Baenidae

Baenids
Temporal range: (Valanginian to Eocene, 139.4–40 Ma
Chisternon, AMNH
Shellof Baena arenosa (AMNH 1112)
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Pantestudines
Clade: Testudinata
Clade: †Paracryptodira
Superfamily: †Baenoidea
Family: †Baenidae
Cope, 1882

Baenidae is an extinct family of paracryptodiran turtles known from the Early Cretaceous to Eocene of North America.[1][2] While during the Early Cretaceous they are found across North America, during the Late Cretaceous they are only found in Laramidia, having disappeared from Appalachia. The majority of lineages survived the K-Pg Extinction, but the family was extinct by the latest Eocene. The name of the type genus, Baena, appears to be of Native American origin, likely from the Arapaho be’enoo. They are primarily found in freshwater deposits, and are considered to be aquatic, with a largely generalist habit.[3]

  1. ^ Gaffney, Eugene S. (1972). "The systematics of the North American family Baenidae (Reptilia, Cryptodira)". Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 147 (5): 241–320. hdl:2246/1098.
  2. ^ Joyce, Walter G.; Anquetin, Jérémy (October 2019). "A Review of the Fossil Record of Nonbaenid Turtles of the Clade Paracryptodira". Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History. 60 (2): 129–155. doi:10.3374/014.060.0204. ISSN 0079-032X. S2CID 203780510.
  3. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).