Skeletal morphology and relationships of the early Cretaceous side-necked turtle,Araripemys barretoi(Testudines: Pelomedusoides: Araripemydidae), from the Santana Formation of Brazil

Evolution of the Side-Necked Turtles: The Family Podocnemididae

“…and P.A.M. An early version of our matrix was published in Meylan (1996) and a later version in Meylan et al (2009). We have incorporated characters from the literature as well, particularly Lapparent de Broin (2000b), Fuente (2003), França and Langer (2006), and Romano and Azevedo (2006).…”

“…This group contains the living podocnemidids and a series of extinct forms, including the marine broad-jawed taxa. Meylan (1996) recognized ''Roxochelys'' (5 Lapparentemys) as the sister group to all other Podocnemididae that were in his analysis, which excluded Bauruemys.…”

First turtle from the Ipubi Formation (Early Cretaceous), Santana Group, Araripe Basin, Brazil

“…The nuchal contacts neural 1 posteriorly, costal 1 posterolaterally and peripheral 1 laterally. These features differ from Araripemys, where the first peripherals are greatly reduced and do not contact the nuchal (Meylan, 1996;Gaffney et al, 2006). No evidence of a cervical scale is observed in the Ipubi material, indicating that this element was absent in this taxon as in other Pelomedusoides (Gaffney et al, 2001(Gaffney et al, , 2006.…”

“…The iliac scar is triradiated in dorsal view, with anterior, posterior, and posterolateral projections. This feature differs from the condition in non-Pelomedusoides pleurodires which lack well developed projections (Meylan, 1996;Lapparent de Broin & Murelaga, 1999;De La Fuente & Iturralde-Vinent, 2001). …”

“…There are no fontanels in CPCA 3560, which are also absent in Brasilemys, Euraxemys and Cearachelys, in contrast to the condition of Araripemys which has fontanels in the carapace and plastron (Price, 1973;Kischlat & Campos, 1990;Schleich, 1990;Meylan, 1996;Oliveira & Kellner, 2005Gaffney et al, 2006).…”