摘要：Up to date, turtle remains from the Early Cretaceous Santana Formation were only described
from the Romualdo Member (Aptian-Albian) and four species are known: Araripemys barretoi Price, 1973
(Pleurodira: Araripemydidae); Santanachelys gaffneyi Hirayama, 1998 (Cryptodira: Protostegidae); Brasilemys
josai Lapparent de Broin, 2000 (Pleurodira: Brasilemydidae), and Cearachelys placidoi Gaffney, Campos &
Hirayama, 2001 (Pleurodira: Bothremydidae). Here we report an incomplete plastron (MN 6745-V) from the
lower section of this formation, constituted by the laminated limestone layers of the Crato Member (Aptian).
Compared to other turtles from the Santana Formation, this material is referable to cf. Araripemys based on
the presence of fontanels and the lack of a mesoplastron. It constitutes the oldest Testudines from Brazil,
extending the record of Araripemys or a similar taxon deeper into the Aptian
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