Biology:Carbonemys

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Short description: Extinct genus of turtles

Carbonemys
Temporal range: Mid–Late Paleocene (PeligranItaboraian)
~60–58 Ma
Carbonemys Cofrinii.jpg
Life restoration of Carbonemys
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Pleurodira
Family: Podocnemididae
Genus: Carbonemys
Cadena et al., 2012
Type species
Carbonemys cofrinii
Cadena et al., 2012

Carbonemys cofrinii is an extinct giant podocnemidid turtle known from the Middle Paleocene Cerrejón Formation of the Cesar-Ranchería Basin in northeastern Colombia. The formation is dated at around 60 to 57 million years ago, starting at about five million years after the KT extinction event.[1]

Discovery

In 2005, the holotype specimen was discovered in the Cerrejón coal mine by a North Carolina State University doctoral student named Edwin Cadena. It had a shell that measured about 1.72 metres (5 ft 8 in) and estimated at 1.8 metres (5 ft 11 in) for complete carapace,[1] making it one of the world's largest turtles.[2][3]

Paleobiology

Carbonemys’ relatively massive jaws[1] indicate that it had a powerful bite. It was likely an omnivore, consuming plants and mollusks as well as smaller reptiles, which were diverse and abundant in its neotropical freshwater habitat.[4][5] Its cohabitants included other turtles like the smaller podocnemid Cerrejonemys, the giant boid (constrictor) Titanoboa, and crocodylomorphs such as the dyrosaurids Cerrejonisuchus, Acherontisuchus, and Anthracosuchus.

References

Wikidata ☰ Q144470 entry