This specimen is believed to be a form of 'side-necked turtle', (a 'Pleurodire'), probably one of the earliest of its type recorded. It was preserved in a limestone concretion within the Romualdo Member of the Santana Formation and the holotype is kept at the Divisao de Geologia e Mineralogia, Departamento Nacional de Producao Mineral, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
The two main types of modern-day turtle are Pleurodires and Cryptodires, the former being the side-necked type, the latter having a hidden-neck.
SPECIMEN NAME
Araripemys barretoi
TYPE SPECIES
Araripemys barretoi
Price, 1973
CLASSIFICATION
Order TESTUDINES;
Infraorder PLEURODIRA;
Family PELOMEDUSIDAE
Cope, 1868
SPECIMEN HELD
American Museum Natural History
PHOTO BY
E. Gaffney