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Prionochelys

Reptilia - Testudines

Taxonomy
Prionochelys was named by Zangerl (1953) [Sepkoski's age data: K Camp-l K Camp-u Sepkoski's reference number: 987].

It was assigned to Lophochelyinae by Zangerl (1953), Baird and Case (1966) and Thurmond and Jones (1981); to Toxochelyidae by Carroll (1988); to Lophocheliinae by Weems (1988); to Chelonia by Sepkoski (2002); and to Pancheloniidae by Gentry (2018).

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1953Prionochelys Zangerl p. 247
1966Prionochelys Baird and Case p. 1213
1981Prionochelys Thurmond and Jones p. 133
1988Prionochelys Carroll
1988Prionochelys Weems p. 141 figs. Table 2
2002Prionochelys Sepkoski
2018Prionochelys Gentry

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
Reptiliomorpha
RankNameAuthor
Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
Sauropsida
classReptilia
Testudinata(Oppel 1811)
orderTestudinesBatsch 1788
suborderCryptodira
PanchelonioideaJoyce et al. 2004
PancheloniidaeJoyce et al. 2004
genusPrionochelys

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

G. †Prionochelys Zangerl 1953
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Prionochelys matutina Zangerl 1953
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Invalid names: Prionochelys galeotergum Zangerl 1953 [synonym]
Prionochelys nauta Zangerl 1953
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
A. D. Gentry 2018Moderately sized marine turtle similar in size to Ctenochelys stenoporus. Differentiated from Toxochelys Cope, 1873 and Thinochelys Zangerl, 1953 by the presence of keeled neurals, epineurals, and strongly serrated posterior peripherals. Diagnosed from other Cretaceous pan-cheloniids such as Ctenochelys spp. by the highly serrated lateral edges of peripherals 411 and the deeply embayed anterior nuchal emargination resulting in a more distinctly cordiform carapacial outline. Diagnosed from Peritresius spp. by the increased contact between the hyo- and hypoplastron, the relative width of the neuralia, and the presence of eight neurals and one preneural.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: freshwatersubo
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: aquaticsubo
Diet: omnivoresubo
Reproduction: oviparoussubo
Created: 2005-08-26 14:49:00
Modified: 2005-08-26 16:49:00
Source: subo = suborder, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Hendy et al. 2009, Uetz 2005, Carroll 1988

Age range: base of the Late/Upper Santonian to the top of the Late/Upper Campanian or 85.80000 to 70.60000 Ma

Collections (16 total)


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Turonian - Santonian93.9 - 83.6USA (Kansas) P. galeotergum (38720)
Late/Upper Santonian - Early/Lower Campanian85.8 - 70.6USA (Alabama) P. matutina (81927)
Middle Santonian - Early/Lower Campanian85.8 - 70.6USA (Alabama) P. matutina (197317)
Early/Lower Campanian83.5 - 70.6USA (Alabama) P. matutina (197308 197309 197310 197311 197312 197313 197314 197315 197316)
Late/Upper Campanian83.5 - 70.6USA (Arkansas) P. nauta (81996 82004)
Late/Upper Campanian - Early/Lower Maastrichtian83.5 - 66.0USA (New Jersey) P. nauta (14504)
Maastrichtian72.1 - 66.0USA (New Jersey) P. nauta (99138)