W. Auffenberg 1981

Full reference
W. Auffenberg. 1981. The Fossil Turtles of Olduvai Gorge, Tanzania, Africa. Copeia 1981(3):509-522 [E. Vlachos/E. Vlachos/E. Vlachos]
Metadata
ID number:  66491
Created:  2018-08-01 17:57:43
Modified:  2018-08-01 17:58:30
Publication type:  journal article
Taxonomy:  stated with evidence
Language:  English
Comments: Four species of fossil turtles are reported from Pleistocene deposits of Olduvai Gorge. Two are testudinids; one is identical to the extant Geochelone pardalis, and the other is a large undescribed species. The two remaining turtle species are pelomedusids. One is identical to the extant Pelusios sinuatus; the other is described as a new genus and species (Latisternon microsulcae) and, on the basis of shell morphology, is presumed to have been more terrestrial than extant pelomedusid species. Most of the fossil chelonian remains are believed to have been accumulated by foraging hominids. The Pelusios sinuatus fossils greatly outnumber those of the other three species; apparently it was the most assiduously hunted. The distribution of fossils and the ecology of the living Pelusios suggest that most foraging for turtles took place in the shallow water of the marshy lake border. There was either a change in the foraging technique from the earlier to later times represented in the deposits, or a change in the environment near the hominid occupational sites.
Taxonomic names (2)
Latisternon, Latisternon microsulcae
Taxonomic opinions (6) - view classification
'Geochelone pardalis belongs to Geochelone' according to W. Auffenberg 1981
'Geochelone belongs to Testudinidae' according to W. Auffenberg 1981
'Latisternon microsulcae belongs to Latisternon' according to W. Auffenberg 1981
'Latisternon belongs to Pelomedusidae' according to W. Auffenberg 1981
'Pelusios sinuatus belongs to Pelusios' according to W. Auffenberg 1981
'Pelusios belongs to Pelomedusidae' according to W. Auffenberg 1981
Collections (5)
21972, 22593, 22595, 144173, 213537