New genera of Taphrosphyina (Pleurodira, Bothremydidae) for the French Maastrichtian 'Tretosternum' ambiguum and the Peruvian Ypresian 'Podocnemis' olssoni

• Published in: Historical biology Vol. 32; no. 4; pp. 555 - 560
• Main Author: Pérez-García, A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Abingdon Taylor & Francis 20-04-2020; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: Bothremydidae; Cretaceous; Eocene; Eotaphrosphys gen. nov; Europe; Mesozoic; Motelomama gen. nov; New genera; Podocnemis; South America; Testudines
• ISSN: 0891-2963; 1029-2381
• DOI: 10.1080/08912963.2018.1506779

Two poorly known members of Bothremydidae, previously recognized as representatives of the genus Taphrosphys, but subsequently considered as not attributable to any of the genera so far defined, are analyzed here. Two genera are defined for these members of Taphrosphyina, each one of them being characterized by autapomorphies and by a unique character combination. The French Maastrichtian (Upper Cretaceous) species 'Tretosternum' ambiguum is attributed to the new genus Eotaphrosphys, and the Peruvian Ypresian (lower Eocene) form 'Podocnemis' olssoni to the new genus Motelomama. Eotaphrosphys is the oldest named genus of Taphrosphyina, and the only one defined in Mesozoic levels. Eotaphrosphys ambiguum is the only member of this clade recognized in Europe, Motelomama olssoni representing the only one identified in the South American record.
ZooBank LSID for the genus Eotaphrosphys ambiguum is: urn:lsid:
zoobank.org:act:16FAD98A-DA04-4933-AD99-88663CE74D6C
ZooBank LSID for the genus Motelomama gen is: urn:lsid:
zoobank.org:act:3E832D96-29B1-4589-B397-B57768DB39A9