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New information on the anatomy and systematics of the Spanish Lower Cretaceous Camerochelys vilanovai (Testudines, Pan-Cryptodira)

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Abstract

Purpose

Camerochelys vilanovai is a Spanish Lower Cretaceous pan-cryptodiran turtle. Although it was defined by several specimens, the fragmentary state of these plates and partial shells only provided poor information about the anatomy and systematics of this taxon.

Methods

new specimen of C. vilanovai, from the type area and horizon (the Enciso Group, in La Rioja), is presented and analyzed here. It corresponds to a relatively complete and articulated shell.

Results

Several characters hitherto unknown for C. vilanovai are described. In addition, some characters previously considered in the diagnosis of this form are reinterpreted, and the known range of intraspecific variability is expanded. Therefore, the diagnosis of C. vilanovai is amended.

Conclusion

Camerochelys vilanovai is recognized as a taxon closely related to the European members of Xinjiangchelyidae (i.e. Brodiechelys brodiei, Brodiechelys royoi and Larachelus morla), the new character states recognized here being compared with those present in these taxa.

Resumen

Objetivo

Camerochelys vilanovai es una tortuga pan-criptodira definida en niveles del Cretácico Inferior de España. A pesar de haber sido descrita mediante varios ejemplares, la naturaleza fragmentaria de esas placas y caparazones parciales suministró información muy limitada sobre su anatomía y sistemática.

Metodología

Se presenta y analiza aquí un nuevo ejemplar de C. vilanovai, procedente de la misma área fuente y horizonte donde esta forma fue definida (el Grupo Enciso, en La Rioja). Este espécimen corresponde a un caparazón relativamente completo y articulado.

Resultados

El estudio de este nuevo ejemplar permite describir numerosos caracteres hasta ahora no conocidos para C. vilanovai, así como reinterpretar otros previamente considerados en la diagnosis de este taxón, y ampliar el conocimiento sobre la variabilidad intraespecífica. Como consecuencia, se propone aquí una nueva diagnosis para C. vilanovai.

Conclusiones

Camerochelys vilanovai es reconocido como un taxón cercanamente emparentado con los miembros europeos de Xinjiangchelyidae (Brodiechelys brodiei, Brodiechelys royoi y Larachelus morla), realizándose una detallada comparación entre los nuevos estados reconocidos gracias al estudio del ejemplar aquí analizado y aquellos presentes en esos taxones.

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Acknowledgements

The research activity of A. P.-G. is funded by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (FPDI-2013-18986). Authors thank the editors Fidel Torcida Fernández-Baldor and José Ignacio Canudo, and the reviewers Marcelo de la Fuente and Gabriel Ferreira for comments and suggestions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Grupo de Biología Evolutiva, Facultad de Ciencias, UNED, Paseo de la Senda del Rey 9, 28040, Madrid, Spain

    A. Pérez-García

  2. Luberri, Centro de interpretación Geológica de Oiartzun/Oiartzungo Ikasgune Geologikoa, Polígono Pagoaldea 41-42, 20180, Oiartzun, Spain

    F.-R. Sáez-Benito

  3. Departamento de Estratigrafía y Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad del País Vasco, UPV/EHU, Apartado 644, 48080, Bilbao, Spain

    X. Murelaga

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  1. A. Pérez-García
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  2. F.-R. Sáez-Benito
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  3. X. Murelaga
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Correspondence to A. Pérez-García.

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Pérez-García, A., Sáez-Benito, FR. & Murelaga, X. New information on the anatomy and systematics of the Spanish Lower Cretaceous Camerochelys vilanovai (Testudines, Pan-Cryptodira). J Iber Geol 43, 147–154 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41513-017-0014-6

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