Manchurochelys

Manchurochelys
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Cryptodira
Family: Sinemydidae
Genus: Manchurochelys
Endo & Shikama, 1942
Species

M. manchoukuoensis Endo & Shikama, 1942

Manchurochelys is an extinct genus of turtle in the order Paracryptodira. It existed during the early Cretaceous of what is now northeast China.[1] It has been found in the Jianshangou Bed of West Liaoning's Yixian Formation.[2] However, it is a rarely found fossil.[3]

Ordosemys specimen formerly assigned to Manchurochelys

Manchurochelys was first named by Endo and Shikama in 1942, and contains the single species, M. manchoukuoensis (sometimes misspelled M. manchouensis). A second species, M. liaoxensis, was named in 1995 but was later shown to be a species of Ordosemys.[4] Manchurochelys was a relative of the modern-day snapping turtle.[5] It has been occasionally placed in the family Sinemydidae, although it is said to more likely belong in the family Macrobaenidae.[6]

References

  1. Chinese Fossil Vertebrates by Spencer G. Lucas. Retrieved on 2008-08-24.
  2. Jianshangou Bed of the Yixian Formation in West Liaoning, China; Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2004-02-06. Retrieved on 2008-08-25.
  3. "Fossils Seized". NewScientistTech. 2004-06-26. Retrieved 2008-08-26.
  4. Tong, H., Ji, S. and Ji, Q. (2004). "Ordosemys (Testudines, Cryptodira) from the Yixian Formation of Liaoning Province, northeastern China: new specimens and systematic revision." American Museum Novitates, 3438: 1-20.
  5. Dinosaurs: Photo Captions by the American Museum of Natural History.
  6. Fossil Turtle Newsletter. Retrieved on 2008-08-26.

Further reading

External links