Genus: Aurorachelys VANDERMARK, TARDUNO, BRINKMAN, COTTRELL & MASON,
2009
Etymology: Latin, aurora, "dawn" and Greek, chelys, "turtle"; in refrence
to the prolonged low light and auroras in the winter at the paleolatitude at
which this turtle lived.
Species: gaffneyi VANDERMARK, TARDUNO, BRINKMAN, COTTRELL & MASON,
2009
Etymology: In honor of Eugene Gaffney, Emeritus Curator, American
Museum of Natural History, for his continuted resarch and important contributions
to
turtle systematics.
Holotype: University of Rochester UR 06.085 (part and counterpart)
Locality: Expedition Fjord, 79°23.5'N, 92°10.9W, Axel Heiberg Island, Nunavut Territory, Canada.
Horizon: Thin 3 m siltstone and shale layer above subaeral flood basalts of the Strand Fjord Formation, and below the marine deposites of the Kanguk Formation.
Biostratigraphy:
Age: Upper Turonian Stage, Uppermost Gallic Subepoch-Coniacian Stage, Lowermost Senonian Subepoch, Lower Gulf Epoch, Early Late Cretaceous.
Material: Impresions of the dorsal and ventral carapacial surfaces, and impressions of posterior plastron with a single hyoplastron and both hyoplastar and xiphiplastra.