A new species of Argillochelys (Testudines: Pan-Cheloniidae) from the Bartonian of Kazakhstan

A new species of the genus Argillochelys (Testudines: Pan-Cheloniidae), A. foveopalatus sp. nov. is described based on a partial skull and two dentary symphyses from the Karakeshi and Monata localities of the Shorym Formation (Bartonian, middle Eocene), as well as an unknown locality of the Mangyshlak Peninsula, Kazakhstan. In addition, lower jaw bones from the Kuyulus locality are identified as cf. Argillochelys foveopalatus, and possibly belonging to immature individuals of this species. The new species is diagnosed by a number of characters, among which the palatine, divided into two parts by a suture, is unique among pan-cheloniids, and the absence of the ventral median ridge of the pterygoids is a rare feature among pan-cheloniids. In addition to similarities with other representatives of Argillochelys, the new species resembles pan-cheloniids ‘Argillochelys’ africana, Carolinochelys wilsoni and Itilochelys rassrtrigin in the uneven (ridged) upper and lower triturating surfaces and the hexagonal ventral plate of vomer.http://urn:lsid:zoobank.org:act:8B7AD586-1834-4A22-AC13-6B0B505B7E02