A New Extinct Emydid Turtle from the Lower Pliocene of Oklahoma

A scientific publication produced in the late 1940s. This work contributes to the field of paleontology by documenting a newly discovered species of turtle from the Emydidae family, specifically a previously unnamed species of the genus ''Chrysemys'', found in the Lower Pliocene geological layers of Oklahoma. In this publication, Galbreath details the discovery of the fossilized remains of the turtle, named ''Chrysemys limnodytes''. The author provides a thorough description of the specimen, including dimensions and distinguishing characteristics such as the carapace and plastron structure. The work compares the new species with existing species, noting its unique features like the concave anterior end of the carapace and its broader form in relation to similar Recent turtles. Galbreath discusses the taxonomic significance of these findings and situates the turtle within the broader context of the Emydidae family, highlighting its evolutionary position and the limitations of fossil records in understanding relationships with modern species.