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Desmatochelys padillai

Reptilia - Testudines - Protostegidae

Taxonomy
Desmatochelys padillai was named by Cadena and Parham (2015). Its type specimen is FCG–CBP 01, a partial skeleton, and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Loma La Catalina - middle Paja, which is in a Barremian/Aptian marine limestone in the Paja Formation of Colombia.

Synonymy list
YearName and author
2015Desmatochelys padillai Cadena and Parham p. 3 figs. gs. 7.6-7.8, pls. 7.11-7.15

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
—Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
—Reptiliomorpha
RankNameAuthor
—Anthracosauria
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
—Sauropsida
classReptilia
—Testudinata(Oppel 1811)
orderTestudinesBatsch 1788
suborderCryptodira
superfamilyChelonioidea
familyProtostegidaeCope 1873
genusDesmatochelys
speciespadillai

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.

†Desmatochelys padillai Cadena and Parham 2015
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Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
E. A. Cadena and J. F. Parham 2015Desmatochelys padillai is a pan-cryptodire turtle based on the presence of a contact between the pterygoid and the basioccipital (Character 64). It is a pro- tostegid based on the: 1) jugal-quadrate contact (Character 21); 2) pterygoids, extending laterally almost reaching the mandibular condyle facet (Character 75); 3) humerus, with a lateral process expanding onto ventral surface (Character 240); 4) radius curves anteriorly (Character 247). Within Protostegidae, D. padillai can be diagnosed from all protoste- gids by: 1) a larger nasal opening facing anteriorly in dorsal view compared to other protostegids; 2) wider pterygoids in ventral view; 3) wider ventral process of cervicals, with a at to slightly concave ventral surface; 4) dorsal surface of neurals smooth without keels and having a medial shallow depression; and 5) centrale bone rectangular and elongated in shape. Desmatochelys padillai resembles Bouliachelys suteri Kear and Lee, 2006 by having a globular posteriormedial roof of the skull, which is atter in all other protostegids. Desmatochelys padillai shares with Desmatochelys lowi Wil- liston, 1894 a long transversal process of cervicals that is rectangular in shape, positioned at the central region of the vertebra. is character is in contrast to the shorter more anteriorly positioned transverse process of other chelonioids s.l. Desmatochelys padillai shares with D. lowi and cheloniids the absence of foramen jugulare posterius.