Pelocomastes

Thomson, Scott, Amepou, Yolarnie, Anamiato, Jim & Georges, Arthur, 2015, A new species and subgenus of Elseya (Testudines: Pleurodira: Chelidae) from New Guinea, Zootaxa 4006 (1), pp. 59-82 : 74

Subgenus: Pelocomastes (de Vis 1897) resurrected, this study.

Type Species: Elseya uberrima (de Vis 1897) sensu Thomson (2000).

Diagnosis: This subgenus can be diagnosed by the presence of extensive lingual ridges in addition to the alveolar ridges present on both the ramphotheca and the underlying dentary. The complete absence of a medial constriction in the anterior bridge strut and in part by the presence of the ileum suture being in contact with the suture between the 7th and 8th pleurals. The head shield is deeply fenestrated but does not extend down the parietal arch towards the tympanum. Cervical scute is typically absent and the first vertebral scute is wider than the second.

Referred Species: Elseya uberrima (de Vis 1897), Elseya lavarackorum ( White & Archer 1994) , Elseya irwini ( Cann 1997) , Elseya albagula ( Thomson et al. 2006) , Elseya nadibajagu ( Thomson & Mackness 1999) , Elseya sp. aff. (Daintree) (sensu Todd et al. 2014). ( Figure 1 )

Figures

FIGURE 1. Map of New Guinea showing the distribution of Elseya novaeguineae (Birds Head), E. schultzei (north of Central Ranges) and E. rhodini (south of Central Ranges). The locations of the holotypes for each species are shown as red dots; the type locality for the neotype of Elseya branderhorsti is shown as a green square.