Axestemys Temporal range:
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Family:	Trionychidae
Subfamily:	Trionychinae
Genus:	†Axestemys Hay, 1899
Species
†A. byssina (Cope, 1872) †A. cerevisia Vitek, 2012 †A. montinsana Vitek, 2012 †A. quinni (Schmidt, 1945) †A. splendida (Hay, 1908) †A. vittata (Pomel, 1847) †A. infernalis (Joyce, Brinkman & Lyson, 2019)
Synonyms
Axestus Cope, 1872 Conchochelys Hay, 1905 Eurycephalochelys Moody & Walker, 1970 Paleotrionyx Schmidt, 1945

Axestemys is an extinct genus of softshell turtle that lived from the Late Cretaceous to the Eocene in western North America and Europe.

Axestemys, like its modern relatives, had no scutes on its carapace, which probably had leathery, pliable skin at the sides. Despite living several million years ago, Axestemys would have looked very similar to its modern relatives, with a long neck, a sharp beak, and three toes on each foot.^[1] All species of Axestemys grew to a large size, especially A. byssina, that could reach a total length of 2 metres (79 in) or more, being larger than any modern day species of softshell turtle.^[2] Based on the diet of modern softshell turtles, it was an omnivore, eating water plants, invertebrates, and perhaps small fish.^[1]

See also

• Drazinderetes, another enormous trionychid
• Stupendemys, a giant prehistoric freshwater side-necked turtle
• Archelon, a giant sea turtle of the Cretaceous
• Largest prehistoric animals

References

Further reading

• Natasha S. Vitek (2012). "Giant fossil soft-shelled turtles of North America". Palaeontologia Electronica. 15 (16): 1–43. doi:10.26879/299.
• Walter G. Joyce, Donald B. Brinkman and Tyler R. Lyson (2019). "A new species of trionychid turtle, Axestemys infernalis sp. nov., from the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Hell Creek and Lance formations of the Northern Great Plains, USA". Palaeontologia Electronica. 33 (3): 1–28. doi:10.26879/949.