Basilemys (IPA: [bæsɪlɛmiːs]) is a large, terrestrial trionychoid turtle from the Upper Cretaceous. In Greek, the word "Basil" means royal or kingly and the word "Emys" means turtle. Therefore, Basilemys means King Turtle. Basilemys has been found in rocks dating to the Campanian and Maastrichtian subdivisions of the Late Cretaceous and is considered to be the largest terrestrial turtle of its time. Basilemys has solely been found in North America. The family Nanhsiungchelyidae, which is the family Basilemys belongs to, made its first appearance in the Lower Cretaceous, in what we now call Asia. Because of Basilemys, we know that this family appeared in North America in the Upper Cretaceous. It is possible that Basilemys and other nanhsiungchelyids are immigrants from Asia. They might have