Biology:Axestemys
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Scientific classification 
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| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Family: | Trionychidae |
| Subfamily: | Trionychinae |
| Genus: | †Axestemys Hay, 1899 |
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Axestemys is an extinct genus of softshell turtle that lived from the Late Cretaceous to the Eocene in western North America and Europe.
Axestemys, like its modern relatives, had no scutes on its carapace, which probably had leathery, pliable skin at the sides. Despite living several million years ago, Axestemys would have looked very similar to its modern relatives, with a long neck, a sharp beak, and three toes on each foot.[1] All species of Axestemys grew to a large size, especially A. byssina, that could reach a total length of 2 metres (79 in) or more, being larger than any modern day species of softshell turtle.[2] Based on the diet of modern softshell turtles, it was an omnivore, eating water plants, invertebrates, and perhaps small fish.[1]
See also
- Drazinderetes, another enormous trionychid
- Stupendemys, a giant prehistoric freshwater side-necked turtle
- Archelon, a giant sea turtle of the Cretaceous
- Largest prehistoric animals
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Palmer, D., ed (1999). The Marshall Illustrated Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs and Prehistoric Animals. London: Marshall Editions. p. 69. ISBN 1-84028-152-9.
- ↑ Grande, Lance (14 June 2013). The Lost World of Fossil Lake: Snapshots from Deep Time. p. 200. ISBN 9780226922966. https://books.google.com/books?id=TTBvdx3IJIMC&pg=PA200.
Further reading
- Natasha S. Vitek (2012). "Giant fossil soft-shelled turtles of North America". Palaeontologia Electronica 15 (16): 1–43. doi:10.26879/299. https://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2012-issue-1-articles/210-giant-soft-shelled-turtles.
- Walter G. Joyce, Donald B. Brinkman and Tyler R. Lyson (2019). "A new species of trionychid turtle, Axestemys infernalis sp. nov., from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Hell Creek and Lance formations of the Northern Great Plains, USA". Palaeontologia Electronica 33 (3): 1–28. doi:10.26879/949. https://palaeo-electronica.org/content/2019/2827-a-new-species-of-trionychid.
Wikidata ☰ Q16530309 entry
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