Acleistochelys Temporal range: Paleocene
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Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Pleurodira |
Family: | †Bothremydidae |
Genus: | †Acleistochelys |
Species: | †A. maliensis
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Binomial name | |
†Acleistochelys maliensis Gaffney at al., 2007
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Acleistochelys ("hollowed turtle") is an extinct genus of large, bothremydid pleurodiran turtle known from Paleocene deposits in the Teberemt Formation of Mali. The type species, A. maliensis, was named for the country in which it was found. The holotype specimen consists of a nearly complete skull, shell fragments, pelvic fragments, and a cervical vertebra. It is most closely related to another Paleocene Malian side-necked turtle, Azabbaremys.[1]