 |
This article is an orphan, as few or no other articles link to it. Please introduce links to this page from other articles related to it. (April 2008) |
 |
This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (April 2008) |
| Stylemys Fossil range: late Eocene to early Oligocene |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Stylemys capax fossil carapace | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Superorder: | Chelonia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Family: | Testudinidae |
| Genus: | Stylemys Leidy, 1851 |
Stylemys (meaning "pillar mouse") is the first fossil genus of dry land tortoise belonging to the order Testudines discovered in the United States. The genus lived in temperate to subtropical areas of North America, Europe, and Asia, based on fossil distribution[1]. The genus was first described in 1851 by Dr. Joseph Leidy. The tortoise was common in the prehistoric Badlands, especially Nebraska and South Dakota. The species has also been found in the formations in and around Badlands National Park.
The ancient tortoises had primitive jaw muscles, unlike today's tortoises, which also display the os transiliens bone, and would have been herbivorous. While Stylemys species did exhibit the same neck structure as modern tortoises, the forelimbs were unsuitable for burrowing, setting them apart from modern genera.
Species
A number of species have been described since the genus was named in 1851[2].
- S. botti
- S. calaverensis
- S. canetotiana
- S. capax
- S. conspecta
- S. copei
- S. emiliae
- S. frizaciana
- S. karakolensis
- S. nebrascensis (syn. S. amphithorax)
- S. neglectus
- S. oregonensis
- S. pygmea
- S. uintensis
- S. undabuna
 Stylemys nebrascensis |
References
- ^ Auffenberg, Walter 1964 "A Redefinition of the Fossil Tortoise Genus Stylemys Leidy", Journal of Paleontology 38(2):316-324
- ^ The Paleobiology Database
- Discovering Fossils: How to Find and Identify Remains of the Prehistoric Past (Fossils & Dinosaurs) by Frank A. Garcia, Donald S. Miller, and Jasper Burns
- A Pictorial Guide to Fossils by Gerard Ramon Case
- http://cumuseum.colorado.edu/Research/Objects/jun06_tortoise.html
- http://www.paleoclones.com/item.php?item=929
- http://www.nps.gov/pwr/home/text-versions/feat-JODAFeatureAccessible.html
 |
This article about a prehistoric reptile is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 |
This article about a turtle, tortoise, or terrapin is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
