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Chelonides wittei

Reptilia - Eurysternidae

Discussion

(From Anquetin et al. 2017:330): Chelonides wittei is based on a series of specimens, in particular a partial shell (GZG 773-1), a partial skull (GZG 773-2), and several isolated shell and girdle elements. The full type series is illustrated in Maack (1869, pl. 33.118) and referenced in Karl et al. (2007). The partial shell GZG 773-1 was designated as Hauptvertreter (main representative) of the species by Maack (1869). This led Karl et al. (2007) to refer to this specimen as the holotype, but this designation is incorrect with regard to current rules of zoological nomenclature (ICZN 1999, art. 74). We here formally designate GZG 773-1 as the lectotype of Chelonides wittei. As a result, this specimen now serves as the sole bearer of the name, regardless of the nomenclatural interpretation being applied.

Taxonomy
Chelonides wittei was named by Maack (1869). Its type specimen is GZG 773-1 (lectotype), a partial shell (Maack 1869, pl. 33.1, 2; Portis 1878, pl. 17.9, 10; Karl et al. 2007, pls. 2.3, 4); GZG 773-2 to GZG 773-17 (paralectotypes), including a partial skull, shell elements, and some girdle remains (Maack 1869, pl. 33., a partial shell, and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Tönjesbergs, near Hannover, which is in a Kimmeridgian marine horizon in Germany.

Synonymy list
YearName and author
1869Chelonoides wittei Maack p. 12
1869Chelonides wittei Maack p. 316 figs. Plate 33, figs 1-8, 14-18; Plate 34, figs 19-20, 22, 26-28; Plate 35, figs 29-30, 37-38
1878Chelonoides wittei Portis p. 12 figs. Figs 9-13 (in Plates 3-4)
2017Chelonides wittei Anquetin et al. pp. 329-330

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
Bilateria
EubilateriaAx 1987
Life
Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
Tetrapoda
RankNameAuthor
Reptiliomorpha
Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
Cotylosauria()
Amniota
Sauropsida
classReptilia
Testudinata(Oppel 1811)
Thalassochelydia
familyEurysternidaeDollo 1886
genusChelonides
specieswittei

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.

Chelonides wittei Maack 1869
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Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
J. Anquetin et al. 2017Chelonides wittei differs from all other “eurysternids” in small size and in the presence of moderate keel on the posterior neurals, small costo-peripheral fontanelles, thoracic ribs that are partly apparent on the dorsal surface of the distal portions of the costal bones, wide vertebral scutes, a large and oval central plastral fontanelle, and elongated and narrow lateral plastral fontanelles.