Neuroanatomy of the Marine Jurassic Turtle Plesiochelys etalloni (Testudinata, Plesiochelyidae)

摘要: Turtles are one of the least explored clades regarding endocranial anatomy with few available descriptions brain and inner ear extant representatives. In addition, paleoneurology extinct turtles is poorly known based on only a natural cranial endocasts. The main goal this study to provide for first time detailed description neuroanatomy an turtle, Late Jurassic Plesiochelysetalloni, including internal carotid circulation, endocast ear, digital 3D reconstruction using micro CT scans. general shape P. etalloni tubular, marked cephalic pontine flexures. Anteriorly, olfactory bulbs clearly differentiated suggesting larger than in any other described or indicating higher capacity olfaction taxon. morphology comparable that resembles those slow-moving terrestrial vertebrates, markedly low, short robust semicircular canals, reduced lagena. arterial pattern similar found cryptodires, where all branches protected by bone. As knowledge scarce application modern techniques such as reconstructions scans almost unexplored clade, we hope paper will trigger investigations type turtle taxa.