Turtles of Venezuela   Related checklists:  Reptiles of Venezuela (main menu) Bibliography of the reptiles of Venezuela

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Citation: Midtgaard, Rune. RepFocus - A Survey of the Reptiles of the World. www.repfocus.dk (Compilation date: 14th April, 2023).

Checklist General remarks: The list includes only formally described species. Newly discovered, but still unnamed species are excluded. However, unnamed species or species unassigned to species level are included, if they are the only representatives of their genus in the region. Species counts exclude extinct and introduced species. Doubtful records, typically older voucher specimens of uncertain origin, have been excluded if considered questionable, as are records based on sources considered unreliable or controversial. Note: Your comments to the checklist (omissions, errors, etc.) are welcomed, preferably if they are provided with reliable references. If possible, please attach a pdf file of the relevant reference to an email addressed to:

	Turtles (Testudines)
	= endemicEX = extinct or assumed extinct Species References  Family Chelidae (Austro-American Side-necked Turtles) Genus Chelus (Matamatas)   Chelus orinocensis Orinoco Matamata Avila-Pires 2005 [as fimbriata] Fritz & Havas 2006 [as fimbriata] Iverson 1992 [as fimbriata] King & Burke 1989 [as fimbriata] Lima Silveira 2011 [as fimbriata] Marca 1997 [as fimbriata] Pefaur 1992 [as fimbriata] Pritchard 2008 [as fimbriata] Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012 [as fimbriata] Vargas-Ramirez, Caballero, Morales-Betancourt, Lasso, Amaya, Martinez, Silva Viana, Vogt, Pires Farias, Hrbek, Campbell & Fritz 2020 Genus Mesoclemmys (Hump-backed Toad-headed Turtles)   Mesoclemmys gibba Gibba Toad-headed Turtle Avila-Pires 2005 Brito, Fagundes, Strussmann, Pignati & Vogt 2012 Fritz & Havas 2006 Iverson 1992 King & Burke 1989 Lima Silveira 2011 Marca 1997 Mittermeier, Rhodin, Medem, Soini, Hoogmoed & Espinoza 1978 Pefaur 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012   Mesoclemmys raniceps Amazon Toad-headed Turtle Avila-Pires 2005 [as heliostemma] Fritz & Havas 2006 [as heliostemma] McCord & Joseph-Ouni 2002 [as heliostemma] McCord, Joseph-Ouni & Lamar 2001 [as heliostemma] Molina, Machado & Zaher 2012 [as heliostemma] Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012 [as heliostemma]   * Mesoclemmys zuliae Zulia Toad-headed Turtle Fritz & Havas 2006 Iverson 1992 King & Burke 1989 Marca 1997 Pefaur 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012 Genus Phrynops (Lesser Toad-headed Turtles)   Phrynops geoffroanus Brazilian Toad-headed Turtle Iverson 1992 King & Burke 1989 Marca 1997 Pefaur 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021   Phrynops tuberosus Spotted Toad-headed Turtle Avila-Pires 2005 Fritz & Havas 2006 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012 Genus Platemys (Twist-necked Turtle)   Platemys platycephala Twist-necked Turtle Avila-Pires 2005 Fritz & Havas 2006 Iverson 1992 King & Burke 1989 Marca 1997 Pefaur 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012  Family Cheloniidae (Hard-shelled Sea Turtles) Genus Caretta (Loggerhead Sea Turtle)   Caretta caretta Loggerhead Sea Turtle King & Burke 1989 Marca 1997 Pefaur 1992 Pritchard 1979 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012 Ugueto & Rivas-Fuenmayor 2010 Genus Chelonia (Green Sea Turtle)   Chelonia mydas Green Sea Turtle King & Burke 1989 Marca 1997 Maylan 1983 Pefaur 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Ugueto, Rivero & Miralles 2005 Sole 1994 Ugueto & Rivas-Fuenmayor 2010 Vera & Buitrago 2012 Genus Eretmochelys (Hawksbill Sea Turtle)   Eretmochelys imbricata Hawksbill Sea Turtle King & Burke 1989 Marca 1997 Pefaur 1992 Pritchard 1979 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Ugueto, Rivero & Miralles 2005 Ugueto & Rivas-Fuenmayor 2010 Genus Lepidochelys (Ridley Sea Turtles)   Lepidochelys olivacea Olive Ridley Sea Turtle King & Burke 1989 Marca 1997 Pefaur 1992 Pritchard 1979 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Ugueto, Rivero & Miralles 2005 Ugueto & Rivas-Fuenmayor 2010  Family Dermochelyidae (Leatherback Sea Turtle) Genus Dermochelys (Leatherback Sea Turtle)   Dermochelys coriacea Leatherback Sea Turtle Caldwell & Rathjen 1969 Guada, Garcia, Diaz, Rodriguez, Albornoz & Penoth 1996 King & Burke 1989 Marca 1997 Pefaur 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Ugueto, Rivero & Miralles 2005 Ugueto & Rivas-Fuenmayor 2010  Family Emydidae (Western Pond Turtles) Genus Trachemys (Slider Turtles)   Trachemys callirostris South American Slider Bock, Paez & Daza 2010 Fritz & Havas 2006 Iverson 1992 Pefaur 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012 Wermuth & Mertens 1977  Family Geoemydidae (Eastern Pond Turtles) Genus Rhinoclemmys (Neotropical Wood Turtles)   Rhinoclemmys diademata Maracaibo Wood Turtle Fritz & Havas 2006 Iverson 1992 King & Burke 1989 Marca 1997 Pefaur 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012   * Rhinoclemmys flammigera Upper Orinoco Spotted-legged Turtle Fritz & Havas 2006 Iverson 1992 Pefaur 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012   Rhinoclemmys punctularia Eastern Spotted-legged Turtle Avila-Pires 2005 Fritz & Havas 2006 Iverson 1992 Marca 1997 Pefaur 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012  Family Kinosternidae (American Mud and Musk Turtles) Genus Kinosternon (American Mud Turtles)   Kinosternon scorpioides Scorpion Mud Turtle Avila-Pires 2005 Berry & Iverson 2011 King & Burke 1989 Marca 1997 Pefaur 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012  Family Podocnemididae (Giant Side-necked Turtles) Genus Peltocephalus (Big-headed Amazon River Turtle)   Peltocephalus dumerilianus Big-headed Amazon River Turtle Avila-Pires 2005 Fritz & Havas 2006 Iverson 1992 King & Burke 1989 Marca 1997 Pefaur 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012 Genus Podocnemis (South American Side-necked River Turtles)   Podocnemis erythrocephala Red-headed Amazon River Turtle Avila-Pires 2005 Fritz & Havas 2006 Iverson 1992 King & Burke 1989 Marca 1997 Mittermeier, Vogt, Bernhard & Ferrara 2015 Pefaur 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012   Podocnemis expansa Giant South American River Turtle Avila-Pires 2005 Fritz & Havas 2006 Iverson 1992 King & Burke 1989 Marca 1997 Pefaur 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012   Podocnemis unifilis Yellow-spotted Amazon River Turtle Avila-Pires 2005 Fritz & Havas 2006 Iverson 1992 King & Burke 1989 Marca 1997 Pefaur 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012   Podocnemis vogli Orinoco River Turtle Avila-Pires 2005 Fritz & Havas 2006 Iverson 1992 King & Burke 1989 Marca 1997 Pefaur 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012  Family Testudinidae (Tortoises) Genus Chelonoidis (South American Tortoises)   Chelonoidis carbonarius South American Red-footed Tortoise Avila-Pires 2005 Fritz & Havas 2006 King & Burke 1989 Marca 1997 Pefaur 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Ugueto, Rivero & Miralles 2005 Ugueto & Rivas-Fuenmayor 2010   Chelonoidis denticulatus South American Yellow-footed Tortoise Avila-Pires 2005 Iverson 1992 King & Burke 1989 Marca 1997 Pefaur 1992 Rhodin, Iverson, Bour, Fritz, Georges, Shaffer & Dijk 2021 Rivas-Fuenmayor, Molina, Ugueto, Barros, Barrio-Amoros & Kok 2012