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Article: Appearances can be deceptive: bizarre shell microanatomy and histology in a new Triassic turtle (Testudinata) from Argentina at the dawn of turtles

Papers in Palaeontology - Volume 7 Issue 1 - Cover
Publication: Papers in Palaeontology
Volume: 7
Part: 2
Publication Date: May 2021
Page(s): 1097 1132
Author(s): Juliana Sterli, Ricardo N. Martínez, Ignacio A. Cerda, and Cecilia Apaldetti
DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1334
Addition Information

How to Cite

STERLI, J., MARTíNEZ, R.N., CERDA, I.A., APALDETTI, C. 2021. . Papers in Palaeontology, 7, 2, 1097-1132. DOI: /doi/10.1002/spp2.1334

Author Information

  • Juliana Sterli - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires Argentina
  • Juliana Sterli - Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio Av. Fontana 140 9100 Trelew Chubut Argentina
  • Ricardo N. Martínez - Instituto y Museo de Ciencias Naturales Universidad Nacional de San Juan Avda. España 400 Norte J5400DNQ San Juan Argentina
  • Ricardo N. Martínez - Centro de Investigaciones de la Geósfera y la Biósfera (CIGEOBIO) Av. Ignacio De La Roza 590 J5400DCS San Juan Argentina
  • Ignacio A. Cerda - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires Argentina
  • Ignacio A. Cerda - Instituto de Investigaciones en Paleobiología y Geología Universidad Nacional de Río Negro, Museo Carlos Ameghino Belgrano 1700, Paraje Pichi Ruca (predio Marabunta) 8300 Cipolletti Río Negro Argentina
  • Cecilia Apaldetti - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET) Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires Argentina
  • Cecilia Apaldetti - Instituto y Museo de Ciencias Naturales Universidad Nacional de San Juan Avda. España 400 Norte J5400DNQ San Juan Argentina

Publication History

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    Abstract

    The origin and homology of the turtle shell is one of the most captivating topics in amniote evolution. In this contribution, we present a new species of turtle from the Late Triassic of Argentina whose peripheral plates raise questions about the homology of these bones in turtles. The external morphology of the peripheral plates of Waluchelys cavitesta gen. et sp. nov. (Testudinata, Australochelyidae) is as in any other turtle, however, appearances can be deceptive. Internally, these plates have an unexpected internal cavity. The absence of structural similarities and of ontogenetic or phylogenetic transitional forms between the peripheral plates of Wcavitesta and other testudinatans might suggest that the periphery of turtles represents a case of deep homology. Furthermore, the present and recent findings suggest that the structure and ossification patterns of the periphery of the turtle shell were more plastic and subject to variation than other elements of the shell, at least in the earliest stages of turtle evolution. These findings also suggest that the typical mesochelydian turtle shell could have been acquired in a two-stage process.

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