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Mesochersus orangeus

Osteichthyes - Testudines - Testudinidae

Discussion

Species name etymology: from the name of the River Orange.

Taxonomy
Mesochersus orangeus was named by de Lapparent de Broin (2003). Its type specimen is MSGN, AD 389'96, a partial shell (left epiplastron), and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Arrisdrift, which is in a Miocene channel sandstone in Namibia.

Synonymy list
YearName and author
2003Mesochersus orangeus de Lapparent de Broin p. 88
2008Mesochersus orangeus de Lapparent de Broin
2018Mesochersus orangeus Vlachos and Rabi p. 663

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
classOsteichthyes
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
Reptiliomorpha
Anthracosauria
RankNameAuthor
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
Sauropsida
classReptilia
Testudinata(Oppel 1811)
orderTestudinesBatsch 1788
suborderCryptodira
Pantestudinoidea
superfamilyTestudinoidea
familyTestudinidaeBatsch 1788
subfamilyTestudininae
genusMesochersus
speciesorangeus

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.

Mesochersus orangeus de Lapparent de Broin 2003
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Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
F. de Lapparent de Broin 2003Medium sized form of terrestrial Testudinidae with carapace from 16 to 20 cm long, elongated and probably moderately arched. Pygal rather wide, slightly convex and high, with short anterior notch for the suprapygal 2 and an overlap of the sulcus of vertebral 5 on the front of the peripherals 11 (small African endemic schema). Points or entries to the extremities of the marginals on the peripherals. Morphologically close to Namibchersus n. g., by the peripherals of the bridge and posteriors high and narrow, by the anterior border and the proportions of the nuchal with a cervical, differing by its ventral margino-cervical border slightly elongated under the nuchal, terminating in a weak overhang above the rest of the ventral slightly concave surface of the plate, with a totally transversal posterior border of the marginals and cervical; vertebral 1 narrower. Anterior plastral lobe clearly but moderately narrowed towards the front, trapezoidal, with lateral margins regularly convergent towards the gular projection. Ventral gular projection moderate with convergent lateral margins and rounded anterior border (slightly sinuous), with the triangular gulars elongated and encroaching more or less onto the entoplastron; dorsal epiplastral lip long, with dorsal surface barely convex narrowing to the rear, moderately raised, recurved into a small overhang well in front of the entoplastron; gularo-humeral sulcus incurved and not elbowed; entoplastron almost as long as wide, big; humero-pectoral sulcus regularly curved behind the entoplastron. Posterior lobe wide with lateral borders convergent towards the xiphiplastral points without femoro-anal narrowing, or with a clear narrowing at the femoro-anal sulcus in one individual (if it belongs to the species). Rather wide dorsal femoro-anal margin. Wide moderately long anal notch. Anals particularly short. Neither axillaries nor inguinals visible.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: terrestrialf
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: ground dwellingf
Diet: herbivoref
Diet 2: herbivoref
Reproduction: oviparousf
Created: 2005-08-26 07:16:55
Modified: 2005-09-09 16:16:46
Source: f = family, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Carroll 1988, Ernst and Barbour 1989, Hendy et al. 2009

Age range: Middle Miocene or 15.98000 to 11.63000 Ma

Collections: one only


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Middle Miocene15.98 - 11.63Namibia Chersina sp. (type locality: 21855)