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Psephochelys polyosteoderma

Reptilia - Placodontia - Placochelyidae

Taxonomy
Psephochelys polyosteoderma was named by Li and Rieppel (2002). Its type specimen is IVPP V12442, a partial skeleton, and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Guanling, Lower Xiaowa Formation fossil lagerstätte, which is in a Tuvalian deep-water shale/marl in the Xiaowa Formation of China. It is the type species of Psephochelys.

Synonymy list
YearName and author
2002Psephochelys polyosteoderma Li and Rieppel p. 403 figs. Pl. 1

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
—Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
—Reptiliomorpha
—Anthracosauria
RankNameAuthor
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
—Sauropsida
classReptilia
subclassEureptilia()
—Romeriida
—Diapsida()
suborderSauropterygia
orderPlacodontiaCope 1871
suborderCyamodontoideaNopcsa 1923
familyPlacochelyidae()
genusPsephochelys
speciespolyosteoderma

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.

†Psephochelys polyosteoderma Li and Rieppel 2002
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Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
C. Li and O. Rieppel 2002Elongated and narrow rostrum spatulate, edentulous; two maxillary teeth; posterior (nasal) processes of the premaxilla enlarged and extending backwards to contact frontals; postfrontal appears to enter the anteromedial margin of the upper temporal fossa. Carapace composed of relatively small and numerous hexagonal and pentagonal osteoderms meeting each other in interdigitating sutures; osteoderms with a flat surface ornamented with a pattern of radiating pits and ridges; carapace with a central longitudinal depression and a vaulted zone on either side of it, dorsolateral ridge flat and formed by enlarged, keeled osteoderms; nuchal concavity deeply excavated, flanked on either side by an enlarged, tuberculiform osteoderm. Lateral wall 5 rows of hexagonal osteoderms deep, terminating in a ventrolateral ridge formed by enlarged, keeled osteoderms. Plastron absent, but 3 rows of marginal, loosely distributed osteoderms flank the gastralia on either side.