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Zealosphargis

Osteichthyes - Testudines - Dermochelyidae

Discussion

Registration: urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:9716672B-0706-4582-9C8D-A056E53324CC

Etymology: Zealosphargis is derived from Zealo-, referring to Zealandia, the continental landmass that includes present-day New Zealand, where the fossil was discovered; and -sphargis, from the Greek sphargis (), meaning leatherback turtle, used historically in generic names such as Sphargis Merrem, 1820 (junior synonym of Dermochelys Blainville, 1816), and Eosphargis Lydekker, 1889.

Taxonomy
Zealosphargis was named by Gentry et al. (2025).

It was assigned to Uelocini by Gentry et al. (2025).

Synonymy list
YearName and author
2025Zealosphargis Gentry et al.

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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
superfamilyChelonioidea
familyDermochelyidaeLydekker 1889
subfamilyDermochelyinae
Uelocini
genusZealosphargis

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.

G. †Zealosphargis Gentry et al. 2025
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Diagnosis
No diagnoses are available
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: marinef
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: aquaticf
Diet: durophagef
Diet 2: piscivoref
Reproduction: oviparousf
Created: 2005-08-26 14:29:38
Modified: 2005-08-26 16:29:38
Source: f = family, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Uetz 2005, Carroll 1988, Kiessling 2004, Hendy et al. 2009

Age range: Bortonian or 42.60000 to 39.10000 Ma

Collections (3 total)


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Bortonian42.6 - 39.1New Zealand Psephophorus terrypratchetti (167710 167712)
Bortonian - Kaiatan42.6 - 36.7New Zealand Psephophorus terrypratchetti (167711)