Multilocus phylogeny and statistical biogeography clarify the evolutionary history of major lineages of turtles

We propose a large-scale phylogeny of turtles with well-supported relationships. The split of the major tuttle clades was driven by the breakup of Pangaea. The evolution of Cryptodira was associated with the complex history of Laurasia. Pleurodira evolution was tightly linked with the history of Gondwanan landmasses.