Arvinachelys
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| Arvinachelys Temporal range: Late Cretaceous | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Clade: | Pantestudines |
| Clade: | Testudinata |
| Clade: | †Paracryptodira |
| Family: | †Baenidae |
| Genus: | †Arvinachelys Lively, 2015 |
| Species: | †A. goldeni |
| Binomial name | |
| †Arvinachelys goldeni Lively, 2015 | |
Arvinachelys goldeni is an extinct baenid turtle from the Late Cretaceous of Utah. A. goldeni is notable among turtles for the presence of two nasal openings instead of one, giving it a vaguely pig-nosed appearance in life.[1]
The holotype, UMNH VP 21151, is a largely completed skeleton, including the shell and skull, belonging to an animal about 60 centimeters long. Remains previously ascribed to other baenid turtles are now recognised to belong to the animal.[1]
Phylogenetics
Arvinachelys bears most of the synapomorphies characteristic of Baenidae. It is described as a sister taxon to Hayemys; given the latter's position as a lazarus taxon basal to the rest of Baenidae, Arvinachelys' discovery extends its branch of the family tree back into the Campanian. However, Arvinachelys' discovery may indicate that a reevaluation of Baenidae as a whole is necessary, as several remains from the region have been reassigned to this genus.[1]
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