First Record of Eucryptodiran Turtles from the Early Cretaceous (Valanginian), at the Northernmost Part of South America

Abstract

New fossil turtle material from the Early Cretaceous of (Valanginian) of Colombia is described here. The material consists of carapace bones discovered in shallow marine sequences of the Rosablanca Formation, Eastern Cordillera, Zapatoca, Department of Santander. These fossils represent the oldest record of eucryptodiran turtles for the northernmost part of South America. Although detailed taxonomic resolution cannot be defined within Eucryptodira, the material resembles marine turtles in morphology and histology particularly to Protostegidae clade. Eucryptodires are the new element in the reptilian fauna of the Rosablanca Formation, which also has panpleurodires turtles, undescribed fish, plesiosaurs, and ichthyosaurs.