In Depth Chupacabrachelys is a genus of side-necked turtle known to have lived in what is now Texas during the late Cretaceous. As a side necked (pleurodiran) turtle, the head would not have retracted under the shell, but rather folded back under the side. Further to being a pleurodiran, Chupacabrachelys is also a bothremydid turtle, … Read more
In Depth The Carbonemys holotype remains were first discovered in a coal mine, and since coal is essentially fossilised carbon, the name Carbonemys was chosen for the genus. The form of the shell is very interesting as it indicates that Carbonemys would have been a member of the Pleurodira, a group better known as the … Read more
In Depth Sahonachelys is a genus of side-necked turtle that lived in Madagascar during the late Cretaceous. The name Sahonachelys means ‘frog turtle’, a reference to the frog-like appearance of the face. Sahonachelys is thought to have been a specialised suction feeder. This is evidenced by upper and lower jaw surfaces that face each other, … Read more
In Depth Polysternon is a genus of bothremydid turtle that is known to have lived in Western Europe during the latest stages of the Cretaceous. Further Reading - The youngest species of Polysternon: A new bothremydid turtle from the uppermost Maastrichtian of the southern Pyrenees. - Cretaceous Research 35: 133–142 - J. Marmi, �.H. Luj�n, … Read more
In Depth Kurmademys is a genus of side-necked turtle that lived in India during the late Cretaceous. Further Reading - Kurmademys, a new side-necked turtle (Pelomedusoides: Bothremydidae) from the Late Cretaceous of India. - American Museum Novitates 3321:1-16. - E. S. Gaffney, S. Chatterjee, & D. K. Rudra - 2001.
In Depth Closely related to the genus Foxemys, Puentemys is recognised as the largest known bothremydid turtle in the fossil record with a shell length of just over one and a half meters. Bothremydid turtles like Puentemys are a special group of the Pleurodira, a group more popularly known as ‘side-necked turtles’. This is because … Read more
In Depth Cearachelys is a genus of side-necked turtle that lived in South America during the early stages of the late Cretaceous. Further Reading - Cearachelys, a new side-necked turtle (Pelomedusoides: Bothremydidae) from the Early Cretaceous of Brazil. - American Museum Novitates 3319:1-20. - E. S. Gaffney, D. de Almeida Campos & R. Hirayama - … Read more
In Depth Foxemys is a genus of bothremydid turtle that is considered to have been similar to Polysternon as well as closely related to Puentemys. Further Reading - Foxemys, a new side-necked turtle (Bothremydidae, Pelomedusoides) from the late Cretaceous of France. - American Museum Novitates 3251 (3251): 1–19. Retrieved 19 January 2012. - Haiyan Tong, … Read more