Extinct family of turtles
Pleurosternidae is an extinct family of freshwater turtles belonging to Paracryptodira.[1] They are definitively known from the Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous (Albian) of Western Europe and North America.[2]
Genera
Valid taxa
- Dinochelys[3] Morrison Formation, United States, Late Jurassic (Tithonian)
- Dorsetochelys[3] Purbeck Group, England, Early Cretaceous (Berriasian) Bückeberg Formation, Germany, Berriasian
- Glyptops[3] Morrison Formation, United States, Late Jurassic (Tithonian)
- Pleurosternon[3] Purbeck Group, England, Early Cretaceous (Berriasian), Ágreda locality, Spain, Tithonian-Berriasian, France, Tithonian-Berriasian
- Riodevemys[3] Villar del Arzobispo Formation, Spain, Late Jurassic (Tithonian)
- Selenemys[3] Lourinhã Formation, Portugal, Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian)
- Toremys[3] Escucha Formation, Spain, Early Cretaceous (Albian)
Uluops from the Late Jurassic of North America may also belong to Pleurosternidae.[2]
Invalid taxa
- Desmemys[3] Bückeberg Formation, Germany, Berriasian (nomen dubium)
Ecology
The high morphological diversity of skulls of the group suggests high ecological plasticity. Glyptops and Pleurosternon exhibit adaptions likely for suction feeding, while Dorsteochelys was likely a dietary generalist.[2]
