Reptilia - Testudines - Chelidae
The generic name is composed by two words Baal which refers to the fossil quarry named Baal, after the deity associated with fertility, whose cult was widespread in ancient Phoenician and Canaanite lands, and emys from ancient greek , meaning freshwater turtle.
Full reference: M. Sarda and I. Maniel. 2024. A new chelid turtle with an ornamented bony shell (Pleurodira: Chelidae) from the Portezuelo Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of Patagonia, Argentina. Historical Biology (1)14
Parent taxon: Chelidae according to M. Sarda and I. Maniel 2024
Sister taxa: Acanthochelys, Birlimarr, Calvarichelys, Chelinae, Chelodininae, Chelus, Chelymys antiqua, Chelymys arata, Elseya, Emydura, Hydraspis arenarius, Hydromedusa, Hydromedusinae, Mendozachelys, Myuchelys, Naiadochelys patagonica, Pelecomastes ampla, Phrynops, Platemys, Platemys bergii, Platemys entreriana, Platemys holmbergii, Platemys mesopotamica, Platemys robusta, Platemys torrentium, Prochelidella, Pseudemydura, Rheodytes, Rionegrochelys, Trionyx argentina, Yaminuechelys, Hydraspis
Subtaxa: Baalemys mansillai
Type: Baalemys mansillai
Ecology: amphibious piscivore
Distribution: found only at Baal Quarry, Lago Barreales [MUCP] (Cretaceous of Argentina)
Specimen images are retrieved through the ePANDDA API.
Click image to enlarge. Click to access iDigBio record.