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Gehennachelys

Reptilia - Baenidae

Discussion

zoobank.org/322E9DA4-BFA6-48BE-9FC3-3E6D9B6E3A41

Etymology. Gehenna refers to the biblical lake of fire and brimstone, connoting the sulphur content in the deposits where the holotype was discovered, and the massive wildfires that were prevalent in the area during the Cenomanian. Chelys is Ancient Greek meaning turtle.

Taxonomy
Gehennachelys was named by Adrian et al. (2023).

It was assigned to Baenidae by Adrian et al. (2023).

Species
G. maini

Synonymy list
YearName and author
2023Gehennachelys Adrian et al.

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
—Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
RankNameAuthor
—Reptiliomorpha
—Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
—Sauropsida
classReptilia
—Testudinata(Oppel 1811)
—Paracryptodira
familyBaenidaeCope 1882
genusGehennachelys

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. †Gehennachelys Adrian et al. 2023
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†Gehennachelys maini Adrian et al. 2019
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
B. Adrian et al. 2023The newly combined taxon is diagnosed by the following unique combination of characters, rather than particular autapomorphies: deep upper temporal emargination exposing the anterior margin of the otic chamber in dorsal view; absent parietal-squamosal contact; elongated squamosal processes; prominent crista supraoccipitalis that is not covered anteriorly by the parietals; shell co-ossified in adults, with robust bridge peripherals and absent fenestrae; gular and extragular scales paired and similarly sized, with midline extragular contact; curved gular-extragular sulci; single, undivided cervical scale that is wider than long; straight femoral-anal sulcus; a complete ring of 12 marginal scales that separate the posteriormost vertebral scale from the carapace margin; scalloped posterior carapace margin; anterior and posterior plastral lobes that are approximately equidimensional.