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Spoochelys
Taxonomy
Spoochelys was named by Smith and Kear (2013). Its type is Spoochelys ormondea.
It was assigned to Testudinata by Smith and Kear (2013); to Perichelydia by Joyce (2017); and to Mesochelydia by Poropat et al. (2023).
It was assigned to Testudinata by Smith and Kear (2013); to Perichelydia by Joyce (2017); and to Mesochelydia by Poropat et al. (2023).
Species
S. ormondea (type species)
Synonymy list
| Year | Name and author |
|---|---|
| 2013 | Spoochelys Smith and Kear p. 122 figs. Figs 9.2-9.8 |
| 2017 | Spoochelys Joyce |
| 2023 | Spoochelys Poropat et al. p. 153 |
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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.
Diagnosis
| Reference | Diagnosis | |
|---|---|---|
| E. T. Smith and B. P. Kear 2013 | Medium-sized (snout-tail length approximately 400–500 mm) primitive testudinatan differentiated from basal taxa such as Proganochelys Baur 1887, Palaeochersis Rougier, de la Fuente, and Arcucci 1995, and Australochelys Gaffney and Kitching 1994 by the presence of an incipient antrum postoticum, development of a thin columella auris with a distinct footplate, loss of the wide occipital plate, fusion of the basipterygoid articulation, and formed cervical articulations. Spoochelys can be excluded from crown-Testudinata (Testudines sensu Joyce 2007) by maintenance of a both prefrontal-postorbital and parietal-squamosal contact, poorly developed processus inferior parietalis, incipient antrum postoticum, absence of a distinct processus trochlearis oticum, retention of an interpterygoid vacuity, poorly developed crista supraoccipitalis, flat rostrum basisphenoidale, paired ventral basisphenoid-basioccipital tubercles, transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae positioned towards the midline of the centrum, and the presence of an acromial ridge on the scapula. Distinction from potential testudine sister taxa including Mongolochelys, Chubutemys, Otwayemys, meiolaniids, and Kallokibotion bajazidi Nopsca 1923 can be made by the absence of a distinct processus trochlearis oticum, retention of an interpterygoid vacuity, and poorly developed crista supraoccipitalis; Spoochelys differs from Patagoniaemys gasparinae Sterli and de la Fuente 2011 in transverse processes of the cervical vertebrae being positioned towards the midline of the centrum, and presence of supramarginal scutes on the anterior carapace. |
Measurements
No measurements are available
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| Source: c = class, subp = subphylum, uc = unranked clade | |||||
| References: Hendy et al. 2009, Kiessling 2004, Carroll 1988 | |||||
Age range: base of the Early/Lower Cenomanian to the top of the Middle Cenomanian or 100.50000 to 93.90000 Ma
Collections (9 total)
| Time interval | Ma | Country or state | Original ID and collection number |
|---|---|---|---|
| Early/Lower Cenomanian | Australia (New South Wales) | S. ormondea (99238 133650) S. sp. (204926 204928 216629) | |
| Early/Lower Cenomanian - Middle Cenomanian | Australia (New South Wales) | S. ormondea (133649) S. sp. (241696 241699 241701) |