Title -- Copyright -- Dedication -- Contents -- List of Illustrations -- Acknowledgments -- Turtles: A Paradigm of Variability, Venerability, and Vulnerability -- Introduction -- Objectives -- The History of Turtle Biology in Mexico -- Chelonian Studies by Mexican Biologists -- Other Books on Turtles -- The Definition of a Turtle -- Origin and Phylogeny of Turtles -- A Classification of Turtles with a List of the Species Occurring in Mexico -- Geographic Distribution and Biogeography -- Topography and Climate of Mexico -- Cenozoic Paleogeography -- Materials and Methods Used for This Book -- How to Use This Book -- Presentation -- Terminology -- Abbreviations Used in This Book -- Museum Acronyms -- Turtle Measurements and Basic Shell Proportions -- Geographic Range and Distribution Maps -- Structure and Function -- The Chelonian Shell -- The Epidermal Elements -- Shell Kinesis -- Skull and Jaws -- Other Skeletal Elements -- Integument -- The Gut Tube -- Circulatory System -- Respiration -- Thermoregulation -- Urinary System -- Osmoregulation -- Eye and Vision -- The Chelonian Ear and Vocalization -- Smell and Taste -- Locomotion -- Natural History -- Autecological Studies -- Habitat -- Diet and Feeding Behavior -- Reproduction -- Natural Predators and Parasites -- Ontogeny -- Turtles, Humans, and Research -- Economic Use, Conservation, and the Law -- Laws and Enforcement in Mexico -- Field and Laboratory Techniques -- Methods of Preparation -- Dissections -- Observation and Keeping Records -- Modern Taxonomic Studies and Techniques -- Morphological Studies -- Molecular Studies -- Analysis -- Accounts of Taxonomic Groups -- A Key to the Families and Genera of Mexican Chelonians (Excluding the Sea Turtles) -- Superfamily Trionychoidea -- Family Dermatemydidae -- Genus Dermatemys -- Dermatemys mawi -- Family Kinosternidae -- Subfamily Staurotypinae.

Genus Claudius -- Claudius angustatus -- Genus Staurotypus -- Staurotypus triporcatus -- Staurotypus salvini -- Subfamily Kinosterninae -- Genus Kinosternon -- Kinosternon herrerai -- Kinosternon sonoriense -- Kinosternon hirtipes -- Kinosternon flavescens -- Kinosternon arizonense -- Kinosternon durangoense -- Kinosternon scorpioides -- Kinosternon integrum -- Kinosternon alamosae -- Kinosternon chimalhuaca -- Kinosternon oaxacae -- Kinosternon acutum -- Kinosternon creaseri -- Kinosternon leucostomum -- Genus Sternotherus -- Sternotherus odoratus -- Family Trionychidae -- Subfamily Trionychinae -- Genus Apalone -- Apalone atra -- Apalone spinifera -- Superfamily Testudinoidea -- Family Testudinidae -- Genus Gopherus -- Gopherus agassizi -- Gopherus berlandieri -- Gopherus flavomarginatus -- Family Emydidae -- Genus Actinemys -- Actinemys marmorata -- Genus Chrysemys -- Chrysemys picta belli -- Genus Pseudemys -- Pseudemys gorzugi -- Genus Trachemys -- Trachemys scripta -- Genus Terrapene -- Terrapene ornata -- Terrapene nelsoni -- Terrapene mexicana -- Terrapene yucatana -- Terrapene coahuila -- Family Geoemydidae -- Genus Rhinoclemmys -- Rhinoclemmys areolata -- Rhinoclemmys pulcherrima -- Rhinoclemmys rubida -- Superfamily Chelydroidea -- Family Chelydridae -- Genus Chelydra -- Chelydra rossignoni -- Chelydra serpentina -- Literature Cited -- Index.