scholarly journals A new species of the large-headed coastal marine turtle Solnhofia (Testudinata, Thalassochelydia) from the Late Jurassic of NW Switzerland

PeerJ ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 8 ◽  
pp. e9931
Author(s):  
Jérémy Anquetin ◽  
Christian Püntener
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Late Jurassic ◽  
Ventral View ◽  
Dorsal Surface ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Close Relative ◽  
Coastal Marine ◽  
Large Head ◽  
New Material ◽  
Nw Switzerland

Background The large-headed turtle Solnhofia parsonsi is known by a handful of specimens from the Late Jurassic of Germany and Switzerland (maybe also France). Solnhofia parsonsi is traditionally regarded as a “eurysternid” Thalassochelydia, a group of small to medium sized, mostly lagoonal or marginal turtles found almost exclusively in the Late Jurassic of Europe. More recently, Solnhofia parsonsi has been proposed to be a close relative of Sandownidae, an enigmatic group of Cretaceous to Paleogene turtles characterized by a derived cranial anatomy and a wider geographical distribution. Sandownids may therefore have evolved from thalassochelydian ancestors such as Solnhofia parsonsi. Methods We herein describe new material of Solnhofia from the Kimmeridgian (Late Jurassic) of Porrentruy, NW Switzerland. The bulk of the material consists of an association of a cranium and over 180 shell bones found together in a block of marly limestone. A second cranium and a mandible from slightly younger, but nearby localities are also described. Results We refer the new material to Solnhofia brachyrhyncha n. sp. The new species shares with Solnhofia parsonsi a relatively large head, an extensive secondary palate formed primarily by the maxillae, a greatly developed processus trochlearis oticum with a contribution from the parietal and quadratojugal, a large jugal-palatine contact in the floor of the fossa orbitalis, and a posteromedial process of the jugal running on the dorsal surface of the maxilla and pterygoid. Some of these characteristics are also present in sandownids, but our morphological study clearly shows that Solnhofia brachyrhyncha is closer to Solnhofia parsonsi than to any sandownids. Discussion Solnhofia brachyrhyncha differs from Solnhofia parsonsi in many aspects, notably: a shortened and broader cranium, a shorter and posteriorly broader upper triturating surface with a slightly sinusoidal lateral margin and without contribution from the palatine, a processus trochlearis oticum more oblique in dorsal or ventral view and less concave in anterior view, choanae that do not extend posteriorly on the pterygoids, a more developed processus pterygoideus externus, a condylus mandibularis situated anterior to the level of the occipital plane, a greater ventral exposure of the parabasisphenoid, a mandible about as wide as long, a relatively short symphysis, a lower triturating surface widened posterolaterally thanks to the presence of large laterally projecting dentary tubercles, a stouter and shorter coronoid process, a splenial positioned more anteriorly along the mandibular ramus, costo-peripheral fontanelles extending more anteriorly and posteriorly along the costal series, and an escutcheon shaped central plastral fontanelle formed mostly by the hypoplastra. In addition to the morphology of the new species, we also briefly discuss about observable ontogenetic variations and possible taphonomic origin of the assemblage.

scholarly journals A new species of the large-headed coastal marine turtle Solnhofia (Testudinata, Thalassochelydia) from the Late Jurassic of NW Switzerland

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jérémy Anquetin ◽  
Christian Püntener
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Late Jurassic ◽  
Ventral View ◽  
Dorsal Surface ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Close Relative ◽  
Coastal Marine ◽  
Large Head ◽  
New Material ◽  
Nw Switzerland

Background. The large-headed turtle Solnhofia parsonsi is known by a handful of specimens from the Late Jurassic of Germany and Switzerland (maybe also France). Solnhofia parsonsi is traditionally regarded as a eurysternid Thalassochelydia, a group of small to medium sized, mostly lagoonal or marginal turtles found almost exclusively from the Late Jurassic of Europe. More recently, Solnhofia parsonsi has been proposed to be a close relative of Sandownidae, an enigmatic group of Cretaceous to Paleogene turtles characterized by a derived cranial anatomy and a wider geographical distribution. Sandownids may therefore have evolved from thalassochelydian ancestors such as Solnhofia parsonsi.Methods. We herein describe new material of Solnhofia from the Kimmeridgian (Late Jurassic) of Porrentruy, NW Switzerland. The bulk of the material consists of an association of a cranium and over 180 shell bones found together in a block of marly limestone. A second cranium and a mandible from slightly younger, but nearby localities are also described.Results. We refer the new material to Solnhofia [edited] n. sp. The new species shares with Solnhofia parsonsi a relatively large head, an extensive secondary palate formed primarily by the maxillae, a greatly developed processus trochlearis oticum with a contribution from the parietal and quadratojugal, a large jugal-palatine contact in the floor of the fossa orbitalis, and a posteromedial process of the jugal running on the dorsal surface of the maxilla and pterygoid. Some of these characteristics are also present in sandownids, but our morphological study clearly shows that Solnhofia [edited] is closer to Solnhofia parsonsi than to any sandownids.Discussion. Solnhofia [edited] differs from Solnhofia parsonsi in many aspects, notably: a shortened and broader cranium, a shorter and posteriorly broader upper triturating surface with a slightly sinusoidal lateral margin and without contribution from the palatine, a processus trochlearis oticum more oblique in dorsal or ventral view and less concave in anterior view, choanae that do not extend posteriorly on the pterygoids, a more developed processus pterygoideus externus, a condylus mandibularis situated anterior to the level of the occipital plane, a greater ventral exposure of the parabasisphenoid, a mandible about as wide as long, a relatively short symphysis, a lower triturating surface widened posterolaterally thanks to the presence of large laterally projecting dentary tubercles, a stouter and shorter coronoid process, a splenial positioned more anteriorly along the mandibular ramus, costo-peripheral fontanelles extending more anteriorly and posteriorly along the costal series, and an escutcheon shaped central plastral fontanelle formed mostly by the hypoplastra. In addition to the morphology of the new species, we also briefy discuss about observable ontogenetic variations and possible taphonomic origin of the assemblage.

scholarly journals Thalassemys bruntrutanan. sp., a new coastal marine turtle from the Late Jurassic of Porrentruy (Switzerland), and the paleobiogeography of the Thalassemydidae

PeerJ ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. e1282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Püntener ◽  
Jérémy Anquetin ◽  
Jean-Paul Billon-Bruyat
Keyword(s):  
Late Jurassic ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Jura Mountains ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
The Past ◽  
Coastal Marine ◽  
New Material ◽  
Swiss Jura ◽  
Nw Switzerland ◽  
A New Species

Background.The Swiss Jura Mountains are a key region for Late Jurassic eucryptodiran turtles. Already in the mid 19th century, the Solothurn Turtle Limestone (Solothurn, NW Switzerland) yielded a great amount of Kimmeridgian turtles that are traditionally referred to Plesiochelyidae, Thalassemydidae, and Eurysternidae. In the past few years, fossils of these coastal marine turtles were also abundantly discovered in the Kimmeridgian of the Porrentruy region (NW Switzerland). These findings include numerous sub-complete shells, out of which we present two new specimens ofThalassemys(Thalassemydidae) in this study.Methods.We compare the new material from Porrentruy to the type speciesTh. hugii, which is based on a well preserved specimen from the Solothurn Turtle Limestone (Solothurn, Switzerland). In order to improve our understanding of the paleogeographic distribution ofThalassemys, anatomical comparisons are extended toThalassemysremains from other European countries, notably Germany and England.Results.While one of the twoThalassemysspecimens from Porrentruy can be attributed toTh. hugii, the other specimen represents a new species,Th. bruntrutanan. sp. It differs fromTh. hugiiby several features: more elongated nuchal that strongly thickens anterolaterally; wider vertebral scales; proportionally longer plastron; broader and less inclined xiphiplastron; wider angle between scapular process and acromion process. Our results show thatTh. hugiiandTh. bruntrutanaalso occur simultaneously in the Kimmeridgian of Solothurn as well as in the Kimmeridgian of England (Kimmeridge Clay). This study is an important step towards a better understanding of the paleobiogeographic distribution of Late Jurassic turtles in Europe.

scholarly journals New material of “Eurysternidae” (Thalassochelydia, Pan-Cryptodira) from the Kimmeridgian of the Swiss Jura Mountains

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Püntener ◽  
Jérémy Anquetin ◽  
Jean-Paul Billon-Bruyat
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Late Jurassic ◽  
Jura Mountains ◽  
Marine Turtles ◽  
Coastal Marine ◽  
Juvenile Individual ◽  
New Material ◽  
Swiss Jura ◽  
First Time

The region of Porrentruy (Swiss Jura Mountains) is known for its rich and diverse assemblage of Late Jurassic coastal marine turtles (Thalassochelydia). Dominated by the “Plesiochelyidae”, this assemblage also includes representatives of the two other thalassochelydian groups, the “Thalassemydidae” and “Eurysternidae.” In this study, we present new shell-based material from Porrentruy referable to eurysternids. One specimen represents a juvenile individual or a relatively small taxon, and is notably characterized by a well fenestrated plastron exhibiting a wider than long central plastral fontanelle. Two other specimens are much larger and possibly represent the largest eurysternids known to date. The fourth specimen is characterized by a unique plastral morphology otherwise only known in very small juveniles. This is the first time this unique plastral morphology is known to persist in an adult or subadult. The new material described herein represents at least three distinct taxa, all of them probably new. However, we refrain from naming new species based on this incomplete material in order to avoid adding confusion to an already complex taxonomical situation. This study provides new insights into the great diversity of eurysternids during the Late Jurassic.

scholarly journals The comparative osteology of Plesiochelys bigleri n. sp., a new coastal marine turtle from the Late Jurassic of Porrentruy (Switzerland)

PeerJ ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 5 ◽  
pp. e3482 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Püntener ◽  
Jérémy Anquetin ◽  
Jean-Paul Billon-Bruyat
Keyword(s):  
Late Jurassic ◽  
Western Europe ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Appendicular Skeleton ◽  
Crown Group ◽  
Coastal Marine ◽  
Coastal Marine Ecosystems ◽  
Swiss Jura ◽  
Nw Switzerland ◽  
Comparative Osteology

Background During the Late Jurassic, several groups of eucryptodiran turtles inhabited the shallow epicontinental seas of Western Europe. Plesiochelyidae are an important part of this first radiation of crown-group turtles into coastal marine ecosystems. Fossils of Plesiochelyidae occur in many European localities, and are especially abundant in the Kimmeridgian layers of the Swiss Jura Mountains (Solothurn and Porrentruy). In the mid-19th century, the quarries of Solothurn (NW Switzerland) already provided a large amount of fossil turtles, most notably Plesiochelys etalloni, the best-known plesiochelyid species. Recent excavations in the Porrentruy area (NW Switzerland) revealed new fossils of Plesiochelys, including numerous well-preserved shells with associated cranial and postcranial material. Methods/results Out of 80 shells referred to Plesiochelys, 41 are assigned to a new species, Plesiochelys bigleri n. sp., including a skull–shell association. We furthermore refer 15 shells to Plesiochelys etalloni, and 24 shells to Plesiochelys sp. Anatomical comparisons show that Plesiochelys bigleri can clearly be differentiated from Plesiochelys etalloni by cranial features. The shell anatomy and the appendicular skeleton of Plesiochelys bigleri and Plesiochelys etalloni are very similar. However, a statistical analysis demonstrates that the thickness of neural bones allows to separate the two species based on incomplete material. This study furthermore illustrates the extent of intraspecific variation in the shell anatomy of Plesiochelys bigleri and Plesiochelys etalloni.

scholarly journals Under the feet of sauropods: a trampled coastal marine turtle from the Late Jurassic of Switzerland?

2019 ◽  
Vol 112 (2-3) ◽  
pp. 507-515 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Püntener ◽  
Jean-Paul Billon-Bruyat ◽  
Daniel Marty ◽  
Géraldine Paratte
Keyword(s):  
Late Jurassic ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Coastal Marine

scholarly journals The turtles from the upper Eocene, Osona County (Ebro Basin, Catalonia, Spain): new material and its faunistic and environmental context

Fossil Record ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-284 ◽  
Author(s):  
France de Lapparent de Broin ◽  
Xabier Murelaga ◽  
Adán Pérez-García ◽  
Francesc Farrés ◽  
Jacint Altimiras
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Middle Eocene ◽  
Basal Layer ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Ebro Basin ◽  
New Material ◽  
Three New Species ◽  
Santa Cecilia ◽  
Latest Eocene ◽  
First Time

Abstract. Eochelone voltregana n. sp. is a new marine cryptodiran cheloniid found at the Priabonian levels (latest Eocene) of the Vespella marls member of the Vic–Manlleu marls formation. It is the second cheloniid from Santa Cecília de Voltregà (Osona County, Spain), the first one being Osonachelus decorata from the same formation. Shell parameters indicate that the new species belongs to a branch of sea turtles including the Eocene Anglo–Franco–Belgian forms Argillochelys, Puppigerus and Eochelone (the shell of the latter was studied here for the first time) as well as Glarichelys from the Oligocene of Switzerland, all of them predating the worldwide living Miocene genera. The description of two other more littoral–continental Eocene species is given: Trionyx sp., from an older layer of the same formation; and the podocnemidid erymnochelyine, Cordichelys from a more basal layer of a middle Eocene (Lutetian) formation. The last one is identified as the only evidence of the Shweboemys subgroup in the European record, being distinct from the other known Osona County pleurodire Eocenochelus farresi, which is a member of the Erymnochelys group (same subfamily), from the younger Priabonian Sant Martí Xic layer. Thus, an update on the marine turtle fauna of the eastern Ebro Basin that variably opened in the east during Eocene times is provided. The turtles of Osona County belong to two suborders and five genera with three new species and extend the known distribution of their families (LSID urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:48CE8676-7B82-4EF2-8165-27BEE90129F2).

scholarly journals Synapsis puluongensis sp. nov. and redescription of S. horaki (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), with a key to Vietnamese species

2018 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 407-418 ◽  
Author(s):  
Van Bac Bui ◽  
Michael Bonkowski
Keyword(s):  
New Species ◽  
Nature Reserve ◽  
Ventral View ◽  
Key To Species ◽  
Central Vietnam ◽  
New Material ◽  
A New Species

Abstract A new species of coprophagous scarabaeid, Synapsis puluongensis sp. nov., is described based on six specimens collected in Pu Luong Nature Reserve in central Vietnam. The new species can be clearly distinguished from the remaining species of Synapsis Bates, 1868 by the following characters: hypomeral cavities present but not covered by red macrosetae; mesepisternal cavities absent; elytral striae extremely strong, bearing close and strong punctures; metafemora with dense and strong punctures in ventral view. Redescription of S. horaki Zídek & Pokorný, 2010 based on new material is also presented. Key to species of the genus Synapsis from Vietnam is provided.

scholarly journals Under the feet of sauropods: A trampled coastal marine turtle from the Late Jurassic of Switzerland?

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Püntener ◽  
Jean-Paul Billon-Bruyant ◽  
Daniel Marty ◽  
Géraldine Paratte
Keyword(s):  
Tidal Flat ◽  
Late Jurassic ◽  
The State ◽  
Marine Turtle ◽  
Jura Mountains ◽  
Turtle Shell ◽  
Coastal Marine ◽  
Swiss Jura

Recent excavations from the “Paléontologie A16” project brought to light thousands of dinosaur footprints and numer-ous turtle remains from the Late Jurassic of Porrentruy (Swiss Jura Mountains). While most fossil turtles (Thalassochelydia) were found in marly layers that were deposited in a coastal marine paleoenvironment, the dinosaur (theropods and sauropods) tracks were found in laminites that were deposited in a tidal flat environment. Despite extensive explo-ration, very few fossils were found in these dinosaur track-bearing laminites. On one occasion, a sub-complete turtle shell (Plesiochelys bigleri) was discovered within the laminites, embedded just beneath an important sauropod track level. The state of preservation of this specimen suggests that the turtle died on the tidal flat and was quickly buried. This is the first evidence that these turtles occasionally visited tidal flat paleoenvironments. Moreover, the particular configuration of the fossil turtle suggests that the shell was possibly trodden on by a large sauropod dinosaur.

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