Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Early Differentiation of Mesozoic Turtles

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
Origin, Evolution and Biogeographic History of South American Turtles

Part of the book series: Springer Earth System Sciences ((SPRINGEREARTH))

Abstract

Panpleurodiran clade Platychelyidae extends from the Oxfordian to the Valanginian of Cuba, South America, and Europe. The oldest member of Platychelyidae was recovered from the Oxfordian of Cuba. The Upper Jurassic record is represented in Europe by only one Kimmeridgian–Tithonian species and in South America by two species. A shallow marine connection between the Western Tethys and Eastern Pacific through central Pangaea was present since the beginning of the Jurassic and acted as a corridor for numerous pelagic reptile groups as the panpleurodiran turtles. Stem turtles (i.e., stem Testudines) from the Late Triassic until the Middle Jurassic have had a Pangaean distribution, and they are known from all continents except Australia and Antarctica. Two species are recognized in South America: the Late Triassic Palaeochersis talampayensis and the Middle Jurassic Condorchelys antiqua.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 84.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    Courtesy of Indiana University Press.

  2. 2.

    Courtesy of Schweizerbart Science Publishers (www.schweizerbart.de).

References

  • Aberham M (2001) Bivalve paleobiogeography and the Hispanic Corridor: time of opening and the effectiveness of a proto-Atlantic seaway. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 165:375–394

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anquetin J (2010) The anatomy of the basal turtle Eileanchelys waldmani from the Middle Jurassic of the Isle of Skye, Scotland. Earth Environ Trans R Soc Edinb 101:67–96

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Anquetin J, Barrett PM, Jones MEH, Moore-Fay S, Evans SE (2009) A new stem turtle from the Middle Jurassic of Scotland: new insights into the evolution and palaeoecology of basal turtles. Proc R Soc B 276:879–886

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ballent S, Wahtley R (2000) The distribution of the Mesozoic ostracod genus Procytherura Wahtley: palaeogeographical implications with special reference to Argentina. Alcheringa 24:229–242

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baur G (1887) Ueber den Ursprung der Extremitaten der Ichthyopterygia. Jahrbr Mitt Oberrhein Geol Verein 20:17–20

    Google Scholar 

  • Bräm H (1965) Die Schildkröten aus dem oberen Jura(Malm) der Gegend von Solothurn. Schweizer Paläont Abhandl 83:1–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Cadena EA, Bloch JI (2009) Two new specimens of the platychelyid turtle Notoemys zapatocaensis from the Early Cretaceous (Valanginian) of Colombia. Spec Publ R Tyrrell Mus Turt Symp Abstr Programs 1:29–31

    Google Scholar 

  • Cadena E, Gaffney ES (2005) Notoemys zapatocaensis, a new side-necked turtle (Pleurodura: Platychelyidae) from the Early Cretaceous of Colombia. Am Mus Novit 3470:1–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cadena EA, Ksepka DT, Jaramillo CA, Bloch JI (2012) New pelomedusoid turtles from the Late Palaeocene Cerrejón Formation of Colombia and their implications for phylogeny and body size evolution. J Syst Palaeontol 10:313–331

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cadena EA, Jaramillo CA, Bloch JI (2013) New Material of the Platychelyid Turtle Notoemys zapatocaensis from the Early Cretaceous of Colombia; Implications for Understanding Pleurodira Evolution. In: Brinkman DB, Holroyd PA, Gardner JD (eds) Morphology and evolution of turtles, vol 8, pp 105–120. Proceedings of Gaffney Turtle symposium (2009) in Honor of Eugene Gaffney, Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology. Springer, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Cattoi N, Freiberg M (1961) Nuevo hallazgo de Chelonia extinguidos en la República Argentina. Physis 22:202

    Google Scholar 

  • Cúneo R, Bowring S (2010) Dataciones geocronológicas preliminares en la Cuenca Cañadón Asfalto, Jurásico de Chubut, Argentina. Implicancias geológicas y paleontológicas. Abstracts 10° Congr Arg de Paleontol Bioestr 7° Congr Latinoamer Paleontol 153. La Plata

    Google Scholar 

  • Damborenea S (2000) Hispanic Corridor: its evolution and the biogeography of bivalve molluscs. GeoRes Forum 6:369–380

    Google Scholar 

  • Damborenea S, Manceñido M (1979) On the paleogeography distribution of the pectinid genus Weyla (Bivalvia, Lower Jurassic). Paleogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 27:85–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de Broin F (1984) Proganochelys ruchae n. sp., chélonien du Trias supérieur de Thailande. Stud Palaeochel 1:87–97

    Google Scholar 

  • de Broin F (1988) Les Tortues et le Gondwana. Examen des rapport entre le fractionemment du Gondwana et la dispersión géographique dess tortues pleurodires àpartir de Crétacé. Stud Geol Salmant Studia Palaeochel 2:103–142

    Google Scholar 

  • de Broin F, de la Fuente MS (1993) Les tortues fossiles d’Argentine: synthèse. Ann Paléontol 79:169–232

    Google Scholar 

  • de Gasparini ZB (1978) Consideraciones sobre los Metriorhynchidae (Crocodilia, Mesosuchia): su origen, taxonomía y distribución geográfica. Obra Cent Mus La Plata 5:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • de Gasparini ZB (1992) Marine reptiles. In: Westermann G (ed) The Jurassic of the Circum-Pacific. Cambridge University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • de Gasparini ZB, Fernández M (1996) Biogeographical affinities of the Jurassic marine reptiles of South America. In: Riccardi A (ed) Advances in Jurassic research, GeoResearch forum. Transtec Publications, Zurich

    Google Scholar 

  • de Gasparini ZB, Fernández M (2005) Jurassic marine reptiles in the Neuquen Basin. In: Veiga GD, Spalletti LA, Howell JA, Schwarz E (eds) The Neuquén Basin, Argentina: a case study in sequence stratigraphy and basin dynamics, vol 252, Geological society special publication. Geological Society, London, pp 279–294

    Google Scholar 

  • de Gasparini ZB, Iturralde-Vinent M (2006) The Cuban Oxfordian herpetofauna in the Caribbean Seaway. N Jb Geol Paläont Abh 240:343–371

    Google Scholar 

  • de la Fuente MS (2003) Two new Pleurodiran turtles from the Portezuelo Formation (Upper Cretaceous) of northern Patagonia, Argentina. J Paleontol 77:559–575

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • de la Fuente MS (2007) Testudines. In: de Gasparini ZB, Coria R, Salgado L (eds) Patagonian Mesozoic Reptiles. Indiana University Press, Bloomington

    Google Scholar 

  • de la Fuente MS, Fernández MS (1989) Notoemys laticentralis Cattoi & Freiberg, 1961, from the Upper Jurassic of Argentina: a member of the Infraorder Pleurodira (Cope, 1868). Stud Geol Salmant Stud Palaeochel 3:25–32

    Google Scholar 

  • de la Fuente MS, Iturralde-Vinent M (2001) A new pleurodiran turtle from the Jagua Formation (Oxfordian) of western Cuba. J Paleontol 75:860–869

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fernández MS, de la Fuente MS (1993) Las tortugas casiquélidias de las calizas litográficas titonianas del área Los Catutos Argentina. Ameghiniana 30:283–295

    Google Scholar 

  • Fernández MS, de la Fuente MS (1994) Redescription and phylogenetic position of Notoemys: The oldest Gondwanian pleurodiran turtle. N Jahrb Geol Paläont Abh 19:81–105

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraas E (1899) Proganochelys quenstedti Baur (Psamobates keuperina Qu.) Ein neuer Fund der Keuperschildkrote aus dem Stubensandstein. Jahreshberg Verein Vaterl Naturk Württemberg 60:401–424

    Google Scholar 

  • Fraas E (1913) Proterochersis, eine pleurodire Schildkrote aus dem keuper. Jahreshberg Verein Vaterl Naturk Württemberg 80:13–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaffney ES (1975) A phylogeny and classification of the higher categories of turtles. Bull Am Mus Nat Hist 155:387–436

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaffney ES (1985) The shell morphology of the Triassic turtle. Proganochelys N Jb Geol Paläeontol Abh 170:1–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaffney ES (1990) The comparative osteology of the Triassic turtle Proganochelys. Bull Am Mus Nat Hist 194:1–263

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaffney ES, Jenkins FA (2010) The cranial morphology of Kayentachelys, an Early Jurassic cryptodire, and the early history of turtles. Acta Zool 11:35–68

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaffney ES, Kitching JW (1994) The most ancient African turtle. Nature 369:55–58

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaffney ES, Kitching JW (1995) The morphology and relationships of Australochelys, an Early Jurassic Turtle from South Africa. Am Mus Novit 3130:1–29

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaffney ES, Meeker LJ (1983) Skull morphology of the oldest turtle: a preliminary description of Proganochelys quenstedti. J Vertebr Paleontol 3:25–28

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaffney ES, Meylan P (1988) A phylogeny of turtles. In: Benton MJ (ed) The phylogeny and classification of the tetrapods 1: amphibians, reptiles, birds, vol 35A, Systematics association, special volume. Clarendon, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Gaffney ES, Hutchison JH, Jenkins FA, Meeker LJ (1987) Modern turtle origins: the oldest known cryptodire. Science 237:289–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gaffney ES, Rich TH, Vickers-Rich P, Constantine A, Vacca R, Kool L (2007) Chubutemys, a new eucryptodiran turtle from the Early Cretaceous of Argentina, and the relationships of the Meiolaniidae. Am Mus Novit 3599:1–35

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Guzmán G (1985) Los Grifeidos infracretácicos Aetostreon couloni y Ceratrostreon boussingaulti, de la Formación Rosablanca, como indicadores de oscilaciones marinas. In: Etayo S, Proyecto Cretácico Publ Esp Ing Bogotá 12: 1–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Hallam A (1983) Early and Mid-Jurassic molluscan biogeography and the establishment of the central Atlantic seaway. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 43:181–193

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hirayama R, Brinkman DB, Danilov IG (2000) Distribution and biogeography of non-marine Cretaceous turtles. Russ J Herpetol 7:181–198

    Google Scholar 

  • Iturralde-Vinent M (2003) A brief account of the evolution of the Caribbean seaway: Jurassic to Present. In: Prothero D, Ivany L, Nesbitt E (eds) From greenhouse to icehouse: the Marine Eocene-Oligocene Transition. Columbia University Press, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Iturralde-Vinent M (2004) The conflicting paleontologic vs stratigraphic record of the formation of the Caribbean Seaway. In: Bartolini C, Buffer R, Blickwede J (eds) The Circum-Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean: hydrocarbon habitat, basin formation, and plate tectonic. Mein Amer Assoc Petrol Geol, vol 79, pp 75–88

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaekel O (1914) Ueber die Wirbeltierfunde in der oberen Trias von Halberstadt. Paläontol Z 1:155–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaekel O (1918a) Die Wirbeltierfunde aus dem Keuper von Halberstadt. Serie II. Testudinata. Teil 1. Stegochelys dux n g., n. sp. Paläontol Z 2:88–214

    Google Scholar 

  • Jaekel O (1918b) [Untitled note] Name Stegochelys changed to Triassochelys. Paläontol Z 2:251

    Google Scholar 

  • Jenkins FA Jr, Shubin NH, Amaral WW, Gatesy SM, Schaff CR, Clemmensen LB, Downs WR, Davidson AR, Bonde N, Osbaeck F (1994) Late Triassic continental vertebrates and depositional environments of the Fleming Fjord Formation, Jameson Land, East Greenland. Medd Gron Geosci 32:3–25

    Google Scholar 

  • Joyce WG (2007) Phylogenetic relationships of Mesozoic turtles. Bull Yale Peabody Mus 48:3–102

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joyce WG, Gauthier JA (2004) Palaeoecology of the Triassic stem turtles sheds new light on turtle origins. Proc R Soc B 271:1–5

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joyce WG, Sterli J (2012) Congruence, non-homology, and the phylogeny of basal turtles. Acta Zool 93:149–159

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joyce WG, Parham JF, Gauthier JA (2004) Developing a protocol for the conversion of rank-based taxon names to phylogenetically defined clade names, as exemplified by turtles. J Paleontol 78:989–1013

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Joyce WG, Lucas SG, Scheyer TM, Heckert AB, Hunt AP (2009) A thin-shelled reptile from the Late Triassic of North America and the origin of the turtle shell. Proc R Soc B 276:507–513

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lapparent de Broin F (2000a) The oldest pre-Podocnemidid turtle (Chelonii, Pleurodira), from the Early Cretaceous, Ceará state, Brazil, and its environment. Treb Mus Geol Barcelona 9:43–95

    Google Scholar 

  • Lapparent de Broin F (2000b) African chelonians from the Jurassic to the present: phases of development and preliminary catalogue of the fossil record. Palaeontol Africana 36:43–82

    Google Scholar 

  • Lapparent de Broin F (2001) The European turtle fauna from the Triassic to the Present. Dumerilia 4:155–217

    Google Scholar 

  • Lapparent de Broin F, Murelaga X (1999) Turtles from the upper cretaceous of Laño (Iberian Peninsula). In: Asribia H et al. Geology and paleontology of the upper Cretaceous vertebrate-bearing beds of the Laño Quarry (Basque-Cantabrian region, Iberian Peninsula. Estud Mus Cienc Nat Alava 14:135–211

    Google Scholar 

  • Lapparent de Broin F, Murelaga Bereikua X, Codrea V (2004) Presence of Dortokidae (Chelonii, Pleurodira) in the Earliest Tertiary of Jibou Formation, Romania: Paleobiogeographical implications. Acta Palaeontol Romaniae 4:203–215

    Google Scholar 

  • Lapparent de Broin F, de la Fuente MS, Fernández MS (2007) Notoemys (Chelonii, Pleurodira), Late Jurassic of Argentina: new examination of the anatomical structures and comparisons. Rev Paléobiol 26:99–136

    Google Scholar 

  • Li C, Wu X, Rieppel O, Wang L, Zhao L (2008) An ancestral turtle from the Late Triassic of southwestern China. Nature 45:497–501

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nagashima H, Sugahara F, Takechi M, Ericsson R, Kawashima-Ohya Y, Narita Y (2009) Evolution of the turtle body plan by the folding and creation of new muscle connections. Science 325:193–196

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Nagashima H, Kuraku S, Uchida K, Kawashima-Ohya Y, Narita Y, Kuratani S (2012) Origin of the turtle body plan: the folding theory to illustrate turtle specific developmental repatterning. In: Brinkman DB, Holroyd PA, Gardner JD (eds) Morphology and evolution of turtles, vol 4, pp 37–50. Proceedings of Gaffney Turtle Symposium (2009) in Honor of Eugene Gaffney. Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology, Springer, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Nullo F, Proserpio C (1975) La Formación Traquetrén en Cañadón del Zaino (Chubut) y sus relaciones estratigráficas en el ámbito de la Patagonia, de acuerdo a la flora, República Argentina. Rev Asoc Geol Arg 30:133–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Parsons TS, Williams EE (1961) Two Jurassic turtles skulls: a morphological study. Bull Mus Comp Zool 125:43–107

    Google Scholar 

  • Perea D, Soto M, Sterli J, Mesa V, Toriño P, Roland G, Da Silva J (2012) A new Late Jurassic-?earliest Cretaceous continental turtle from Western Gondwana (Tacuarembó Formation, Paraná Basin, Northern Uruguay). Abstracts 26 Jornadas Argentinas de Paleontología de Vertebrados, Buenos Aires

    Google Scholar 

  • Quenstedt FA (1889) Psamochelys keuperina Jahresh Verein Vaterl. Naturk Würtemberg: 120–130

    Google Scholar 

  • Rauhut OWM, Martin T, Ortiz-Jaureguizar E, Puerta P (2002) A Jurassic mammal from South America. Nature 416:165–168

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Riccardi AC (1991) Jurassic and Cretaceous marine connections between the south-eastern Pacific and Tethys. Palaeogeogr Palaeoclimatol Palaeoecol 87:155–189

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Rieppel O (2012) The evolution of turtle shell. In: Brinkman DB, Holroyd PA, Gardner J D (eds) Morphology and evolution of turtles, vol 5, pp 51–62. Proceedings of Gaffney Turtle symposium (2009) in Honor of Eugene Gaffney, Vertebrate Paleobiology and Paleoanthropology. Springer, Dordrecht

    Google Scholar 

  • Rougier G, de la Fuente MS, Arcucci A (1995) Late Triassic turtles from South America. Science 268:855–858

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Santi Malnis P, Colombi C, Kent D, Alcober OA, Martínez RN (2011) Assessing the age of Los Colorados Formation, Ischigualasto-Villa Unión Basin, Argentina. Temporary implication of Coloradian fauna. 4° Congr Lat Paleont Vertebr, San Juan, Argentina. CD-Rom

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith PL (1983) The Pliensbachian ammonite Dayiceras dayiceroides and Early Jurassic paleogeography. Can J Earth Sci 20:86–91

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Smith AG, Briden JC (1977) Mesozoic and Cenozoic paleocontinental maps. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Sterli J (2008) A new, nearly complete stem turtle from the Jurassic of South America with implications for turtle evolution. Biol Lett 4:286–289

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sterli J (2009) Sistemática y paleobiogeografía de las tortugas continentales del Jurásico de Patagonia, Argentina. Doctoral dissertation, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata

    Google Scholar 

  • Sterli J (2010) Phylogenetic relationships among extinct and extant turtles: the position of Pleurodira and the effects of the fossils on rooting crown-group turtle. Contrib Zool 79:93–106

    Google Scholar 

  • Sterli J, de la Fuente MS (2010) Anatomy of Condorchelys antiqua Sterli, 2008 and the origin of the modern jaw closure mechanism in turtles. J Vertebr Paleontol 30:351–353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sterli J, Joyce WG (2007) The cranial anatomy of the lower Jurassic turtle Kayentachelys aprix. Acta Palaeontol Pol 52:675–694

    Google Scholar 

  • Sterli J, de la Fuente M (2012) New evidence from the Paleocene of Patagonia (Argentina) on the evolution and paleobiogeography of meiolaniform turtles (Testudinata, new taxon name). J Syst Palaeontol. doi:10.1080/14772019.2012.708674, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Sterli J, de la Fuente MS, Rougier GW (2007) Anatomy and relationships of Palaeochersis talampayensis, a Late Triassic turtle from Argentina. Palaeontographica Abt A 281:1–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Stipanicic PN, Rodrigo F, Baulíes OL, Martínez CG (1968) Las formaciones presenonianas en el denominado Macizo Nordpatagónico y regiones adyacentes. Rev Asoc Geol Arg 23:67–98

    Google Scholar 

  • Sukhanov VB (2006) An archaic turtle, Heckerochelys romani gen. et sp. nov., from the Middle Jurassic of Moscow region, Russia. In: Danilov IG, Parham JF (eds) Russ J Herpetol 13 (Suppl.). Fossil Turtle Research 1:112–118

    Google Scholar 

  • Tasch P, Volkheimer W (1970) Jurassic Conchostracans from Patagonia. Univ Kansas Paleont Contrib 50:1–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Volkheimer W, Gallego OF, Cabaleri NG, Armella C, Narváez PL, Silva Nieto DG, Páez MA (2009) Stratigraphy, palynology and conchostracans of a Lower Cretaceous sequence at the Cañadón Calcáreo locality, extra-andean central Patagonia: age and paleoenvironmental significance. Cretaceous Res 30:270–282

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wagner A (1853) Beschreibung einer fossilen Schildkröte und etlicher anderer Reptilien Über reste aus den lithographischen Schiefern und dem grünen Sandsteine von Kehlheim. Abh Bayer Akad Wissen Mathematisch-physikalische Klasse 7:239–264

    Google Scholar 

  • Wood RC, Freiberg MA (1977) Redescription of Notoemys laticentralis, the oldest fossil turtle from South America. Acta Geol Lilloana 13:187–204

    Google Scholar 

  • Zakrszeswski (1888) Eine im Stubensandstein des Keupers gefundene Schildkröte. Jahreshber Verein Vaterl Naturk Wüttemberg Jahrg 44:1–38

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. CONICET Museo de Historia Natural de San Rafael, Parque Mariano Moreno S/N, San Rafael, Mendoza, Argentina

    Marcelo S. de la Fuente

  2. CONICET Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio, Trelew, Chubut, Argentina

    Juliana Sterli

  3. CONICET Fundación de Historia Natural Felix de Azara Universidad Maimonides, Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Ignacio Maniel

Authors
  1. Marcelo S. de la Fuente
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Juliana Sterli
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ignacio Maniel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2014 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

de la Fuente, M.S., Sterli, J., Maniel, I. (2014). Early Differentiation of Mesozoic Turtles. In: Origin, Evolution and Biogeographic History of South American Turtles. Springer Earth System Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-00518-8_7

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation