''Denazinemys'' was a
genus of
baenid
Baenidae is an extinct family of paracryptodiran turtles known from the Early Cretaceous to Eocene of North America. While during the Early Cretaceous they are found across North America, during the Late Cretaceous they are only found in Laramidi ...
turtle that lived in the
Late Cretaceous of
New Mexico. The
holotype specimen, which ''D. nodosa'' was based on, USNM 8345, consists of a partial
carapace
A carapace is a Dorsum (biology), dorsal (upper) section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods, such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates, such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tor ...
and
plastron. It came from the
De-na-zin Member of the
Kirtland Formation, and therefore, ''Denazinemys'' lived in the
Kirtlandian land-vertebrate age. Many specimens other than the holotype have been assigned to ''Denazinemys''.
Distinguishing characteristics
Previously, ''
Scabremys ornata'' was assigned to ''Denazinemys'' as ''D. ornata''. Below are the features found in ''Denazinemys'' distinguishing the two genera:
* a
carapace
A carapace is a Dorsum (biology), dorsal (upper) section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods, such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates, such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tor ...
that is sub-triangular with widest dimension
posteriorly;
*
prepleurals present and touching the first
vertebrae medially;
* the first vertebrae an irregular hexagonal shape with the greatest width posteriorly, contacting
anterior
Standard anatomical terms of location are used to unambiguously describe the anatomy of animals, including humans. The terms, typically derived from Latin or Greek roots, describe something in its standard anatomical position. This position prov ...
second vertebrae;
* extracervicals
lateral to the primary
cervicals, the cervicals being sub-divided;
* and
carapace nodes irregular and not forming distinct ridges.
Classification
''Denazinemys'' is a
baenid
Baenidae is an extinct family of paracryptodiran turtles known from the Early Cretaceous to Eocene of North America. While during the Early Cretaceous they are found across North America, during the Late Cretaceous they are only found in Laramidi ...
along with ''
Plesiobaena
''Plesiobaena'' is an extinct genus of turtle which existed in the Belly River Formation, Canada during the late Cretaceous period (Campanian age). It was first named by Lawrence Lambe
Lawrence Morris Lambe (August 27, 1863 – March 12, 1919) ...
'', ''
Boremys'', ''Scabremys'', ''
Baena
Baena is a town and municipalities in Spain, municipality of Spain located in the Córdoba Province, Spain, province of Córdoba, Andalusia. It is situated near the on the slope of a hill southeast of Córdoba, Spain, Córdoba by road. The popu ...
'' and ''
Chisternon
''Chisternon'' is a genus of baenid turtles from the Eocene of North America
North America is a continent in the Northern Hemisphere and almost entirely within the Western Hemisphere. It is bordered to the north by the Arctic Ocea ...
''.
Below is a cladogram made by Sullivan ''et al.'' in 2013 showing the relations of ''Denazinemys'': (note: ''Boremys pulchra'' is partly a junior synonym of ''Boremys grandis'')
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q15738349
Baenidae
Late Cretaceous turtles of North America
Kaiparowits Formation
Fossil taxa described in 2006