Pleurosternon

Pleurosternon fossils were first described by Richard Owen in 1841 under the living genus Platemys.[2] It was not until 1853 however, that it was published under the name Pleurosternon in a paper Owen presented to the Palaeontographical Society.[3]

Carapace fossil of P. bullocki, side view.

Pleurosternon has a very depressed carapace, much flatter than similar genera, such as the North American Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous Glyptops.[5][6] Adults show little or none of the nuchal emargination that is more visible in juveniles.[6] The Xiphiplastras also have a large, V-shaped notch near the back of the bone.[6] Together with Platychelys, it is one of the few turtle genera to exhibit the characteristics of both modern turtle suborders, the Cryptodira and the Pleurodira.[7]

In Europe, most species of Pleurosternon are best known from southeast England's Purbeck Group and Portland stone, some specimens were even recovered in the Purbeck's type locality.[8][9] Several areas within the formation became noted by some for producing pleurosternon fossils. Among them were Swanage, Durlston Bay, Langton Matravers, and Herston.[10]

The genus has also been found in several rock formations from the upper Jurassic in both France and Spain,[11] and from the Cretaceous Wealden group of both England and northern Germany.[12] The Purbeck formation, at the time was a coastal region with a complex system of shallow lagoons that slowly lost their salinity over time.[13] Similarly, the younger Wealden group was also coastal plain dominated by lagoons but with the addition of braided streams.[14] The Portland stone, however is a maritime deposit of similar age near the Purbeck, most bones found there are interpreted as having washed out to sea from the Wealden or the Purbeck. Because of this, Pleurosternon has been described as a "shore-turtle".[5]

• Glyptops
• Chengyuchelys
• Helochelys

• at Paleofile.com
• Dinohunter
• at Biolib.cz
• taxonomic history
• More taxonomy (French)