Figure 6. Simplified strict consensus tree of the global turtle phylogenetic analysis employing a molecular scaffold²⁵.

Xiaochelys ningchengensis gen. et sp. nov. is a member of Sinemydidae, a poorly supported clade that also includes Changmachelys bohlini, Kirgizemys hoburensis and the North American Late Cretaceous Judithemys sukhanovi following the phylogenetic definition of Rabi et al.²⁰. Together with xinjiangchelyids, none of these taxa are retrieved as stem-turtles or stem-chelonioids in contrast to several earlier studies. Numbers correspond to Bootstrap/Jackknife values.