Side-necked turtle

24 p. : ill. ; 26 cm.Includes bibliographical references (p. 23-24)."The side-necked turtle genus Taphrosphys Cope has been reported from the Cretaceous of New Jersey, the Eocene of Peru, and the Paleocene of Zaire. A study of the postcranial osteology based on new material from New Jersey allows a revision of the New World species previously assigned to this genus. Two valid species are recognized: Taphrosphys sulcatus (Leidy) from the late Cretaceous of New Jersey and Taphrosphys olssoni (Schmidt) from the Eocene of Peru. Taphrosphys molops Cope, T. longinuchus Cope, T. leslianus Cope, Prochonias enodis Cope, Prochonias longinuchus Cope, and Prochonius leslianus Cope are all synonyms of Taphrosphys sulcatus (Leidy). The types of Taphrosphys dares Hay, Taphrosphys strenuus Cope, and Taphrosphys miocenia Collins and Lynn are incomplete specimens that cannot be diagnosed adequately and are considered to be nomina dubia. Amblypeza entellus Hay is based on a mixed type specimen. I have chosen a lectotype that is identifiable as Taphrosphys sulcatus and have synonymized Amblypeza with Taphrosphys. A new diagnosis of Taphrosphys indicates that Taphrosphys may be differentiated from other pelomedusids by the following combination of characters: large intergular scute and small gular scutes; semicircular xiphiplastral indentation; long, narrow pubic scar on xiphiplastron; and circular ischiac scar near edge of xiphiplastron. A review of the stratigraphic occurrence of Taphrosphys in New Jersey concludes that previously reported Tertiary records are incorrect, and that the known specimens from New Jersey are late Cretaceous in age"--P. [1]