Puneet Varma (Editor)

Denazinemys

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Kingdom
  
Animalia

Suborder
  
Cryptodira

Clade
  
†Baenodda

Rank
  
Genus

Class
  
Reptilia

Family
  
†Baenidae

Phylum
  
Chordata

Order
  
Turtle

Similar
  
Turtle, Gamerabaena, Baenidae, Plesiobaena, Chisternon

Denazinemys was a genus of baenodd turtle that lived in the Late Cretaceous of New Mexico. The holotype specimen, which D. nodosa was based on, USNM 8345, consists of a partial carapace and plastron. It came from the De-na-zin Member of the Kirtland Formation, and therefore, Denazinemys lived in the Kirtlandian land-vertebrate age. Many specimens other than the holotype have been assigned to Denazinemys.

Contents

Distinguishing characteristics

Previously, Scabremys ornata was assigned to Denazinemys as D. ornata. Below are the features found in Denazinemys distinguishing the two genera:

  • a carapace that is sub-triangular with widest dimension posteriorly;
  • prepleurals present and touching the first vertebrae medially;
  • the first vertebrae an irregular hexagonal shape with the greatest width posteriorly, contacting anterior second vertebrae;
  • extracervicals lateral to the primary cervicals, the cervicals being sub-divided;
  • and carapace nodes irregular and not forming distinct ridges.
  • Classification

    Denazinemys is a baenodd, along with Plesiobaena, Boremys, Scabremys, Baena and Chisternon.

    Below is a cladogram made by Sullivan et al. in 2013 showing the relations of Denazinemys: (note: Boremys pulchra is partly a junior synonym of Boremys grandis)

    References

    Denazinemys Wikipedia