Chelonoidis pucara

Chelonoidis pucara is an extinct species of turtle in the genus Chelonoidis that lived during the Pleistocene epoch.

Chelonoidis pucara Temporal range: Pleistocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Family:	Testudinidae
Genus:	Chelonoidis
Species:	†C. pucara
Binomial name
†Chelonoidis pucara Agnolín & Chimento, 2025

Distribution

Chelonoidis pucara is known from Buenos Aires Province, Argentina.^[1]

Description

Chelonoidis pucara had an estimated carapace length of 1.7-1.8 metres, making it the largest known testudinid from South America. The holotype was an adult male, and had enlarged epiplastral "horns". In life, these would have been covered in gular scutes. Extant species with such gular projections use them as weapons in fights between males.^[1]