Biology:Pleurosternidae

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Short description: Extinct family of turtles

Pleurosternids
Temporal range: Kimmeridgian–Albian
Pleurosternon skull
Pleurosternon shell
Scientific classification e
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Animalia
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Chordata
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Reptilia
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Pantestudines
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Testudinata
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Paracryptodira
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: Baenoidea
Script error: No such module "Taxobox ranks".: 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