Cerrejonemys

Seh-re-yon-em-iss.
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John Stewart

Paleoecologist

John Stewart is a distinguished paleoecologist whose work has significantly advanced our understanding of prehistoric ecosystems. With over two decades dedicated to unearthing fossils across Asia and Africa

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Name

Cerrejonemys ‭(‬Cerrejon turtle‭)‬.

Phonetic

Seh-re-yon-em-iss.

Named By

J.‭ ‬I.‭ ‬Bloch‭ & ‬C.‭ ‬A.‭ ‬Jaramillo‭ ‬-‭ ‬2010.

Classification

Chordata,‭ ‬Reptilia,‭ ‬Anapsida,‭ ‬Testudines,‭ ‬Pleurodira,‭ ‬Podocnemididae.

Diet

Uncertain.

Species

C.‭ ‬wayuunaiki‭

Size

Roughly estimated to be up to‭ ‬1‭ ‬meter long.

Known locations

Colombia‭ ‬-‭ ‬Cerrej�n Formation.

Time Period

Mid Paleocene.

Fossil representation

Partial remains,‭ ‬particularly of the shell.

In Depth

       Cerrejonemys is a genus of side-necked turtle that lived in South America during the Paleocene.‭ ‬Cerrejonemys is noted for growing fairly large,‭ ‬probably as a defence against predators.‭ ‬This was for good reason,‭ ‬as not only did Cerrejonemys share the same ecosystems as crocodiles such as Cerrejonisuchus,‭ ‬but the giant snake Titanoboa was also present.

Further Reading

-‭ ‬New podocnemidid turtle‭ (‬Testudines:‭ ‬Pleurodira‭) ‬from the middle-upper Paleocene of South America.‭ ‬-‭ ‬Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology‭ ‬30‭(‬2‭)‬:367-382.‭ ‬-‭ ‬J.‭ ‬I.‭ ‬Bloch‭ & ‬C.‭ ‬A.‭ ‬Jaramillo‭ ‬-‭ ‬2010.

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