In the world today there exist eight species of marine turtles belonging to two families:

1. Family Cheloniidae. The family Cheloniidae contains five modern genera, and all but one species. The most distinguish characteristic of all species of this family is a shell covered with horny scutes. Seven world species belong to this family, four of which are recorded in the Mediterranean Sea (marked with *):

• Loggerhead turtle (Caretta caretta)*
• Green turtle (Chelonia mydas)*
• Black turtle (Chelonia agassizi)
• Hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata)*
• Kemp's Ridley turtle(Lepidochelys kempi)*
• Olive Ridley turtle (Lepidochelys olivacea)
• Flatback turtle (Natator depressus)

2. Family Dermochelyidae. The family Dermochelyidae is monospecific genus, with only one recent species. The carapace of this family (species) is covered with leathery skin, without horny scutes.

• Leathery turtle (Dermochelys coriacea)*

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