Ashleychelys palmeri Weems & Sanders 2014

Robert & Weems, E., 2014, Paleogene chelonians from Maryland and Virginia, PaleoBios 31 (1), pp. 1-32 : 25-26

Ashleychelys palmeri Weems & Sanders 2014 ( Fig. 18B)

Specimen —CMM-V-4782, neural found by Gary Grimsley.

Locality, horizon, and age — Found on the beach at the base of the low bluff outcrop at Northbury, northwestern New Kent County, Virginia on the south bank of the Pamunkey River; Old Church Formation; late early Oligocene (late Rupelian, nannofossil zone NP24). Along this part of the bluff, only the Old Church is exposed .

Description —Narrow hexagonal-shaped neural with a low longitudinal keel and sculpturing typical of Ashleychelys .

Remarks —This isolated neural is quite similar in shape, size, thickness and pattern of sculpturing to neurals of Ashleychelys palmeri , known from the Late Rupelian Ashley and early Chattian Chandler Bridge formations near Charleston, South Carolina. The elongate shape, low longitudinal keel, and characteristic sculpturing are typical of Ashleychelys .