A re-description of Sandownia harrisi (Testudinata: Sandownidae) from the Aptian of the Isle of Wight based on computed tomography scans.

ABSTRACT: Sandownidae is an enigmatic group of Cretaceous-Paleogene turtles with highly derived cranial anatomy. Although sandownid monophyly is not debated, relationships with other turtles remain unclear. Sandownids have been recovered in significantly different parts of the turtle tree: as stem-turtles, stem-cryptodires and stem-chelonioid sea turtles. Latest phylogenetic studies find sandownids as the sister-group of the Late Jurassic thalassochelydians and as stem-turtles. Here, we provide a detailed study of the cranial and mandibular anatomy of Sandownia harrisi from the Aptian of the Isle of Wight, based on high resolution computed tomography scanning of the holotype. Our results confirm a high number of anatomical similarities with thalassochelydians and particularly Solnhofia parsonsi, whi

SUBMITTER: Evers SW 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7062094 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature