A new turtle from the Arundel Clay facies (Potomac Formation, Early Cretaceous) of Maryland, U.S.A

Thomas R. Lipka, François Therrien, David B. Weishampel, Heather A. Jamniczky, Walter G. Joyce, Mathew W. Colbert, Donald B. Brinkman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

42 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new paracryptodiran turtle, Arundelemys dardeni, gen. et sp. nov., is described on the basis of an isolated, nearly complete skull from the Early Cretaceous Arundel Clay facies of Maryland, USA. The basicranial region exhibits the paracryptodiran condition of a single foramen for the canalis caroticus internus located midway along the basisphenoid. As revealed by CT scans, the basicranial region of Arundelemys is unusual in that the right and left canales carotici interni merge just before reaching the sella turcica and the canalis caroticus lateralis is very small or absent. A phylogenetic analysis places Arundelemys dardeni as the basal-most member of the Paracryptodira. Within the Paracryptodira, Arundelemys dardeni is most similar to Compsemys victa in general proportions.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)300-307
Number of pages8
JournalJournal of Vertebrate Paleontology
Volume26
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 12 2006

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Palaeontology

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