Baenidae is an extinct family of paracryptodiran turtles known from the Early Cretaceous to Eocene of North America.

The name of the type genus, Baena, appears to be of Native American origin, likely from the Arapaho be’enoo.

They are primarily found in freshwater deposits, and are considered to be aquatic, with a largely generalist habit.

[3] The following cladogram shows the taxonomy and phylogeny of baenids according to Joyce & Lyson (2015).

Protobaena wyomingensis (Gilmore, 1920) Hayemys latifrons (Hay, 1908) Thescelus insiliens Hay, 1908 Thescelus rapiens Hay, 1908 Arvinachelys goldeni Scabremys ornata (Gilmore, 1935) Baena arenosa Leidy, 1870 Stygiochelys estesi Gaffney & Hiatt, 1971 Chisternon undatum (Leidy, 1871) "Baena" affinis Leidy, 1871 "Baena" escavada Hay, 1908 "Baena" hayi (Gilmore, 1916) Eubaena hatcheri (Hay, 1901) Eubaena cephalica (Hay, 1904) Denazinemys nodosa (Gilmore, 1916) Boremys grandis Gilmore, 1935 Boremys pulchra (Lambe, 1906) Plesiobaena antiqua (Lambe, 1902) Gamerabaena sonsalla Lyson & Joyce, 2010 Cedrobaena brinkman (Lyson & Joyce, 2009) Cedrobaena putorius (Gaffney, 1972) Goleremys mckennai Hutchison, 2004 Palatobaena cohen Lyson & Joyce, 2009 Palatobaena bairdi Gaffney, 1972 Palatobaena gaffneyi Archibald & Hutchison, 1979