The first Cearachelyini (Pelomedusoides, Bothremydidae) turtle from the Upper Cretaceous of Patagonia, and an overview of the occurrence and diversity of Pelomedusoides in Patagonia

MANIEL, I.J.; DE LA FUENTE, M.S.; CANALE, J.I.

CRETACEOUS RESEARCH (PRINT)

ACADEMIC PRESS LTD-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Año: 2021

0195-6671

Abstract. A new species of pelomedusoid turtle: Elkanemys pritchardi gen. et sp. nov. from Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) is described. The specimen MMCH-PV 73 outcrops at Lago Ezequiel Ramos Mexia, near El Chocón town, Río Negro Province, Argentina. The holotype is only represented by a partial carapace and plastron, which has been included in a cladistic analysis, resulting in Elkanemys pritchardi as a member of the Cearachelyini tribe of the clade Bothremydidae. This new taxon corresponds to the first record of a Bothremydidae in a Cretaceous horizon of Neuquén Basin. The results here highlighted the diversity of Pelomedusoides in the Cretaceous of Patagonia, allowing this area´s inclusion in the further paleobiogeographic history of Bothremydidae clade.