Araiochelys

Araiochelys ("narrow turtle") is an extinct genus of bothremydid pleurodiran turtle that was discovered in the Ouled Abdoun Basin, Morocco.^[2][1][3] The genus consists solely of type species A. hirayamai.^[1]

Araiochelys Temporal range: Paleocene, 66.043–61.7 Ma[1] PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Pleurodira
Family:	†Bothremydidae
Subfamily:	†Bothremydinae
Tribe:	†Bothremydini
Subtribe:	†Bothremydina
Genus:	†Araiochelys Gaffney et al., 2006
Species:	†A. hirayamai
Binomial name
†Araiochelys hirayamai Gaffney et al., 2006

Discovery

Araiochelys was discovered in the Ouled Abdoun Basin of Morocco, primarily known for its Maastrichtian and Paleocene fossils.^[2]

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.^[2]