A bothremydid from the middle Cenomanian of Portugal identified as one of the oldest pleurodiran turtles in Laurasia

摘要: Abstract The relatively complete and well preserved shell of a turtle, from the middle Cenomanian Nazare (Portugal), is studied here. It recognized as member crown group Pleurodira and, more specifically, Bothremydidae. are one two lineages modern turtles, their origin being in Gondwana. very abundant uppermost Cretaceous record Europe. However, this new finding few occurrences lower Upper Laurasia. A single Bothremydidae had so far been identified Portugal: late Campanian-early Maastrichtian Rosasia soutoi . was only turtle that country both at specific generic levels, exclusive Portugal. taxon Algorachelus peregrinus , form also present contemporaneous beds Spain, oldest confirmed here to be coastal form, which facilitated its spread. known bothremydids Laurasia, European A. peregrinus North American Paiutemys tibert compared for first time. They closely related taxa. This study provides data allowing precisely characterization dispersal event performed by an African lineage reached east coast Atlantic Ocean least Cenomanian, west region Cenomanian.