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Melanochelys sivalensis

Reptilia - Testudines - Geoemydidae

Taxonomy
Clemmys sivalensis was named by Lydekker (1885). Its type specimen is Indian Museum, Calcutta specimen (cast in BMNH R1514), a partial shell, and it is a 3D body fossil.

It was recombined as Bellia sivalensis by Lydekker (1889); it was recombined as Melanochelys sivalensis by Garbin et al. (2020).

Synonyms
  • Clemmys theobaldi was named by Lydekker (1885). Its type specimen is Indian Museum, Calcutta specimen (cast in BMNH R1515), a partial shell, and it is a 3D body fossil.

    It was recombined as Bellia theobaldi by Lydekker (1889); it was synonymized subjectively with Melanochelys sivalensis by Garbin et al. (2020).
  • Clemmys punjabiensis was named by Lydekker (1885). Its type specimen is IM E.92, a partial shell, and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Siwalik Hills, which is in a Pliocene fluvial horizon in the Pinjor Formation of Pakistan.

    It was synonymized subjectively with Melanochelys sivalensis by Garbin et al. (2020).
  • Clemmys hydaspica was named by Lydekker (1885). Its type specimen is IM E.93, a partial shell, and it is a 3D body fossil. Its type locality is Siwalik Hills, which is in a Pliocene fluvial horizon in the Pinjor Formation of Pakistan.

    It was synonymized subjectively with Melanochelys sivalensis by Garbin et al. (2020).
Synonymy list
YearName and author
1885Clemmys sivalensis Lydekker p. 170
1885Clemmys hydaspica Lydekker p. 172
1885Clemmys theobaldi Lydekker p. 173
1885Clemmys punjabiensis Lydekker p. 175
1889Bellia sivalensis Lydekker pp. 106-107
1889Bellia theobaldi Lydekker p. 108
2020Melanochelys sivalensis Garbin et al. p. 40

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RankNameAuthor
kingdomAnimalia()
—Bilateria
—EubilateriaAx 1987
—Deuterostomia
phylumChordataHaeckel 1874
subphylumVertebrata
superclassGnathostomata
—Osteichthyes()
subclassSarcopterygii()
subclassDipnotetrapodomorpha(Nelson 2006)
subclassTetrapodomorpha()
—Tetrapoda
—Reptiliomorpha
—Anthracosauria
RankNameAuthor
subclassAmphibiosauriaKuhn 1967
—Cotylosauria()
—Amniota
—Sauropsida
classReptilia
—Testudinata(Oppel 1811)
orderTestudinesBatsch 1788
suborderCryptodira
—Pantestudinoidea
superfamilyTestudinoidea
familyGeoemydidaeTheobald 1868
subfamilyGeoemydinaeTheobald 1868
genusMelanochelysSchweigger 1812
speciessivalensis(Lydekker 1885)

If no rank is listed, the taxon is considered an unranked clade in modern classifications. Ranks may be repeated or presented in the wrong order because authors working on different parts of the classification may disagree about how to rank taxa.

†Melanochelys sivalensis Lydekker 1885
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Invalid names: Bellia theobaldi Lydekker 1885 [synonym], Clemmys hydaspica Lydekker 1885 [synonym], Clemmys punjabiensis Lydekker 1885 [synonym]
Diagnosis
ReferenceDiagnosis
R. Garbin et al. 2020Melanochelys sivalensis can be differentiated from other species of Melanochelys by the lack of longitudinal carapacial keels, the presence of hexagonal second to fourth vertebral scutes with concave posterolateral margins that are broader than long and a denser and more rounded shell.
Measurements
No measurements are available
Composition: phosphaticsubp
Environment: freshwatersubo
Locomotion: actively mobilec
Life habit: aquaticsubo
Diet: omnivoresubo
Reproduction: oviparoussubo
Created: 2005-08-26 14:49:00
Modified: 2005-08-26 16:49:00
Source: subo = suborder, c = class, subp = subphylum
References: Carroll 1988, Hendy et al. 2009, Uetz 2005

Age range: base of the Late/Upper Miocene to the top of the Pliocene or 11.63000 to 2.58000 Ma

Collections (2 total)


Time interval Ma Country or state Original ID and collection number
Late/Upper Miocene11.63 - 5.333Pakistan (Punjab) Melanochelys sivalensis (192113)
Pliocene5.333 - 2.58Pakistan Bellia sivalensis, Bellia theobaldi (92070)