Acleistochelys

Acleistochelys
Temporal range: Paleocene
~61.7–55.8 Ma
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Pleurodira
Family: Bothremydidae
Genus: Acleistochelys
Species:
A. maliensis
Binomial name
Acleistochelys maliensis
Gaffney at al., 2007

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]

  1. ^ Gaffney, Eugene S.; Roberts, Eric; Sissoko, Famory; Bouaré, Mohamed L.; Tapanila, Leif; O'leary, Maureen A. (2007). "Acleistochelys, a New Side-Necked Turtle (Pelomedusoides: Bothremydidae) from the Paleocene of Mali". American Museum Novitates (3549): 1. doi:10.1206/0003-0082(2007)3549[1:aanstp]2.0.co;2. ISSN 0003-0082. S2CID 53458417.