Baenidae Explained

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. They are primarily found in freshwater deposits, and are considered to be aquatic, with a largely generalist habit.

Genera

• †Arundelemys^[3]
• †Arvinachelys
• †Baena^[3]
• †Cedrobaena
• †Chisternon
• †Edowa^[4]
• †Gamerabaena
• †Gehennachelys^[5]
• †Hayemys^[3]
• †Lakotemys^[6] Lakota Formation, Berriasian-Valanginian
• †Neurankylus^[3]
• †Palatobaena
• †Peckemys^[3]
• †Plesiobaena
• †Protobaena^[3]
• †Denazinemys^[7]
• †Saxochelys^{[8] [9]}
• †Stygiochelys^[3]
• †Thescelus^[3]
• †Trinitichelys^[3]

Classification

The following cladogram shows the taxonomy and phylogeny of baenids according to Joyce & Lyson (2015).^[10]

External links

• http://www.nhm.org/site/sites/default/files/dinosaur_institute/pdf/NHM_DI_proytecto_dino_Erika_Canola_Baenidae_Turtle_experience.pdf

Notes and References

1. Gaffney. Eugene S.. The systematics of the North American family Baenidae (Reptilia, Cryptodira).. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 1972. 147. 5. 241–320. 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. 10.3374/014.060.0204. 203780510 . 0079-032X.
3. Web site: Baenidae . Fossilworks . 17 December 2021.
4. Adrian . B. . Smith . H. F. . Kelley . K. . Wolfe . D. G. . A new baenid, Edowa zuniensis gen. et sp. nov., and other fossil turtles from the Upper Cretaceous Moreno Hill Formation (Turonian), New Mexico, USA . Cretaceous Research . 2022 . 105422 . 10.1016/j.cretres.2022.105422. 253905727 .
5. Adrian . B. . Smith . H. . Noto . C. . A revision of "Trinitichelys" maini (Testudinata: Baenidae) and additional material of its new genus from the Lewisville Formation (Woodbine Group, Cenomanian), Texas, USA . Palaeontologia Electronica . 2023 . 26 . 2 . a28 . 10.26879/1266. free .
6. Joyce. Walter G.. Rollot. Yann. Cifelli. Richard L.. 2020-02-12. A new species of baenid turtle from the Early Cretaceous Lakota Formation of South Dakota. Fossil Record. English. 23. 1. 1–13. 10.5194/fr-23-1-2020. 2193-0066. free. 2020FossR..23....1J .
7. Spicher, G.E.. Sertich, J.J.. Girard, L.C.. Joyce, W.G.. Lyson, T.R.. Rollot, Y.. 2023. A description of a Denazinemys nodosa specimen (Testudinata, Baenidae) from the Late Cretaceous Kaiparowits Formation of southern Utah. Fossil Record. 26. 2. 151–170 . 10.3897/fr.26.102520. free. 2023FossR..26..151S .
8. Web site: Saxochelys gilberti, A New Baenid Turtle from the Uppermost Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Hell Creek Formation: Sexual Dimorphism and Spatial Niche Partitioning within the Most Speciose Group of Late Cretaceous Turtles. 7 February 2020.
9. Spicher, G.E.. Lyson, T.R. . Evers, S. W.. 2024. Updated cranial and mandibular description of the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) baenid turtle Saxochelys gilberti based on micro-computed tomography scans and new information on the holotype-shell association. Swiss Journal of Palaeontology. 143. 1. 2 . 10.1186/s13358-023-00301-6 . free. 38274637 . 10805913. 2024SwJP..143....2S .
10. Joyce, W.G. . Lyson, T.R. . 2015 . A review of the fossil record of turtles of the clade Baenidae . Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History . 56 . 2 . 147–183 . 10.3374/014.056.0203. 4654828 .