Palaeochersis

Palaeochersis is an extinct genus of rhaptochelydian turtle^[1] from the Los Colorados Formation of Argentina.^[2] It is known from one species, Palaeochersis talampayensis.^[3]

Palaeochersis Temporal range: Late Triassic, ~227–213 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Carapace from the holotype
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Clade:	Pantestudines
Clade:	Testudinata
Clade:	Rhaptochelydia
Family:	†Australochelyidae
Genus:	†Palaeochersis Rougier, de la Fuente & Arcucci, 1995
Species:	†P. talampayensis
Binomial name
†Palaeochersis talampayensis Rougier, de la Fuente & Arcucci, 1995

Discovery and naming

Palaeochersis talampayensis is known from three specimens: PULR 68 (holotype), a skull and postcranium. PULR 69, a right tarsus and pes, and PULR 72, a skull. The three specimens were each collected together in 1992^[2] within the Los Colorados Formation, Argentina.^[3][4]

Palaeochersis talampayensis was then named and described by Rougier, de la Fuente & Arcucci (1995).^[3]

Classification

Palaeochersis was part of the Australochelyidae, being the sister taxon to Australochelys.^[1][5]