Cerrejonemys

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Cerrejonemys
Temporal range: Mid-Late Paleocene (Peligran-Itaboraian)
~60–58  Ma
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Scientific classification OOjs UI icon edit-ltr.svg
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Pleurodira
Family: Podocnemididae
Genus: Cerrejonemys
Cadena et al., 2010
Species

Cerrejonemys wayuunaiki is an extinct podocnemid turtle which existed in Colombia during the Paleogene period; the Middle to Late Paleocene epoch. [1]

Etymology

Fossils of the genus have been found in the Cerrejón Formation of La Guajira, from which it takes its genus name; "turtle from Cerrejón". The species epithet refers to the Wayuu language, called "Wayuunaiki" in its own language, of the Wayuu people, inhabiting the La Guajira desert.

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References

  1. Cadena, Edwin A.; Bloch, Jonathan I.; Jaramillo, Carlos A. (2010), "New Podocnemidid Turtle (Testudines: Pleurodira) from the Middle-Upper Paleocene of South America", Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology , 30 (2): 367–382, Bibcode:2010JVPal..30..367C, doi:10.1080/02724631003621946 , retrieved 2017-06-05