The extended continental South American turtle record (Norian to Lujanian) allows us to follow the evolution of this reptile clade from its origins. Several significant stem turtle taxa such as:PalaeochersistalampayensisandCondorchelys antiquaprovide information on the first steps of turtle evolution. Others such as:Chubutemys copelloiorPatagoniaemys gasparinaeprovide clues to the origin of the bizarre horned tortoises of the clade Meiolaniidae. The panpleurodiran species such asNotoemys laticentralisorNotoemys zapatocaensisshed light on the origin of modern pleurodiran turtles. This book explores aquatic and terrestrial cryptodiran turtles, South Gondwana pleurodiran turtles, North Gondwana pleurodiran turtles; Meiolaniforms and early differentiation of Mesozoic turtles. | Origin Evolution and Biogeographic History of South American Turtles by Marcelo S. de la Fuente, Hardcover | Indigo Chapters