''Cerrejonemys wayuunaiki'' is an extinct podocnemid

turtle Turtles are reptiles of the order (biology), order Testudines, characterized by a special turtle shell, shell developed mainly from their ribs. Modern turtles are divided into two major groups, the Pleurodira (side necked turtles) and Crypt ...

which existed in

Colombia Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia, is a country primarily located in South America with Insular region of Colombia, insular regions in North America. The Colombian mainland is bordered by the Caribbean Sea to the north, Venezuel ...

during the Paleogene period; the Middle to Late Paleocene epoch.

Etymology

Fossils of the genus have been found in the

Cerrejón Formation The Cerrejón Formation is a geologic formation in Colombia dating back to the Middle-Late Paleocene. It is found in the El Cerrejón sub-basin of the Cesar-Ranchería Basin of La Guajira Department, La Guajira and Cesar Department, Cesar. The fo ...

of La Guajira, from which it takes its genus name; "turtle from Cerrejón". The species epithet refers to the Wayuu language, called "Wayuunaiki" in its own language, of the Wayuu people, inhabiting the La Guajira desert.

References

† Prehistoric turtle genera Paleocene turtles Paleocene reptiles of South America Peligran Itaboraian Paleogene Colombia Fossils of Colombia Fossil taxa described in 2010 Wayuu language {{Paleo-turtle-stub