New Turtle Remains from the Late Cretaceous and Paleogene of Volgograd Region, Russia

Alexander O. Averianov, Alexander A. Yarkov

Abstract


Fragmentary remains of Cryptodira incertae sedis sp. 1 (dentary, scapular fragments, and neural; Rasstrigin 1, Maastrichtian), Cryptodira incertae sedis sp. 2 (fused epiplastra with two pairs of gular scutes; Bereslavka 1, Maastrichtian), Chelonioidea incertae sedis sp. 1 (frontal bone and carapace fragments; Polunino 2, Campanian), and Testudines indet. (phalanx; Loznoe, upper Paleocene) are described. Chelonioidea incertae sedis sp. 1 from Polunino 2 is similar to Allopleuron by lacking a prefrontal-postorbital contact, in having a interdigitating contact between costals and neurals, the loss of suprapygal-pygal contact, the reduction of horn sulci, and the possible development of the secondary bony palate (inferred from the rather long dentary symphysis). Three new localities for marine turtles (Cenomanian Solodcha and Paleocene Bereslavka 2a and 2b) are also indicated for the first time, but the material is insufficient for description.

Keywords


Testudines; Cretaceous; Paleogene; Volgograd Region

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.30906/1026-2296-2004-11-1-41-50

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