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A new species of Cuora (Testudines: Geoemydidae) from the Miocene of Thailand and its evolutionary significance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  12 April 2013

WILAILUCK NAKSRI ,
HAIYAN TONG ,
KOMSORN LAUPRASERT ,
VARAVUDH SUTEETHORN  and
JULIEN CLAUDE
WILAILUCK NAKSRI*
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Kantarawichai, Maha Sarakham, Thailand44150 Palaeontological Research and Education Centre, Mahasarakham University, Khamriang, Kantarawichai, Maha Sarakham, Thailand44150
HAIYAN TONG
Affiliation:
Palaeontological Research and Education Centre, Mahasarakham University, Khamriang, Kantarawichai, Maha Sarakham, Thailand44150
KOMSORN LAUPRASERT
Affiliation:
Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Mahasarakham University, Kantarawichai, Maha Sarakham, Thailand44150
VARAVUDH SUTEETHORN
Affiliation:
Palaeontological Research and Education Centre, Mahasarakham University, Khamriang, Kantarawichai, Maha Sarakham, Thailand44150
JULIEN CLAUDE
Affiliation:
Institut des Sciences de l'évolution de Montpellier, UMR 5554 CNRS, Université de Montpellier 2, cc064, 2, place Eugène Bataillon, 34095, Montpellier, France
*
†Author for correspondence: nwilailuck@gmail.com
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Abstract

A new species of Cuora, Cuora chiangmuanensis sp. nov., is described on the basis of a nearly complete shell with limb bones from the late Middle – early Late Miocene Chiang Muan Mine, Phayao Province (Northern Thailand). C. chiangmuanensis is distinguished from other fossil and living Cuora species mainly on the basis of its plastral morphology. Among fossil and extant Cuora taxa, the new species appears to be a missing link between the taxa from Southeast Asia and those from East Asia. It represents the earliest record of the genus and demonstrates that by 11–12 Ma, Asian box turtles were already present in Southeast Asia.

Keywords

CuoraGeoemydidaeMioceneThailandevolutionSoutheast Asia
Type
Original Articles
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 150 , Issue 5 , September 2013 , pp. 908 - 922
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2013 

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