Partial Skeleton Research Articles

A partial skeleton of Typotheriopsis chasicoensis (Mesotheriidae, Notoungulata): the first accurate mammal record from the La Pilona Formation (Late Miocene), Cacheuta Basin, central-western Argentina

A partial skeleton of Typotheriopsis chasicoensis (Mesotheriidae, Notoungulata): the first accurate mammal record from the La Pilona Formation (Late Miocene), Cacheuta Basin, central-western Argentina

A new species of the Prophaethontidae (Aves, Phaethontiformes) from the early Eocene London Clay

ABSTRACT We report new specimens of the stem group phaethontiform Prophaethon from the early Eocene London Clay of Walton-on-the-Naze (Essex, UK). The two partial skeletons are distinctly smaller than a previously described record of Prophaethon from this locality, which was assigned to P. shrubsolei. Even though some extant aquatic birds show a pronounced sexual dimorphism in size, this is considered unlikely to explain the size disparity of the Prophaethon fossils from Walton-on-the-Naze and the new specimens are here described as P. waltonensis, sp. nov. The distal end of the humerus of the new species differs from that of other Phaethontiformes in the presence of a small but well-defined processus supracondylaris dorsalis. With regard to this feature, it shows a resemblance to the humerus of the Procellariiformes, which is unexpected in light of the recently proposed hypothesis that the sister taxon of the Phaethontiformes are the terrestrial Eurypygiformes. Finally, we comment on prophaethontid remains from the late Paleocene of Kazakhstan, which were assigned to the taxa Zhylgaia Nessov, 1988 and Tshulia Nessov, 1988. We synonymise the latter with the former taxon and also consider it possible that Zhylgaia Nessov, 1988 is a junior synonym of Prophaethon Andrews, 1899.

A new carcharodontosaurid specimen sheds light on the anatomy of South American giant predatory dinosaurs.

Carcharodontosaurids were gigantic terrestrial dinosaurs and top predators of dinosaur faunas in Gondwanan landmasses during the "Mid"-Cretaceous Period. Despite their wide geographical and stratigraphical distribution, essential parts of their anatomy are still poorly known. The present contribution aims to describe a new partial skeleton of the carcharodontosaurid Taurovenator violantei, which was previously known only by an isolated postorbital bone coming from Cenomanian-Turonian beds of northern Patagonia, Argentina. The neck of Taurovenator is composed of notably high anterior cervicals, bearing neural spines with expanded, flange-like dorsal tips which are successively imbricated. This condition has been reported previously in the carcharodontosaurid Acrocanthosaurus, but its occurrence in Taurovenator and other members of the clade suggests it may represent a synapomorphy of this theropod family. This unique neck morphology was probably related to strong modifications in musculature and restriction in the range of movements within the neck, but not with the head. The new specimen also affords valuable anatomical information on the forelimb of Patagonian carcharodontosaurids. As in other giganotosaurines, Taurovenator shows strongly reduced forelimbs, particularly the forearm, showing hand elements with elongated non-ungual phalanges, and well-marked articular surfaces and muscular insertions, suggesting highly movable digits. This new specimen of Taurovenator allows us to expand anatomical and morpho-functional discussions about the carcharodontosaurid clade.

Myrmecophaga tridactyla (Linnaeus, 1758) subfossils from Abismo Anhumas, Bonito/MS, Brazil: Morphology, isotopic habitat (δ13C, δ18O), radiocarbon dating, biogeography and human impact on the species conservation in Brazil

ABSTRACTMyrmecophaga tridactyla Linnaeus, 1758 is the largest extant anteater, being distributed in most biomes from southern Central America and northern South America. Herein, we analyzed cranial and postcranial elements of three partial skeletons of M. tridactyla found submerged in Abismo Anhumas cave (Bonito, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil). The bones collected were the skull (LEG 2598), left humerus (LEG 2601), ungueal phalanx (LEG 2602), and lumbar vertebrae (LEG 2599; LEG 2600). Radiocarbon dating and isotope analyses indicate that these animals lived between 360 and 560 cal a BP in an arboreal to open savanna habitat associated with the Cerrado, a Seasonal Dry Forest. Radiocarbon‐dated oxygen isotopes are possibly in agreement with dated oxygen isotopes found in stalagmites, suggesting a wet period between 442–364 cal a BP in the region. Finally, we created paleo‐species distribution models, which allowed the generation of a consensus map showing a historically stable area between 21 and 6 ka for this species. Currently, more than 50% of this area has been destroyed by human activity.

A Spanish saltasauroid titanosaur reveals Europe as a melting pot of endemic and immigrant sauropods in the Late Cretaceous

A new lithostrotian titanosaur, Qunkasaura pintiquiniestra gen. et sp. nov., is described based on a single partial skeleton from the late Campanian-early Maastrichtian fossil-site of Lo Hueco (Cuenca, Spain). This new taxon is supported by an exclusive combination of characters that highlights strong convergences with members of the South American Aeolosaurini. Qunkasaura allows to reorganise the complex phylogenetic relationships of the increasingly diverse finicretaceous sauropods of Europe. Phylogenetic analyses places Qunkasaura within Saltasauridae and possibly Opisthocoelicaudiinae, together with Abditosaurus. A new clade is established, Lohuecosauria, including Saltasaurus, Lohuecotitan, their most recent common ancestor and all its descendants. Two distinct Ibero-Armorican Campanian-Maastrichtian saltasauroid lineages are recognised: (i) Lirainosaurinae that is exclusive from Europe, and (ii) a saltasaurid lineage with possible opisthocoelicaudiine affinities, with a Laurasian distribution. Lirainosaurinae was a relict lineage including possible dwarf forms that evolved in isolation after reaching Europe before the Late Cretaceous through the Apulian route. The occurrence of opisthocoelicaudiines in Europe may be the result of a Late Cretaceous interchange between Europe and Asia. No evidence of insular dwarfism is found in the Ibero-Armorican opisthocoelicaudiines suggesting that they may have been newcomers to the area that arrived before the ‘Maastrichtian Dinosaur Turnover’ in southwestern Europe.

Applying the V.E.R.A. method to entheses of the humerus: An assessment of repeatability and reproducibility

AbstractThe “Validated Entheses‐based Reconstruction of Activity” (V.E.R.A.) method has proven to be a reliable method for the quantification and analysis of entheses. However, this method has only been successfully applied to human hand bones and animal long bones. This study tests the general applicability of the V.E.R.A. method to the human humerus, focusing on evaluating its reliability and repeatability. The sample included 23 humeri of unknown origin and background. The V.E.R.A. method was applied to six entheses of the humerus, comprising the subscapularis, supraspinatus, infraspinatus, teres minor, common extensor origin, and common flexor origin. Lin's concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) and percentage of error statistics were used to measure intraobserver error. Interobserver error was assessed through analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC), and Lin's CCC. Intraobserver rates were between 1.83% and 3.23%. Interobserver error values were excellent, with no significant differences found in the ANOVA tests; Lin's CCC values were all above 0.90, with only the common extensor origin being 0.87; and ICC values were all above 0.97. Our results showed that the V.E.R.A. method is highly reliable and reproducible for the six entheses of the human humerus selected for this study. These results demonstrate the vast potential for the V.E.R.A. method to be applied to other parts of the human skeleton.

Morphometry of a partial Late Pleistocene dhole (Cuon alpinus europaeus (Bourguignat, 1868); Carnivora, Canidae) skeleton from Llonin Cave (Asturias, Spain) and its taphonomic origin

In this paper, we present the remains of a single dhole discovered in three Late Pleistocene levels (Cono Posterior sector) of Llonin Cave, in Asturias (Spain). Said remains consist of the partial skeleton of an adult individual, showing small-sized dentition with a high degree of hypercarnivorism, typical of populations with derived traits from the Late Pleistocene in Europe. Morphometric analysis of the bone assemblage reveals that it belongs to the subspecies Cuon alpinus europaeus (Bourguignat, 1868). A direct dating on a dhole bone has provided a date of 29231 ± 387 BP and confirms its archaeological stratigraphic position associated with the Gravettian phase of the site. The taphonomic history of the dhole assemblage and their spatial distribution provides information about the interaction processes and cave occupation dynamics by these canids and by prehistoric human groups.

A new theropod dinosaur from the Callovian Balabansai Formation of Kyrgyzstan

Abstract Recent fieldwork in the late Middle Jurassic Balabansai Formation of Kyrgyzstan has yielded a partial skeleton of a large theropod dinosaur. The material includes a few bones of the skull (postorbital, quadratojugal), dorsal and sacral vertebrae, fragments of the pectoral girdle and forelimbs, and an almost complete pelvic girdle and hindlimbs, and is here made the type of a new theropod taxon, Alpkarakush kyrgyzicus gen. et sp. nov. Alpkarakush can be diagnosed by an extremely developed orbital brow on the postorbital, a pneumatic opening leading into cavities in the neural arch from the centroprezygodiapophyseal fossa in the posterior dorsal vertebrae, an almost enclosed ventral sulcus in manual phalanx II-1, a narrow and deep intercondylar groove on the anterior side of the distal femur, and an epicondylar crest on the distal femur that is offset from the distal end. A second, fragmentary, and smaller specimen from the same site represents the same taxon. Based on long bone histology, the type of Alpkarakush represents a late subadult individual, whereas the smaller specimen is a juvenile, possibly indicating gregarious behaviour. Phylogenetic analysis places Alpkarakush in the Metriacanthosauridae, underlining the diversity and wide distribution of this clade in the Jurassic of Asia.

Radiomorphometric analysis of the metapodial bones in the Scottish fold cats.

Scottish Fold cats (Felis catus, Linnaeus 1758) are one of the most well-known and popular cat breeds in the world, characterized by their folded ears attached to the head. Very frequently, cats fall prey of different trauma and accidents that can cause bone fractures especially in the metapodial bones. The method of radiometry is used in veterinary practice to visualize and measure different parts of the animal skeleton. The aim of this study was to assess the linear parameters derived from radiographic images of the metacarpals and metatarsals in Scottish Fold cats and additionally detecting potential sexual dimorphism. Radiographic images of 24 adult Scottish Fold cats (12 male and 12 females) of different ages and weights were analysed. Six linear measurements of the metapodial bones were evaluated to investigate any differences between the sexes. The linear radiometric measurements of the five metacarpals (MC1-5) and the four metatarsals (MT2-5) bones were larger in male metapodial bones than that of female cats. The maximum length (Ml) of the MC1 and MC2 was statistically different between sex, respectively, (p = 0.001) and (p = 0.05). The others metacarpal bones were different in mostly all linear parameters but not statistically significant. The most significant differences between sexes were observed in the parameter of width proximal end (Wp) of MC1-3 (p = 0.001) and MC4 (p = 0.05). More statistical different was MT2 and less MT3. The linear parameter of Bd of the MT4 was the most different statistically between sex (p = 0.001). The results of the study will be useful in function of comparative anatomy, in veterinary clinical practice, in zoo archaeology and in the veterinary forensic investigation.

New sauropod appendicular remains from the Upper Cretaceous of Romania: Accessing the morphological variability

The Upper Cretaceous sauropod fossil record from Romania is abundant, mostly originated from the Maastrichtian deposits of the western-southwestern margin of the Transylvanian Basin, and in the Hațeg and Rusca Montană basins. Most specimens were found in isolation or in low degree of association and only few partial skeletons have been reported. The presence of at least four taxa was recently considered, including three defined forms: Magyarosaurus dacus, Paludititan nalatzensis and “Magyarosaurus” hungaricus. However, the phylogenetic affinities of these taxa within Lithostrotia are still under debate. A large sample of appendicular remains, predominantly composed by unpublished specimens, is described here in detail to provide new data about the diversity of the sauropods of the Hațeg Island during the Maastrichtian. All specimens show affinities or are compatible with lithostrotian sauropods, even if the availability of characters of some of them does not allow its attribution to this clade. Five morphotypes for the femora, three to four for the humeri, three for the fibulae, and two for the radii, ulnae, manus, pubes, ischia, tibiae, and pedes are established, supporting the presence of four or five taxa in this domain. A unique partial manus morphology characterized by its extreme gracile metacarpals is reported, only surpassed by an unpublished manus found in the Spanish Lo Hueco fossil-site (late Campanian-early Maastrichtian), suggesting that a titanosaurian lineage with extremely elongated manus inhabited the European realm, in both Hațeg and Ibero-Armorican islands, at the end of the Mesozoic.

The Undescribed Juvenile Maxilla from Contrebandiers Cave, Morocco—A Study on Middle Stone Age Facial Growth

In 2009, renewed excavations at the Middle Stone Age (MSA) site of Contrebandiers Cave, Morocco, yielded a skull and partial skeleton of a child dated to Marine Isotope Stage 5. While much of the cranium was found shattered, the midface remained largely intact. In this study, we virtually reconstructed the maxilla and quantified its shape using three-dimensional geometric morphometric methods and compared it to an extensive sample of non-adult and adult Eurasian Neanderthals and Homo sapiens spanning the Middle Pleistocene to Holocene. We used developmental simulations to predict the adult shape of the Contrebandiers maxilla by simulating development along three ontogenetic trajectories: Neanderthal, African, and Levantine early H. sapiens and Holocene H. sapiens. Our results confirm the H. sapiens-like morphology of the Contrebandiers fossil. Both shape and size align it with other North African MSA fossils and Late Pleistocene humans from Qafzeh, Israel. Interestingly, the evaluation of the ontogenetic trajectories suggests that during late ontogeny the facial growth pattern of the Contrebandiers and the Qafzeh children is more similar to that of Neanderthals than it is to recent humans. This suggests that the unique facial growth pattern of Homo sapiens post-dated the MSA. This study is an important step in addressing ontogenetic variability in the African MSA, a period characterized by the origins, emergence, and dispersal of our species, but poorly understood because of the fragmentary and scant human fossil record.

Callovian Marine Reptiles of European Russia

Our knowledge of marine reptiles of the Callovian age (Middle Jurassic) is majorly based on the collections from the Oxford Clay Formation of England, which yielded a diverse marine reptile fauna of plesiosaurians, ichthyosaurians, and thalattosuchians. However, outside of Western Europe, marine reptile remains of this age are poorly known. Here, we survey marine reptiles from the Callovian stage of European Russia. The fossils collected over more than a century from 28 localities are largely represented by isolated bones and teeth, although partial skeletons are also known. In addition to the previously described rhomaleosaurid and metriorhynchids, we identify pliosaurids of the genera Liopleurodon and Simolestes; cryptoclidid plesiosaurians, including Cryptoclidus eurymerus, Muraenosaurus sp., and cf. Tricleidus, and ophthalmosaurid ichthyosaurians, including the iconic Ophthalmosaurus icenicus. These findings expand the ranges of several Callovian marine reptile taxa far to the Eastern Europe, and support the exchange of marine reptile faunas between Western and Eastern European seas in the middle to late Callovian. However, some specimens from the lower Callovian of European Russia show differences from typical representatives of the middle Callovian Oxford Clay fauna, possibly representing the earlier stages of evolution of some of these marine reptiles not yet recorded in Western Europe or elsewhere.

Continuing Osteological Research with Fairmont State University’s Human Skeletal Collection

Human skeletal remains have been used at some point by most institutions involved in natural science education, though many real remains are slowly being replaced in classroom use by plastic models. Unfortunately, most antique teaching skeletons still in collections today were obtained during an ethically gray era, resulting in a lack of documentation and accountability. Since their purchase, many of these skeletal remains have been disassociated and damaged due to improper storage, the selling of partial skeletons, and mishandling. Projects such as this one at Fairmont State University are being performed to rehumanize and reassociate individuals using a variety of osteometric and macroscopic analysis techniques and create osteobiographies for them. Fairmont State University’s collection has been determined to contain a minimum of 43 individuals, 28 of whom were able to have profile information restored. Current ethical and legal standards related to the treatment of teaching skeletons are nearly non-existent in the US, but projects such as this one can bring attention to the historically immoral treatment of these individuals.

The Picocoraciades (hoopoes, rollers, woodpeckers, and allies) from the early Eocene London Clay of Walton-on-the-Naze

We describe upupiform, coraciiform, and possible piciform birds from the early Eocene London Clay of Walton-on-the-Naze (Essex, UK). The material includes partial skeletons of a new species of a small upupiform bird, Waltonirrisor tendringensis, gen. et sp. nov., which is the earliest known representative of the Upupiformes. Three very similar species of stem group rollers are assigned to Laputavis robusta, Septencoracias morsensis, and S. simillimus, sp. nov. These species only differ in minor features, which raises the possibility that the taxon Sepencoracias Bourdon, 2016 is a junior synonym of Laputavis Dyke, 2001. A smaller stem group roller from Walton-on-the-Naze resembles the North American primobucconid species Primobucco mcgrewi. We also describe two species of a new genus-level taxon, Pristineanis, gen. nov., which shows close affinities to the North American “Neanis” kistneri and may be a stem group representative of the Piciformes. In many aspects of their postcranial osteology, the stem group Coracii from Walton-on-the-Naze, as well as the new taxon Pristineanis, resemble coeval Trogoniformes from this fossil site. Because trogons are the extant sister taxon of the Picocoraciades – the clade including the Upupiformes, Coraciiformes, and Piciformes –, the shared similarities are likely to be plesiomorphic for this latter clade. Early Cenozoic representatives of the Upupiformes and Coraciiformes were much smaller than their extant relatives, which suggests that the Picocoraciades are an avian example of Cope’s Rule that postulates a tendency for size increase in evolutionary lineages over time.

Reappraisal of sauropod dinosaur diversity in the Upper Cretaceous Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia, through 3D digitisation and description of new specimens.

Skeletal remains of sauropod dinosaurs have been known from Australia for over 100 years. Unfortunately, the classification of the majority of these specimens to species level has historically been impeded by their incompleteness. This has begun to change in the last 15 years, primarily through the discovery and description of several partial skeletons from the Cenomanian-lower Turonian (lower Upper Cretaceous) Winton Formation in central Queensland, with four species erected to date: Australotitan cooperensis, Diamantinasaurus matildae, Savannasaurus elliottorum, and Wintonotitan wattsi. The first three of these appear to form a clade (Diamantinasauria) of early diverging titanosaurs (or close relatives of titanosaurs), whereas Wintonotitan wattsi is typically recovered as a distantly related non-titanosaurian somphospondylan. Through the use of 3D scanning, we digitised numerous specimens of Winton Formation sauropods, facilitating enhanced comparison between type and referred specimens, and heretofore undescribed specimens. We present new anatomical information on the holotype specimen of Diamantinasaurus matildae, and describe new remains pertaining to twelve sauropod individuals. Firsthand observations and digital analysis enabled previously proposed autapomorphic features of all four named Winton Formation sauropod species to be identified in the newly described specimens, with some specimens exhibiting putative autapomorphies of more than one species, prompting a reassessment of their taxonomic validity. Supported by a specimen-level phylogenetic analysis, we suggest that Australotitan cooperensis is probably a junior synonym of Diamantinasaurus matildae, but conservatively regard it herein as an indeterminate diamantinasaurian, meaning that the Winton Formation sauropod fauna now comprises three (rather than four) valid diamantinasaurian species: Diamantinasaurus matildae, Savannasaurus elliottorum, and Wintonotitan wattsi, with the latter robustly supported as a member of the clade for the first time. We refer some of the newly described specimens to these three species and provide revised diagnoses, with some previously proposed autapomorphies now regarded as diamantinasaurian synapomorphies. Our newly presented anatomical data and critical reappraisal of the Winton Formation sauropods facilitates a more comprehensive understanding of the mid-Cretaceous sauropod palaeobiota of central Queensland.

Direct S0 → Tn Transition under Visible Light Irradiation Enabling Synthesis of a Pseudoindoxyl Scaffold.

Pseudoindoxyl is a partial skeleton found in various natural products. Its light-absorption properties make it useful for the design of functional molecules. However, versatile synthesis methods have not yet been reported. In this report, we present a versatile synthetic method for pseudoindoxyls using the direct S0 → Tn transition under visible light irradiation. We also discuss the application of pseudoindoxyls as photocatalysts.

Promising improved mechanical, wear, corrosive properties by the impact of CNTs on Al alloy by FSP – A review

The monolithic alloys of aluminium have the qualities of less density, elevated strength and high resistance to corrosion. Generally, alloys of aluminium are most comprehensively used in the fields of aerospace sectors such as skeleton parts of aircraft, fuselages, bulk heads, wing ribs, wing spars, automobile and transportation industries, architectural parts, electrical and electronic applications, etc.The evolution of microstructure, and mechanical characteristics such aselongation, hardness, tensile strength, tribological property, and corrosion resistance are examined in this paper for the composites of aluminium-carbon nano-tubes (CNTs). With the use of a surface composite processing method known as friction stir processing, CNTs are added as reinforcements to improve the various properties of the base metal. The CNTs provide a wide variety of characteristics, such as outstanding electrical conductivity, thermal stability, high strength, and superior elastic properties.Numerous collections of published literature have been thoroughly studied, and it discusses a few of the essential underlying assumptions needed to achieve the optimal combination of CNTs with the aluminium under friction processing technique. From the comprehensive review, the statements are summarized that will assist future research work involving the accumulation of CNTs reinforced with aluminium alloy and utilized in various applications of aerospace and aircraft sectors.

New fossils of Eocypselus and Primapus from the British London Clay reveal a high taxonomic and ecological diversity of early Eocene swift‐like apodiform birds

We describe new specimens and species of apodiform birds from the early Eocene London Clay of Walton‐on‐the Naze (Essex, UK). In addition to multiple partial skeletons of Eocypselus vincenti Harrison, 1984, three new species of Eocypselus are described as Eocypselus geminus, sp. nov., Eocypselus paulomajor, sp. nov. and Eocypselus grandissimus, sp. nov. The previously unknown quadrate of Eocypselus shares a characteristic derived morphology with the quadrate of the Aegothelidae, Hemiprocnidae and Apodidae, whereas the quadrate of the Trochilidae is very different. We also report a striking disparity of the shapes of the axis vertebra of apodiform birds, which is likely to be of functional significance. Eocypselus and extant Hemiprocnidae and Cypseloidini (Apodidae) exhibit the plesiomorphic morphology, whereas a derived shape characterizes extant Aegothelidae, Apodini and Trochilidae. Furthermore, we describe the first partial skeleton of the earliest aegialornithid species, Primapus lacki Harrison & Walker, 1975, which was previously only known from the humeri of the type series that stem from different sites of the London Clay. The apodiform birds from Walton‐on‐the‐Naze show a considerable taxonomic and ecomorphological diversity, and whereas Eocypselus may have inhabited forest edges and caught insects by sallying flights from perches, Primapus probably was a fast‐flying and more aerial bird.

The case of a mass death of livestock in the Early Iron Age in the steppe zone of Kazakhstan

A mass burial of complete and almost complete cattle and small ruminant skeletons found in a pit within the Early Iron Age settlement of Abylai in Central Kazakhstan (49°15'N, 75°07'E) has been studied. The results of archaeological research and archeozoological contexts have shown that the animals’ burial was a single event. The aim of the work was to determine the reasons for the formation of this accumu-lation. The analysis of skeletal element composition, animal age composition, and the season of their death has been performed. A com-parison of species composition, skeletal element composition, age composition, season of animals’ death and taphonomic features be-tween samples from the pit and the cultural layer of the settlement has been made. Significant differences between these samples have been revealed. The animals from the settlement layer were slaughtered during late autumn-winter, while animals from the pit died in early spring. The bones from the pit were almost all intact, while those from the settlement layer had characteristics typical of household waste. Bones from the “layer” have significantly more postmortem modifications than those from the “pit”. The age composition and the skeleton parts ratio between the samples are different. The analysis of the obtained data shows that in the beginning of spring 89 small ruminant and 6 cattle individuals were buried in the pit in a short period of time. According to ethnographic data, this could possibly be interpreted as the burial of animals who died as a result of spring jute. In the steppe zone of Eurasia, jute is the most frequent extreme event leading to mass death of ungulates. Jutes can happen in summer, when grass burns out with drought. But the most large-scale and frequent are winter jutes, when, due to catastrophic snowfalls, grass becomes inaccessible to animals, and spring jutes, when frosts come after a thaw. During jute, many animals die from starvation in a short time. Small ruminants are the most vulnerable because they are the least adapted to breaking ice crusts with their hooves. Cattle are less vulnerable, and even less so are horses. The following archaeological situation has been observed: all animals died in early spring; many of them were buried in a short time; the remains of small ruminants prevail, there are few cattle and no horses; most animals were probably skinned. This picture is most consistent with the burial of animals killed by jute. As an alternative hypothesis, a sacrificial nature of death of the animals has been considered. However, the combination of characteristics of the archaeological and archeozoological contexts of pit filling allows us to reject the latter hypothesis.

A pan-cheloniid turtle from the Middle Miocene of Portugal.

Currently, there is no information on the fossil record of Pan-Cheloniidae from the Neogene of the Iberian Peninsula. A well-preserved partial skeleton attributable to this lineage of turtles, from the Middle Miocene of Portugal, is presented here. It preserves much of the anterior half of its carapace, in which the plates remain articulated, as well as several articulated dorsal vertebrae, and an isolated cervical and a caudal vertebrae. The analysis of this Serravallian find shows that it cannot be attributed to a hitherto described taxon. Thus, a new member of Pan-Cheloniidae is defined, Lusochelys emilianoi gen. et sp. nov., improving the relatively limited knowledge about this lineage for the Middle Miocene global record. It represents the first generic and specific systematic attribution for a member of Pan-Chelonioidea in the Neogene record of the Iberian Peninsula.