Turtles of the World: A Guide to Every Family by Jeffrey E. Lovich & Whit Gibbons.
 
This book showcases the exceptional diversity of these fascinating creatures. Turtles are characterised by a bony shell that functions as a shield, protecting the soft body within. Turtles are survivors from a time when dinosaurs roamed the earth, and are even  older in evolutionary terms than snakes and crocodilians. More than 350 species of turtles are known today, and unfortunaley some are highly endangered. In this breathtaking book, turtle families, subfamilies, and genera are depicted with colour photos. Each genus profile includes a distribution map, table of information, and commentary that includes notable characteristics and discussion of related species.