Skip to content Skip to navigation

Article: The diverse fossil chelonians from Milia (late Pliocene, Grevena, Greece) with a new species of Testudo Linnaeus, 1758 (Testudines: Testudinidae)

Papers in Palaeontology - Cover Image - Volume 2 Part 1
Publication: Papers in Palaeontology
Volume: 2
Part: 1
Publication Date: Febuary 2016
Page(s): 71 86
Author(s): Evangelos Vlachos, and Evangelia Tsoukala
DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1031
Addition Information

How to Cite

VLACHOS, E., TSOUKALA, E. 2016. The diverse fossil chelonians from Milia (late Pliocene, Grevena, Greece) with a new species of Testudo Linnaeus, 1758 (Testudines: Testudinidae). Papers in Palaeontology, 2, 1, 71-86. DOI: 10.1002/spp2.1031

Author Information

  • Evangelos Vlachos - CONICET and Museo Paleontológico Egidio Feruglio Trelew Chubut Argentina (Email: evlacho@mef.org.ar; evlacho@gmail.com)
  • Evangelos Vlachos - Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Geology Thessaloniki Greece
  • Evangelia Tsoukala - Aristotle University of Thessaloniki School of Geology Thessaloniki Greece (Email: lilits@geo.auth.gr)

Publication History

  • Issue published online: 13 February 2016
  • Article first published online: 01 January 1970
  • Manuscript Accepted: 26 August 2015
  • Manuscript Received: 07 May 2015

Online Version Hosted By

Wiley Online Library
Get Article: Wiley Online Library [Pay-to-View Access] |

Abstract

The late Pliocene (early Villafranchian, MN 16a) locality of Milia (Grevena, Greece) has yielded numerous remains of mammals, such as zygodons, mastodons, rhinocerotids, hipparions, bovids, cervids, suids, carnivorans and tapirs. Several specimens of chelonians have also been discovered and comprise a small testudinid, a geoemydid and a giant tortoise. The presence of a giant tortoise and the presence of a geoemydid with large dimensions are further examples of the trend towards gigantism evidenced by the diverse fauna of Milia. In terms of taxonomic abundance of extinct turtles, this is the richest locality in Greece. The small testudinid is of particular importance because it preserves a posteriorly flared carapace, as in the extant Testudo marginata, but the posterior carapace is much taller and anteroposteriorly shorter. These characters allow us to erect a new species, Testudo brevitesta sp. nov., and to discuss the presence of the marginated tortoise and closely related forms in Greece. The new taxon is analysed in a phylogenetic context within other extant and extinct testudinids, providing new information on the clade Testudona.

PalAss Go! URL: http://go.palass.org/hjf | Twitter: Share on Twitter | Facebook: Share on Facebook | Google+: Share on Google+