Sinemys is an extinct genus of turtle from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous of China. Three species have been named: S. lens, the type species, from the Kimmeridgian-Tithonian of Shandong; S. gamera (Japanese: シネミス・ガメラ) (named after the movie monster of the same name), from the Valanginian-Albian of Nei Mongol, and S. brevispinus from Early Cretaceous of Nei Mongol.[1] S. wuerhoensis, from the Aptian-Albian of Xinjiang, is not referrable to this genus.[2] Specimen that may be belong to this genus were also known from Japan,[3] although later abstract considered it as indeterminate sinemydid.[4] The species S. gamera is noted for the presence of a pair of elongate spines projecting outwards and backwards from seventh costal of the carapace. These may have served a hydrodynamic function.[5]

Sinemys
Temporal range: Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous
Holotype carapace and plastron (IVPP V9538) of S. brevispinus, Paleozoological Museum of China
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Pantestudines
Clade: Testudinata
Family: Sinemydidae
Genus: Sinemys
Wiman, 1930
Species
  • S. lens Wiman, 1930 (type)
  • S. brevispinus Tong and Brinkman, 2013
  • S. chabuensis Ji and Chen, 2018
  • S. gamera Brinkman and Peng, 1993
S. gamera fossil

References

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  1. ^ Tong, Haiyan; Brinkman, Donald (2013-09-01). "A new species of Sinemys (Testudines: Cryptodira: Sinemydidae) from the Early Cretaceous of Inner Mongolia, China". Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments. 93 (3): 355–366. doi:10.1007/s12549-012-0110-8. ISSN 1867-1608.
  2. ^ Rabi, Márton; Joyce, Walter G.; Wings, Oliver (2010). "A review of the Mesozoic turtles of the Junggar Basin (Xinjiang, Northwest China) and the paleobiogeography of Jurassic to Early Cretaceous Asian testudinates". Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments. 90 (3): 259–273. doi:10.1007/s12549-010-0031-3. ISSN 1867-1594.
  3. ^ Lucas, Spencer G.; Kirkland, James I.; Estep, John W. (1998). Lower and Middle Cretaceous Terrestrial Ecosystems: Bulletin 14. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.
  4. ^ Hirayama, Ren; Teppei, Sonoda (2015). "Review of the Cretaceous Non-marine Turtles of Japan" (PDF). ASIAN DINOSAURS in Thailand 2015.
  5. ^ Tong, Haiyan; Brinkman, Donald (September 2013). "A new species of Sinemys (Testudines: Cryptodira: Sinemydidae) from the Early Cretaceous of Inner Mongolia, China". Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments. 93 (3): 355–366. doi:10.1007/s12549-012-0110-8. ISSN 1867-1594.

Further reading

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  • Biology of Turtles by Jeanette Wyneken, Matthew H. Godfrey, and Vincent Bels