Naomichelys is an extinct genus of helochelydrid stem turtle known from the Cretaceous (Aptian-Campanian) of North America. It is the only member of the family known to be native to North America.
Distribution Naomichelys is known numerous remains from western North America, most notably the holotype partial shell from the Cloverly Formation of Montana and a complete skeleton from the Antlers Formation of Texas. Indeterminate remains are known extending up to the Campanian in the United States and Canada. It is the only known North American member of Helochelydridae.Hay, O.P. 1908. The Fossil Turtles of North America. Carnegie Institute of Washington, Washington DC. https://doi.org/10.5962/bhl.title.1250W. G. Joyce, J. Sterli, and S. D. Chapman. 2014. The skeletal morphology of the solemydid turtle Naomichelys speciosa from the Early Cretaceous of Texas. Journal of Paleontology 88(6):1257-1287
Location After
Kootenai Formation, Montana, Early Cretaceous (Aptian) Arundel Formation, Maryland, Aptian Cloverly Formation, Montana and Wyoming, Aptian Trinity Group, Texas, Aptian-Albian Willow Tank Formation, Nevada, Albian Cedar Mountain Formation, Utah, Albian-Cenomanian Kaskapau Formation, British Columbia, Turonian Straight Cliffs Formation, Utah, Turonian-Santonian Tropic Shale, Utah, Turonian-Santonian Mooreville Chalk, Alabama, Santonian-Campanian Milk River Formation, Alberta, Santonian-Campanian Foremost Formation, Campanian Two Medicine Formation, Montana, Campanian Mesaverde Formation, Wyoming, Campanian Wahweap Formation, Utah, Campanian Menefee Formation, New Mexico Campanian
Taxonomy Naomichelys is a member of the family Helochelydridae, which is known from Late Jurassic to Late Cretaceous deposits in North America and Europe.
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