| Basilemys | |
|---|---|
| |
| Basilemys as it will appear in Saurian. | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Family: | Nanhsiungchelyidae |
| Genus: | Basilemys Hay, 1902 |
| Species: | Basilemys variolosa |
Basilemys is the largest land turtle of the Cretaceous period in North America. Given its size, it’s surprisingly poorly known as a complete animal. This specimen is exciting because the shell being totally disarticulated before burial gives us the opportunity to restore the high domed shell in 3 dimensions for the first time ever. It is also significant because it preserves several non-shell elements, adding to our knowledge of this specimen and the shell itself shows evidence of fungal infections during life, just like modern tortoises. Fossil is 78 million years old.
Geological Information and Discovery[]
Description and Paleobiology[]
Classification[]
In popular culture[]
It will appear in the upcoming game Saurian.
Gallery[]
