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A taxonomic reassessment of Piramys auffenbergi, a neglected turtle from the late Miocene of Piram Island, Gujarat, India.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Piramys auffenbergi was described as an emydine turtle based on a well-preserved skull retrieved from late Miocene deposits exposed on Piram Island, India. The description and figures provided in the original publication are vague and do not support assignment to Emydinae. This taxon has mostly been ignored by subsequent authors.

Material and methods

We reexamine the holotype specimen, provide an extensive description and diagnosis for Piramys auffenbergi, and include this taxon in a global character-taxon matrix for Pleurodira.

Results

The presence of a processus trochlearis pterygoidei conclusively shows pleurodiran affinities for Piramys auffenbergi. Inclusion of this taxon in a phylogenetic analysis retrieves it within Stereogenyini closely related to the Asian taxa Shweboemys pilgrimi and Brontochelys gaffneyi.

Discussion

Our reexamination of the holotype of Piramys auffenbergi confidently rejects the original assessment of this taxon as an emydine testudinoid and conclusively shows affinities with the pleurodiran clade Stereogenyini instead. Even though most taxa from this lineage are thought to be coastal turtles, all Asian stereogenyines were collected from continental deposits, suggesting a more diverse paleoecology for the group.

SUBMITTER: Ferreira GS

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6240434 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Publications

A taxonomic reassessment of <i>Piramys auffenbergi</i>, a neglected turtle from the late Miocene of Piram Island, Gujarat, India.

Ferreira Gabriel S GS Bandyopadhyay Saswati S Joyce Walter G WG

PeerJ 20181115

<h4>Background</h4><i>Piramys auffenbergi</i> was described as an emydine turtle based on a well-preserved skull retrieved from late Miocene deposits exposed on Piram Island, India. The description and figures provided in the original publication are vague and do not support assignment to Emydinae. This taxon has mostly been ignored by subsequent authors.<h4>Material and methods</h4>We reexamine the holotype specimen, provide an extensive description and diagnosis for <i>Piramys auffenbergi</i>, ...[more]

PMID: 30479901

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