A new side-necked turtle (Pleurodira, Pelomedusoides) from the Santana Formation (Early Cretaceous), Araripe Basin, Northeastern Brazil

Abstract

The fossil fauna of turtles from the Santana Formation, Araripe Basin, Early Cretaceous from Northeastern Brazil, includes, to exception of the Santanachelys gaffneyi (Cryptodira, Protostegidae), only pelurodiran taxa. A new genus and species, Caririemys violetae gen. et sp. nov. (Pleurodira, Pelomedusoides), from the Romualdo Member, upper section of the Santana Formation, is described here. Caririemys is based on one specimen consisting of a carapace, several vertebrae, a right femur and a right pelvis. Caririemys differs of the other pleurodirans from the Santana Formation by the following combination of characters: oval and moderately domed carapace; complete neural series reaching the suprapygal; and neural plate 8 shows an extensive contact with costal 7 and 8. This new taxon enhances the turtle diversity of the Santana Formation, which is presently the most diverse deposit of Mesozoic Testudines in the country.