Research paper

Turtles from the middle Miocene (MN5) of Somosaguas (Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain)


ADÁN PÉREZ-GARCÍA
Departamento de Paleontología, Facultad de Ciencias Geológicas, Universidad Complutense de Madrid, C/ José Antonio Novais, 2, 28040 Ciudad Universitaria, Madrid, Spain. paleontologo@gmail.com
Corresponding author


ABSTRACT

The systematic study of the vertebrate taxa found in the Middle Aragonian fossil sites of Somosaguas (Madrid, Spain) has provided important information on one of the most diverse vertebrate assemblages recognized in the Middle Miocene of the Madrid Basin. Although the mammals are the most abundant and diverse taxa recognized in Somosaguas, other vertebrate groups are also represented there. Several elements assigned to turtles, hitherto unpublished, are recognized. Their analyses allow to identify them as belonging to two terrestrial taxa, both assigned to Testudinidae. One of them is attributed cf. Cheirogaster, taxon very common in the Spanish Aragonian sites, and specifically in the Madrid Basin. The other taxon is identified as cf. Paleotestudo, a genus not previously cited in this basin.


Keywords: Somosaguas, Madrid Basin, middle Aragonian, Chelonii, Testudinidae.

How to cite:  Pérez-García, A. 2013. Turtles from the middle Miocene (MN5) of Somosaguas (Pozuelo de Alarcón, Madrid, Spain). Journal of Palaeontology, 28 (1), 55-60.

Received 30 April 2012, Accepted 05 September 2012, Published 30 June 2013

https://doi.org/10.7203/sjp.28.1.17816