Araiochelys

{{Speciesbox

| image =

| fossil_range = Paleocene, {{Fossil range|66.043|61.7|ref=}}

| display_parents = 4

| genus = Araiochelys

| parent_authority = Gaffney et al., 2006

| species = hirayamai

| authority = Gaffney et al., 2006

}}

Araiochelys ("narrow turtle") is an extinct genus of bothremydid pleurodiran turtle that was discovered in the Ouled Abdoun Basin, Morocco. The genus consists solely of type species A. hirayamai.

Discovery

Araiochelys was discovered in the Ouled Abdoun Basin of Morocco, primarily known for its Maastrichtian and Paleocene fossils.

Description

The preorbital section of Araiochelys's skull is narrower than in all other members of the Bothremydini. The dorsal process is noted by the describers as being narrow in contrast to Bothremys. The ridge forming the lower rim of the orbit is relatively distinct, also in contrast to Bothremys.

References

{{reflist|refs=

{{cite web |url=https://paleobiodb.org/classic/checkTaxonInfo?taxon_no=131484 |title=†Araiochelys Gaffney et al. 2006 |work=Paleobiology Database |publisher=Fossilworks |access-date=26 January 2023}}

{{cite journal |last1=Gaffney |first1=Eugene S. |last2=Tong |first2=Haiyan |last3=Meylan |first3=Peter A. |name-list-style=amp |title=Evolution of the side-necked turtles: the families Bothremydidae, Euraxemydidae, and Araripemydidae |journal=Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History |date=2006 |volume=300 |pages=1–318 |doi=10.1206/0003-0090(2006)300[1:EOTSTT]2.0.CO;2 |hdl=2246/5824|s2cid=85790134 |url=http://doc.rero.ch/record/15686/files/PAL_E2036.pdf }}

{{IRMNG | 1272669 | Araiochelys Gaffney, Tong & Meylan, 2006 † | 26 January 2023}}

}}

Category:Bothremydidae

Category:Prehistoric turtle genera

Category:Monotypic turtle genera

Category:Paleocene turtles

Category:Fossils of Morocco

Category:Paleocene life

Category:Cretaceous Africa

Category:Fossil taxa described in 2006