Basic info Taxonomic history Classification Included Taxa
Morphology Ecology and taphonomy External Literature Search Age range and collections

Spoochelys

Reptilia

Taxonomy

Species
S. ormondea (type species)

Synonymy list
YearName and author
2013Spoochelys Smith and Kear p. 122 figs. Figs 9.2-9.8
2017Spoochelys Joyce

Is something missing? Join the Paleobiology Database and enter the data

RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Life
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
RankNameAuthor
Tetrapoda
Reptiliomorpha
Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
Sauropsida
classReptilia
Testudinata(Oppel 1811)
Perichelydia
genusSpoochelys

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. †Spoochelys Smith and Kear 2013
show all | hide all
Spoochelys ormondea Smith and Kear 2013
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
E. T. Smith and B. P. Kear 2013Medium-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
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: terrestrialuc
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Created: 2017-04-17 15:15:35
Modified: 2017-04-17 15:15:35
Source: c = class, subp = subphylum, uc = unranked clade
References: Carroll 1988, Hendy et al. 2009

Age range: Early/Lower Cenomanian or 99.60000 to 93.50000 Ma

Collections (3 total)


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Early/Lower Cenomanian99.6 - 93.5Australia (New South Wales) S. ormondea (99238 133649 133650)