A new species of long-necked turtle (pleurodira: Chelidae: Chelodina) from the latemiocene alcoota local fauna, Northern Territory, Australia

Abstract

The new species Chelodina (Chelodina) murrayi is described from the lateMiocene Alcoota Local Fauna of central Australia, in the Northern Territory. The new species is based on shell fragments and can be diagnosed by a ventrally reflexed anterior margin of the plastron, a ventrally narrowed cervical scute and strongly dorsally curved margins of the carapace extending from approximately peripheral two to peripheral nine or ten as well as by a unique combination of characters. Within Chelodina the new species is part of the nominal subgenus and within that subgenus it is most closely related to the Chelodina (Chelodina) novaeguineae species group. This is not only the oldest record but also the most southerly occurrence of this species group. © 2013 Yates.