Fossil Turtles from the Neogene Strata in the Sinda Basin, Eastern Zaire

Abstract

Fossil turtles collected from the Sinda Beds of eastern Zaire contain three families. They are Erymnochelys sp. of family Pelomedusidae, gen. et sp. Indet. of family Carettochelyidae, and gen. et sp. indet of family Trionychidae. Among them is the first known occurrence from Africa of carettochelyid, the pig-nosed turtle, Erymnochelys, the bigheaded side necked turtle, while once flourished in African during Tertiary, is restricted to Madagascar, today. All of these are presumed to have had aquatic habitat in rivers and lakes.