Haichemys Explained

Haichemys is an extinct genus of turtles that lived during the Late Cretaceous period in what is now Mongolia. It was first described in 2006 and placed into the family Haichemydidae, of which it is the only genus.^{[1] [2]} The validity of Haichemys has been questioned, with a study published in 2013 finding it likely that all known fossils of it actually represent hatchlings of Mongolemys elegans, though this cannot be conclusively proven until specimens preserving both the skull and shell are found.^[3]

Haichemys are suggested to have had duropagous diet from surrounding carbonaceous claystone found in swamps and lakes.

Notes and References

1. http://www.zin.ru/labs/herplab/doc/Danilov_2003.pdf DANILOV, I. Gravemys Sukhanov and Narmandakh, 1983 (Testudinoidea: Lindholmemydidae) from the Late Cretaceous of Asia: new data. PaleoBios, v. 23, p. 9–19, 2003
2. Sukhanov . V.B. . Narmandakh . P. . 2006 . New taxa of Mesozoic turtles from Mongolia . Fossil Turtle Research . 1 . 119–127.
3. Cadena . Edwin A. . Ksepka . Daniel T. . Norell . Mark A. . 2013-01-25 . New material of Mongolemys elegans Khosatzky and Mlynarski, 1971 (Testudines: Lindholmemydidae), from the Late Cretaceous of Mongolia with Comments on Bone Histology and Phylogeny . American Museum Novitates . en . 3766 . 3766 . 1–28 . 10.1206/3766.2 . 0003-0082.