Cerrejonemys

Seh-re-yon-em-iss.
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Maeve Foster

Paleoclimatologist

Maeve Foster explores the Earth's climatic past to understand the forces that shaped life on our planet. Her research into ancient climate events provides valuable context for current environmental challenges.

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Name

Cerrejonemys ‭(‬Cerrejon turtle‭)‬.

Phonetic

Seh-re-yon-em-iss.

Named By

J.‭ ‬I.‭ ‬Bloch‭ & ‬C.‭ ‬A.‭ ‬Jaramillo‭ ‬-‭ ‬2010.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Anapsida,‭ ‬Testudines,‭ ‬Pleurodira,‭ ‬Podocnemididae.

Diet

Uncertain.

Species

C.‭ ‬wayuunaiki‭

Size

Roughly estimated to be up to‭ ‬1‭ ‬meter long.

Known locations

Colombia‭ ‬-‭ ‬Cerrej�n Formation.

Time Period

Mid Paleocene.

Fossil representation

Partial remains,‭ ‬particularly of the shell.

In Depth

       Cerrejonemys is a genus of side-necked turtle that lived in South America during the Paleocene.‭ ‬Cerrejonemys is noted for growing fairly large,‭ ‬probably as a defence against predators.‭ ‬This was for good reason,‭ ‬as not only did Cerrejonemys share the same ecosystems as crocodiles such as Cerrejonisuchus,‭ ‬but the giant snake Titanoboa was also present.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬New podocnemidid turtle‭ (‬Testudines:‭ ‬Pleurodira‭) ‬from the middle-upper Paleocene of South America.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology‭ ‬30‭(‬2‭)‬:367-382.‭ ‬-‭ ‬J.‭ ‬I.‭ ‬Bloch‭ & ‬C.‭ ‬A.‭ ‬Jaramillo‭ ‬-‭ ‬2010.

SPECIES SPOTLIGHT