Turtles of the genus Ferganemys Nessov et Khosatzky, 1977 (Adocidae): shell morphology and phylogenetic position

Abstract

This paper describes the morphology and variation of the shell in turtles of the genus Ferganemys Nessov et Khosatzky, 1977 (Adocidae). Ferganemys itemirensis Nessov, 1981 is described in detail for the first time based on previously published and new material (more than 400 isolated shell plates) from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) of Uzbekistan. New diagnoses and shell reconstructions for two species of Ferganemys are given. Inclusion of new observations of Ferganemys into a phylogenetic analysis of Adocusia (the clade uniting Adocidae and Nanhsiungchelyidae) does not support the monophyly of this genus, but rather suggests that Ferganemys species form a polytomy with the Shachemys clade.