Origin, evolution and biogeographic history of South American Turtles

DE LA FUENTE, MARCELO; STERLI, JULIANA; MANIEL, IGNACIO

Springer Verlag

Lugar: Dordretch; Año: 2014 p. 168

978-3-319-00517-1

The continental cheloniofauna of South America is integrated by almost 46 extant species assigned to seven different clades (Emydidae, Geoemydidae, Chelydridae, Kinosternidae, Testudinidae, Chelidae, and Podocnemididae) and 48 extinct species refereed to 10 different clades (Trionychidae, Chelidae, Podocnemididae, Podocnemidinura, Bothremydidae, Testudinidae, Meiolaniformes, Platychelyidae, and Australochelyidae). The cheloniofauna of South America has been exposed to multiple and different process since the Late Triassic (e.g., origin, dispersion, vicariance, and extinction) that shaped the modern distribution of turtles in the continent. The fossil record of the clade shows a different timing in the integration of each clade to South America.