New species of softshell turtle named after fossil preparator Mike Getty

[Halichoeres]

Meet Gilmoremys gettyspherensis, a new trionychid (softshell) turtle from the Cretaceous of New Mexico, USA. It's named after Mike Getty, the late fossil preparator of the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, specifically after the "Gettysphere," the infectious energy said to surround Getty by those who had worked with him.

Specimen:



Paper (paywall): https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-paleontology/article/new-species-of-trionychid-turtle-from-the-upper-cretaceous-campanian-fruitland-formation-of-new-mexico-usa/C2260CC29D8BE5140427BE62AB2CB1C8

And a very sweet write-up in Medium: https://medium.com/@DMNS1908/ancient-turtle-in-honor-of-mike-getty-72b27b7add1d