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Plesiochelys bigleri
Taxonomy
Plesiochelys bigleri was named by Puntener et al. (2017). Its type specimen is MJSN TCH007-252, a partial skeleton (near complete disarticulated carapace, epiplastra, entoplastron, hypoplastra, and right xiphiplastron; posterior part of skull; proximal part of right scapular ), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Tchafoue, which is in a Kimmeridgian carbonate limestone in the Reuchenette Formation of Switzerland.
Synonymy list
| Year | Name and author |
|---|---|
| 2017 | Plesiochelys bigleri Anquetin et al. |
| 2017 | Plesiochelys bigleri Puntener et al. p. 10 |
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If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.
†Plesiochelys bigleri Puntener et al. 2017
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Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| C. Puntener et al. 2017 | Plesiochelys bigleri differs from other Plesiochelys spp. in a lower temporal skull roof, a shallower pterygoid fossa, a reduced processus trochlearis oticum, a more rounded foramen nervi trigemini, an anterior foramen nervi abducentis opening anteromedially to the base of the processus clinoideus, and foramina anterius canalis carotici cerebralis opening more anteriorly relative to the level of the dorsum sellae. In addition, Plesiochelys bigleri differs from Plesiochelys planiceps in a smaller size, a lower lingual ridge on the maxilla, a parietal–quadrate contact posterior to the foramen nervi trigemini, a less developed processus trochlearis oticum, a superficial canalis caroticus internus that may have remained partly open ventrally, and a reduced contribution of the exoccipital to the condylus occipitalis, and from Plesiochelys etalloni in a less extensive flooring of the cavum acustico–jugulare by the pterygoid, the absence of complete ossification of the pila prootica, a processus paroccipitalis extending posterolaterally, a reduced neural and costal bone thickness, absent or poorly developed epiplastral bulbs, and a more quadrangular anterior margin of the anterior plastral lobe. | |
| J. Anquetin et al. 2017 | Plesiochelys bigleri can be diagnosed as a “plesiochelyid” and a representative of Plesiochelys by the full list of characters provided for these taxa above. Plesiochelys bigleri differs from other Plesiochelys spp. in a lower temporal skull roof, a shallower pterygoid fossa, a reduced processus trochlearis oticum, a more rounded foramen nervi trigemini, and placement of the foramen anterior nervi abducentis anteromedial to the base of the processus clinoideus and of the foramina anterius canalis carotici cerebralis more anteriorly relative to the level of the dorsum sellae. In addition, Plesiochelys bigleri differs from Plesiochelys planiceps by being smaller in size and by having a lower lingual ridge on the maxilla, a parietal-quadrate contact posterior to the foramen nervi trigemini, a less developed processus trochlearis oticum, a more superficial canalis caroticus internus that may have remained partly open ventrally, and a reduced contribution of the exoccipital to the condylus occipitalis. It differs from Plesiochelys etalloni in having a less extensive flooring of the cavum acustico-jugulare by the pterygoid,the absence of complete ossification of the pila prootica, a pos- terolaterally extending processus paroccipitalis, reduced neural and costal bone thickness, absent or poorly developed epiplastral bulbs, and a more quadrangular anterior margin of the anterior plastral lobe. |
Measurements
No measurements are available
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| Source: c = class, subp = subphylum, uc = unranked clade | |||||
| References: Carroll 1988, Hendy et al. 2009 | |||||
Age range: base of the Late/Upper Kimmeridgian to the top of the Kimmeridgian or 155.70000 to 152.10000 Ma
Collections (6 total)
| Time interval | Ma | Country or state | Original ID and collection number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kimmeridgian | Switzerland (Jura) | Plesiochelys bigleri (154713 type locality: 154715 154716 200138) | |
| Late/Upper Kimmeridgian | Switzerland (Jura) | Plesiochelys bigleri (149745 154714) |