Biology:Pleurosternidae

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Short description: Extinct family of turtles

Pleurosternids
Temporal range: Kimmeridgian–Albian
Pleurosternon skull.png
Pleurosternon skull
Pleurosternon.jpg
Pleurosternon shell
Scientific classification e
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Clade: Pantestudines
Clade: Testudinata
Clade: Paracryptodira
Superfamily: Baenoidea
Family: Pleurosternidae
Cope, 1868

Pleurosternidae is an extinct family of freshwater turtles belonging to Paracryptodira.[1] They are definitively known from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (Albian) of Western Europe and North America.[2]

Genera

Valid taxa

Uluops from the Late Jurassic of North America may also belong to Pleurosternidae.[2]

Invalid taxa

  • Desmemys[3] Bückeberg Formation, Germany, Berriasian (nomen dubium)

Ecology

The high morphological diversity of skulls of the group suggests high ecological plasticity. Glyptops and Pleurosternon exhibit adaptions likely for suction feeding, while Dorsteochelys was likely a dietary generalist.[2]

References

Wikidata ☰ Q16934902 entry