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Helianthochelys

Osteichthyes - Testudines - Dermochelyidae

Discussion

The generic name, Helianthochelys, comes from the combination of the Greek words (Helios, sun) and (anthos, flower) combined as sunflower and the feminine word (chelys, turtle), in allusion to the sunflower pattern of ossicles in the secondary carapace. Genus LSID. urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:66A9B802-6C46-4094-9A33-15D124F26BD1

Taxonomy
Helianthochelys was named by Sterli et al. (2025). Its type is Helianthochelys redondita.

It was assigned to Dermochelyidae by Sterli et al. (2025).

Species
H. redondita (type species)

Synonymy list
YearName and author
2025Helianthochelys Sterli et al.

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
classOsteichthyes
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
—Reptiliomorpha
RankNameAuthor
—Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
—Sauropsida
classReptilia
—Testudinata(Oppel 1811)
orderTestudinesBatsch 1788
suborderCryptodira
superfamilyChelonioidea
familyDermochelyidaeLydekker 1889
genusHelianthochelys

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. †Helianthochelys Sterli et al. 2025
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†Helianthochelys redondita Sterli et al. 2025
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
J. Sterli et al. 2025Helianthochelys redondita is a dermochelyid turtle, based on the presence of a mosaic carapace (psephophore dermochelyid turtles) and the remaining diagnostic synapomorphies listed above. Helianthochelys redondita shares with other more crownward dermochelyids the presence of the characteristic sunflower pattern formed by the ossicles (helianthophore dermochelyid turtles).
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: marinef
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: aquaticf
Diet: durophagef
Diet 2: piscivoref
Reproduction: oviparousf
Created: 2005-08-26 14:29:38
Modified: 2005-08-26 16:29:38
Source: f = family, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Kiessling 2004, Carroll 1988, Hendy et al. 2009, Uetz 2005

Age range: Burdigalian or 20.45000 to 15.98000 Ma

Collections (3 total)


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Early/Lower Miocene23.04 - 15.98Argentina (Chubut) Dermochelyidae indet. (208497)
Burdigalian20.45 - 15.98Argentina (Chubut) Dermochelyidae indet. (45886 208504)