ATTENTION: This is a Taxon that could easily tangled with Emys wyomingensis (= Echmatemys wyomingensis) has been named in Leidy (1869) based on a left epiplastron. One year later, Leidy (1870a) named Baptemys wyomingensis from the same locality, based on an almost complete shell (Leidy 1873, pl. 11). Leidy (1870a) raised some doubts on the validity of Emys wyomingensis by saying that the epiplastron could belong the same animal as Baptemys wyomingensis. I am not sure if by that he meant the same individual or the same species, but the epiplastron of Emys wyomingensis is certainly a pan-testudinoid and clearly distinct from Baptemys. In the same year, Cope (1869–70) already suggested the synonymy between the two species, and placed them under Adocus. But shortly after, Leidy (1873) and Hay (1908) provided further evidence on the distinction of these two species. However, in the literature these taxa often get confused.
Synonym: Echmatemys uintensis Hay 1908
Full reference: J. Leidy. 1870. [Remarks on Poikilopleuron valens, Clidastes intermedius, Macrosaurus proriger, Baptemys wyomingensis, and Emys stevensonianus]. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia 22(1):3-5
Sister taxa: none
Type specimens:
- Echmatemys wyomingensis: ANSP 10074, a partial shell (epiplastron). Its type locality is A few miles from Fort Bridger, which is in a Bridgerian terrestrial horizon in the Bridger Formation of Wyoming.
- Echmatemys uintensis: Its type locality is White River (Uinta B), which is in an Uintan terrestrial horizon in the Uinta Formation of Utah.
Distribution:
• Eocene of United States (14: Utah, Wyoming collections)
Total: 14 collections each including a single occurrence
Specimen images are retrieved through the ePANDDA API.
Click image to enlarge. Click to access iDigBio record.