''Euryaspis'' is a
dubious genus
Genus ( plural genera ) is a taxonomic rank used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses. In the hierarchy of biological classification, genus comes above species and below family. In binomial n ...
of
extinct thalassochelydia
Thalassochelydia is a clade of extinct marine turtles from the Late Jurassic and earliest Cretaceous of Europe and South America. The group is defined as including ''Eurysternum'', ''Plesiochelys'' and '' Thalassemys'' to the exclusion of '' Pe ...
n turtle from the
Late Jurassic
The Late Jurassic is the third epoch of the Jurassic Period, and it spans the geologic time from 163.5 ± 1.0 to 145.0 ± 0.8 million years ago (Ma), which is preserved in Upper Jurassic strata.Owen 1987.
In European lithostratigraphy, the ...
of
Germany
Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG),, is a country in Central Europe. It is the most populous member state of the European Union. Germany lies between the Baltic and North Sea to the north and the Alps to the sou ...
. The type and only species is ''Euryaspis radians'', originally proposed by Wagner in
1859
Events
January–March
* January 21 – José Mariano Salas (1797–1867) becomes Conservative interim President of Mexico.
* January 24 ( O. S.) – Wallachia and Moldavia are united under Alexandru Ioan Cuza (Romania since 1866, final ...
before being validly described and illustrated in
1861
Statistically, this year is considered the end of the whale oil industry and (in replacement) the beginning of the petroleum oil industry.
Events
January–March
* January 1
** Benito Juárez captures Mexico City.
** The first steam- ...
. The only specimen was a partial
carapace
A carapace is a dorsal (upper) section of the exoskeleton or shell in a number of animal groups, including arthropods, such as crustaceans and arachnids, as well as vertebrates, such as turtles and tortoises. In turtles and tortoises, the und ...
probably from the
Tithonian
In the geological timescale, the Tithonian is the latest age of the Late Jurassic Epoch and the uppermost stage of the Upper Jurassic Series. It spans the time between 152.1 ± 4 Ma and 145.0 ± 4 Ma (million years ago). It is preceded by t ...
, although the original locality is unknown. The genus is referred to
Thalassochelydia
Thalassochelydia is a clade of extinct marine turtles from the Late Jurassic and earliest Cretaceous of Europe and South America. The group is defined as including ''Eurysternum'', ''Plesiochelys'' and '' Thalassemys'' to the exclusion of '' Pe ...
and has been considered a synonym of ''
Eurysternum
''Eurysternum'' is an extinct genus of thalassochelydian turtle. Its type species is ''Eurysternum wagleri'', the holotype
A holotype is a single physical example (or illustration) of an organism, known to have been used when the species ...
'' or ''
Acichelys
''Eurysternum'' is an extinct genus of thalassochelydian turtle. Its type species is ''Eurysternum wagleri'', the holotype of which has since been lost and only survives in illustrations.
Formerly assigned species
''Eurysternum ignoratum'' Bra ...
'' before, but casts that remain of the lost holotype show that it bears no features that can clarify its validity making it a ''
nomen dubium
In binomial nomenclature, a ''nomen dubium'' (Latin for "doubtful name", plural ''nomina dubia'') is a scientific name that is of unknown or doubtful application.
Zoology
In case of a ''nomen dubium'' it may be impossible to determine whether a s ...
''.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q96377472
Thalassochelydia
Prehistoric turtle genera
Tithonian genera
Late Jurassic turtles
Late Jurassic reptiles of Europe
Jurassic Germany
Fossils of Germany
Nomina dubia
Fossil taxa described in 1861