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Ummulisani

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Ummulisani
Temporal range: Ypresian
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Chordata
Class: Reptilia
Order: Testudines
Suborder: Pleurodira
Family: Bothremydidae
Tribe: Taphrosphyini
Subtribe: Taphrosphyina
Genus: Ummulisani
Gaffney, Tong & Meylan, 2006
Species:
U. rutgersensis
Binomial name
Ummulisani rutgersensis
Gaffney, Tong & Meylan, 2006

Ummulisani is an extinct genus of bothremydid pleurodiran turtle that was discovered in the Eocene of Morocco.[1][2] The genus consists solely of type species U. rutgersensis.

Ummulisani was discovered in the Mrah Iaresh locality, Morocco, which dates to the Ypresian stage of the Eocene. The holotype consists of a skull, lacking the palate, and is curated in the American Museum of Natural History. Two other skulls are known, both also from the Ypresian of Morocco.[1] This turtle is notable for the hornlike protuberances on its prefrontal bones, which may have played a role in burrowing or in mating battles.[1]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Gaffney, Eugene S.; Tong, Hai-yan; Meylan, Peter Andre (2006). "Evolution of the side-necked turtles: the families Bothremydidae, Euraxemydidae, and Araripemydidae" (PDF). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 300: 1–698. doi:10.1206/0003-0090(2006)300[1:EOTSTT]2.0.CO;2. hdl:2246/5824. S2CID 85790134.
  2. ^ Fossilworks: Ummulisani