A carapace of Pelodiscuscf. P. gracilia(Testudines: Pan-Trionychidae) from the Middle Miocene Hagjeon Formation of Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, South Korea

초록

A fragmentary carapace of a fossil softshell turtle was discovered in the Middle Miocene Hagjeon Formation in Pohang-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do. Based on the morphology of the nuchal and first costal plate and the patterns of the shell sculpturing, the specimen is identified as Pelodiscus cf. P. gracilia. It represents the oldest known occurrence of the genus Pelodiscus, indicating that this genus inhabited East Asia earlier than previously suggested by the fossil record. The individual represented by this fossil likely had a similar ecological niche to that of its modern relative Pelodiscus sinensis, which inhabits calm, low-energy brackish waters near coastal regions. It is presumed that this individual was transported to the marine environment by high-energy natural disasters after death and subsequently buried.

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