Pleurodira by vertical neck retraction
distribution worldwide
etymology from Greek 'kryptos' (hidden) and 'deirē' (neck)
extant true
geologicFirstAppearance Jurassic period
habitat freshwater environments
marine environments
terrestrial environments
hasLivingRepresentatives true
headRetraction into shell between shoulder girdles
higherClassification Cryptodirans
includesFamily Cheloniidae
Chelydridae
Dermochelyidae
Emydidae
Testudinidae
Trionychidae
includesMostLivingTurtles true
infraclass Archelosauria
kingdom Animalia
neckRetractionMode vertical
opposedBy side-necked retraction of Pleurodira
parentTaxon Testudines
phylum Chordata
sisterGroup Pleurodira
subclass Diapsida
taxonRank suborder
usedIn herpetology
vertebrate paleontology

Referenced by (2)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Kinixys
belongsToClade
Testudinoidea
suborder

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