Abstract
AbstractCardichelyon rogerwoodi is an enigmatic fossil turtle from the late Paleocene to early Eocene of North America. Previous analyses suggested affiliation with Testudinoidea, in particular the big-headed turtle Platysternon megacephalum, based on the presence of multiple musk-duct foramina and a large head. We here highlight previously undocumented characteristics for this turtle, notably the presence of short costiform processes, a rib-like axillary process, and a posterior plastral hinge. Phylogenetic analysis places Cardichelyon rogerwoodi within Testudinoidea, but the exclusion of testudinoids suggest an affiliation with Dermatemydidae. Using consilience with external data we favor placement within Kinosternoidea. Cardichelyon rogerwoodi is therefore an aberrant, hinged kinosternoid that developed in situ in North America during the Paleocene long before the arrival of testudinoids on this continent in the early Eocene.
Highlights
Materials and methodsCardichelyon rogerwoodi Hutchison, 2013 is an enigmatic, bigheaded fossil turtle from the Paleogene of the western United States (Hutchison, 2013)
Cardichelyon rogerwoodi is an aberrant, hinged kinosternoid that developed in situ in North America during the Paleocene long before the arrival of testudinoids on this continent in the early Eocene
Fragmentary material from the late Paleocene (Clarkforkian) to early Eocene (Wasatchian) of Wyoming, Cardichelyon rogerwoodi is known from more complete specimens, including complete shells and a partial skull, that document important anatomical details of systematic value
Summary
Materials and methodsCardichelyon rogerwoodi Hutchison, 2013 is an enigmatic, bigheaded fossil turtle from the Paleogene of the western United States (Hutchison, 2013). We here report that the type material of Cardichelyon rogerwoodi exhibits characters that were not noted by previous authors and that suggest kinosternoid, rather than testudinoid affinities for this taxon.
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