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

2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. e2 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Püntener ◽  
Jérémy Anquetin ◽  
Jean-Paul Billon-Bruyat
2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Püntener ◽  
Jérémy Anquetin ◽  
Jean-Paul Billon-Bruyat

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.


PeerJ ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. e1282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Christian Püntener ◽  
Jérémy Anquetin ◽  
Jean-Paul Billon-Bruyat

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.


2005 ◽  
Vol 266 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-131 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. Fischer ◽  
N. Ferrari ◽  
J.-M. Weber

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alexander Peringer ◽  
Silvana Siehoff ◽  
Joël Chételat ◽  
Thomas Spiegelberger ◽  
Alexandre Buttler ◽  
...  

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Konstantin S. Gavazov ◽  
Alexander Peringer ◽  
Alexandre Buttler ◽  
François Gillet ◽  
Thomas Spiegelberger

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Joël Chételat ◽  
Michael Kalbermatten ◽  
Kathryn S.M. Lannas ◽  
Thomas Spiegelberger ◽  
Jean-Bruno Wettstein ◽  
...  

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