A new large panchelid turtle from the Loncoche Formation (Late Campanian-Early Maastrichtian), Mendoza Province, Argentina: Morphological, osteohistological studies, and a preliminary phylogenetic analysis

J. MARCOS JANNELLO; FERNANDO NOVAS; J. MARCOS JANNELLO; FERNANDO NOVAS; IGNACIO J. MANIEL; BERNARDO GONZÁLEZ RIGA; IGNACIO J. MANIEL; BERNARDO GONZÁLEZ RIGA; MARCELO S. DE LA FUENTE; JULIANA STERLI; MARCELO S. DE LA FUENTE; JULIANA STERLI

CRETACEOUS RESEARCH (PRINT)

ACADEMIC PRESS LTD-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2017 p. 1 - 22

0195-6671

A new genus and species of panchelid turtle (Mendozachelys wichmanninov. gen.et sp.) from the Late Campanian-Early Maastrichtian LoncocheFormation (southern Mendoza Province, Argentina) is described here. Thisspecies is represented by only one complete and articulated largespecimen that was recovered from tidal flat deposits. A detailedmorhological and osteohistological description is made, recognizingautopomorphic characters that allow differenciating this taxon from therest of extant and extinct panchelids. Phylogenetic analysis based onmorphological data suggested that this new taxon is a basal panchelid.Both phylogenetic signals (morphological and molecular) about theassessment of long-necked chelids monophyly or poliphyly are discussed.The histology shows characters that suggest an aquatic life style forMendozachelys wichmanni nov. gen. et sp.