Hydromedusa Explained

Hydromedusa is a turtle genus in the family Chelidae, commonly known as the South American snake-necked turtles. They are quite closely related to the South American side-necked swamp turtles (Acanthochelys) and the snake-necked turtles of the Australian-Melanesian region (Chelodina), but less closely to the spine-necked river turtles of South America (Podocnemididae) which belong to a more modern lineage of Pleurodira.

Species

This genus contains the following extant^[1] and fossil species:

• Brazilian snake-necked turtle, Cágado da Serra, Hydromedusa maximiliani
• Argentine snake-necked turtle, Cágado pescoço de cobra, Hydromedusa tectifera
• Hydromedusa casamayorensis, Salamanca and Sarmiento Formations, Argentina

References

Molina, F. J., & Leynaud, G. C. (2017). Thermoconformity strategy in the freshwater turtle Hydromedusa tectifera (Testudines, Chelidae) in its southern distribution area. Journal of Thermal Biology, 69, 178–183. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtherbio.2017.07.008

Notes and References

1. Gaffney . E. S. . The side-necked turtle family Chelidae : a theory of relationships using shared derived characters. American Museum novitates ; no. 2620 . Novitates . May 10, 1977 . 2620 . 73704639 . en.