The shell morphology of the latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) trionychid turtle Helopanoplia distincta

Introduction

Pan-Trionychidae, soft-shelled turtles, is a diverse clade of turtles with an extensive fossil record that extends from the Early Cretaceous (Aptian) to the Recent. Although trionychids are currently restricted to Asia, North America, and Africa, fossils document their former presence in Australia, Europe, and South America as well (Vitek & Joyce, 2015; Georgalis & Joyce, 2017; Brinkman, Rabi & Zhao, 2017). Extant representatives of the clade are easily recognized externally by their flat shell covered by a leathery skin, well-developed, soft paddles, and an elongate proboscis (Ernst & Barbour, 1989). In addition, the skeletal morphology of the group is unique among turtles in having a reduced carapace that lacks peripherals and pygals and a restructured plastron consisting of strap-like epiplastra that lack a midline contact and a boomerang-shaped entoplastron that posteriorly embraces the hyoplastra (Meylan, 1987). The endoskeletal portions of the shell are covered by distinctly ornamented dermal bone with a unique microtexture consisting of layers of interwoven collagen fibers (Scheyer et al., 2007). Thus, even fragmentary fossil shell remains can easily be identified as pertaining to the group (e.g., Hutchison & Archibald, 1986).

The contemporaneous latest Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Lance Formation and Hell Creek Formation of North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, USA, have yielded an exceptional turtle fauna that include numerous pan-trionychids (Holroyd, Wilson & Hutchison, 2014; Vitek & Joyce, 2015). Although many other turtle groups are known from these formations by complete shells or skulls that allow assessing their anatomy and phylogenetic relationships with more confidence (e.g., Riggs, 1906; Hay, 1908; Case, 1939; Whetstone, 1978; Meylan & Gaffney, 1989; Gaffney, 1972; Lyson & Joyce, 2009a; Lyson & Joyce, 2009b; Knauss et al., 2011), trionychids are still mostly known from fragments and their diversity can only be assessed by reference to shell fragments. A recent review of pan-trionychid material from the Lance and Hell Creek Formations concluded that at least eight lineages are present in these formations (Holroyd, Wilson & Hutchison, 2014) of which only three, “Aspideretes” beecheri Hay, 1904, Axestemys splendida (Hay, 1908), and Gilmoremys lancensis (Gilmore, 1916), are known to the scientific community by detailed figures of actual shells or crania (Hay, 1904; Joyce & Lyson, 2011; Vitek, 2012; Joyce et al., 2016).

One of the most enigmatic trionychids from the Lance and Hell Creek Formations is Helopanoplia distincta Hay, 1908. The type specimen of this species is two shell fragments, the distal portion of a costal and the inguinal notch portion of the left hypoplastron, which are externally decorated with distinct tubercles. Although the vast majority of fossil pan-trionychids based on equally scant type material are considered nomina dubia (Vitek & Joyce, 2015; Georgalis & Joyce, 2017), there is universal agreement that the surface sculpture of Helopanoplia distincta is indeed distinct, hence the species name, and diagnoses a valid taxon (Hutchison & Archibald, 1986; Holroyd & Hutchison, 2002; Holroyd, Wilson & Hutchison, 2014; Vitek & Joyce, 2015). Numerous fragments referred to this species from the Hell Creek Formation of Montana and North Dakota (Fig. 1) allow the shell of this species to be partially reconstructed (Holroyd & Hutchison, 2002, Fig. 2J), but many aspects of its anatomy remain unknown. The primary purpose of this contribution is to improve the understanding of Helopanoplia distincta by figuring and describing a series of previously published and unpublished fossils from the Hell Creek Formation that collectively provide a near complete understanding of its shell morphology. In addition, we assess the paleoecology of this species and explore its phylogenetic position through cladistic analysis.

Systematic Paleontology

Helopanoplia distincta Hay, 1908

Holotype—USNM 5732, a distal fragment of a costal and inguinal notch portion of the left hypoplastron (Hay, 1908, pl. 88, fig. 4, 5).

Type locality and horizon—Lance Creek, Niobrara County, Wyoming, USA; Lance Formation, Maastrichtian, Late Cretaceous (Hay, 1908). The type locality was originally reported by Hay (1908) to be located in Converse County, but this county was split in 1911 into a western (Converse) and an eastern (Niobrara) county. We infer that the type locality is located in Niobrara County, as the town of Lance Creek and the Lance Creek drainage are both located in this county.

Referred material—NDGS 353, NDGS loc. 64, a nearly complete carapace (Fig. 2), Hell Creek Formation, found in a soft, tan, finely bedded sandstone, collected within the upper 25 m of the Hell Creek Formation, Slope County, North Dakota, USA.

DMNH EPV.125902, DMNH loc. 7179, a fragmentary, disarticulated shell, including, among others, a partial right nuchal and the distal portions of right costals I–III (Fig. 3), Hell Creek Formation, found at the base of an approximately 2 m thick channel sandstone 7.5 m below the contact with the overlying Fort Union Formation, Fallon County, Montana, USA.

PTRM 2767, PTRM loc. V86006, a fragmented, partial carapace (Fig. 4), Hell Creek Formation, found in a soft sandstone channel approximately 33.65 m below the contact with the overlying Fort Union Formation, Slope County, North Dakota, USA.

DMNH EPV.125901, DMNH loc. 5873, a partial right hyo/hypoplastron (Fig. 5), Hell Creek Formation, collected from an iron rich siltstone 13 m below the contact with the overlying Fort Union Formation, Slope County, North Dakota, USA.

DMNH EPV.125900, DMNH loc. 5853, a nearly complete left hyo/hypoplastron and left xiphiplastron (Fig. 6), Hell Creek Formation, recovered from a hard siltstone 17 m below the overlying contact with the Fort Union Formation, Fallon County, Montana, USA.

Of the long list of fragments previously referred to Helopanoplia distincta based on their unique sculpturing (e.g., Hutchison & Archibald, 1986; Holroyd & Hutchison, 2002; Holroyd, Wilson & Hutchison, 2014), we here (Fig. 7) four particularly informative specimens, which also served as the basis for the reconstruction of Helopanoplia distincta provided by Holroyd & Hutchison (2002):

UCMP 130112 and 130113, UCMP loc. V79116, a left hypoplastron and left and right xiphiplastra, respectively, Hell Creek Formation, Garfield County, Montana, USA.

UCMP 131614, UCMP loc. V84187, a left hyoplastron, Hell Creek Formation, McCone County, Montana, USA.

UCMP 134502, UCMP loc. V87080, an assortment of shell fragments including left costals VI and VII, Hell Creek Formation, McCone County, Montana, USA.

Distribution—Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian), Lance Formation of Niobrara County, Wyoming (Hay, 1908) and Hell Creek Formation of Fallon, Garfield, and McCone counties, Montana, and Slope county, North Dakota, USA (Hutchison & Archibald, 1986; Holroyd & Hutchison, 2002; Holroyd, Wilson & Hutchison, 2014; and new material described herein; Fig. 1).

Diagnosis—Helopanoplia distincta can be diagnosed as a pan-trionychid, among others, by the absence of peripherals, pygals, and scutes. Helopanoplia distincta can be distinguished from all other known pan-trionychids by the development of distinct tubercles along the margins of the carapace and much of the plastron. Helopanoplia distincta can furthermore be distinguished from all other currently recognized Late Cretaceous to Paleocene pan-trionychids from North America by the following combination of characters: formation of a distinct corner along the margin of costals II (also seen in some individuals of Hutchemys sterea), the apomorphic formation of fine scallops along the margin of costals VIII, the complete covering of costal ribs I–VI (i.e., dorsal ribs II–VII) by metaplastic bone (also seen in Atoposemys superstes), the apomorphic formation of a laterally embraced, rounded nuchal, anteriorly rounded costals I, distally expanded costals II, narrow costals VII, a blunt midline contact of the main plastral elements (also present in Hutchemys spp.), hyoplastral shoulders (also present in most other plastomenids), presence of an upturned margin formed by the hyo/hypoplastron that is covered dorsally by sculptured metaplastic bone (also present in Hutchemys spp.), and a single, anterolateral hyoplastral process (also present in Axestemys spp. and Hutchemys spp.).

Description

Carapace—The carapace of Helopanoplia distincta is rounded in outline, with exception of a blunt (Fig. 2) to distinct (Figs. 3 and 4) shoulder formed by costals II and scalloping along the posterior margin of costals VIII (Fig. 2). NDGS 353, the only articulated specimen, is approximately 39 cm long along the midline and approximately 38 cm wide at the suture of costals IV and V (Fig. 2). The carapace of DMNH EPV.125902, a disarticulated specimen of similar size, varies in thickness from 6 mm near the midline to 11 mm towards the limits of costals II–VI, not including the ribs. The margins of the carapace are generally rounded and only show minor evidence of “splitting” along the distal edge (i.e., a trough along the margin that separates the most surficial layers from the deepest layers of the costal, see Joyce et al., 2009 for figures) along the thickened margins of costals II–VI. Metaplastic ossification fully covers costal ribs I–VI (= dorsal ribs II–VII). The majority of the carapace is covered with an irregularly netted sculpturing pattern with thickened tubercles that decorate the intersections of some ridges (Fig. 2). A sculpturing pattern consisting of isolated tubercles is only weakly apparent in the nuchal region of NDGS 353 and PTRM 2767 (Figs. 2 and 3), but succinctly developed along the margins of the nuchal and costal I–III of DMNH EPV.125902 (Fig. 4).

In dorsal view, the nuchal is a broad, rounded element that is about six times broader than long and is laterally braced by the costals. Metaplastic ossification fully covers the cleithral portions (sensu Lyson et al., 2013) of the bone. A small, posterior embayment of the nuchal receives the preneural. The full neural column is only preserved in NDGS 353. In this specimen, the column consists of a preneural and eight neurals, which prevent a midline contact of all costals except costals VIII. The preneural is a rounded element that is about as wide as long, approximately the length of neural VII, and forms an anteriorly convex contact with the nuchal. While neurals I–V are hexagonal and have short posterior sides, neural VI has the shape of a rounded rectangle, neural VII is hexagonal with short anterior sides, and neural VIII is notably small and pentagonal. The arrangement of the posterior neurals is slightly different from that reported by Holroyd & Hutchison (2002), but this is attributable to intraspecific variation (see Discussion below). Eight pairs of costals are present. Costals I are strongly bowed anteriorly and thereby surround the nuchal anteromedially. Costals II mediate between the anteriorly bowed costals I and the straight costals III and therefore strongly expand distally. At mid-length, the margin of costals II form a shoulder that ranges from blunt in NDGS 353 (Fig. 2) to distinct in DMNH EPV.125902 (Fig. 3) and PTRM 2767 (Fig. 4). Costals III and IV are the proximodistally longest costals and have parallel margins. Costals V and VI are slightly bowed towards the posterior and slightly expand distally. While costals I–VI have similar anteroposterior dimensions near their contacts with the neurals, costal VII is significantly shorter. Costal VIII is triangular and has anteroposterior proportions more reminiscent of costals I–VI. NDGS 353 only preserves a midline contact for costals VIII (Fig. 2), which stands in contrast to the midline contact of costals VII and VIII reported by Holroyd & Hutchison (2002).

The deep, cleithral portions of the nuchal form a coarse comb of lateral processes in ventral view that is fully covered by metaplastic bone dorsally and partially covered by the expanded dorsal rib II in ventral view. Dorsal vertebrae III–IX are preserved in varying quality in NDGS 353. The available centra are flattened, have broad contacts with one another and have interdigitated contacts with the adjacent ribs. Dorsal rib I is not preserved in any specimen. Dorsal rib II (= costal rib I), best preserved in NDGS 353, is only modestly expanded distally, ends bluntly, partially covers the nuchal comb ventrally, and is fully covered by metaplastic bone dorsally. Dorsal ribs III–VI (= costals ribs II–V) also expand only lightly distally, have pointed tips, and are fully covered dorsally by metaplastic bone. Dorsal rib VII (= costal rib VI) is broad in NDGS 353 and slightly underlaps costals V, but those of PTRM 2767 are narrower and do not underlap costals V. This rib, however, is fully covered by metaplastic bone in both specimens. Dorsal ribs VIII and IX (= costal ribs VII and VIII) are not fully preserved in any specimen. However, the clear breaks apparent at the posterior margins of NDGS 353 and PTRM 2767 indicate that dorsal ribs VIII are significantly narrower that the more anterior ones, clearly underlap costals VI, and protruded beyond the margin of the carapace. Dorsal ribs IX are even narrower, clearly underlap costal VII, and likely protruded significantly beyond the posterior margin of the carapacial disk.

Plastron—Only the hyoplastron, hypoplastron, and xiphiplastron are known for Helopanoplia distincta (Figs. 5–7). Whereas much of the hyo- and hypoplastron are decorated with the distinct tubercles that diagnose H. distincta, the xiphiplastron is covered by a broad, netted pattern more reminiscent of the carapace (Figs. 5–7). Ornamented, metaplastic bone is furthermore apparent on the dorsolateral side of the hyo- and hypoplastron in larger specimens (Figs. 5–7). The hyo- and hypoplastron are sutured to one another, but apparently only resisted disarticulation after death in the largest individuals (Figs. 5 and 6). The fusion of the hyo/hypoplastron during ontogeny is a common feature among extant trionychids (Meylan, 1987).

The strap-like processes that form the deep tissue component of the available plastral material is nearly fully hidden in ventral view by metaplastic bone. The hyoplastron has a single lateral process and two medial processes only. The hypoplastron has two lateral processes, a single, medial process, and two posterior processes. The xiphiplastron has two clear anterior processes and two medial processes.

The metaplastic portions of the hyoplastron have a rounded to flattened medial margin, but while it is clear that a midline contact was absent in smaller specimens (Fig. 7), it is unclear if such a contact was present in large specimens (Fig. 6). Although the entoplastron is unknown, the hyoplastron forms a well-developed anterior lappet that appears to have partially (Fig. 7) or completely (Fig. 6) restricted mobility of the entoplastron. The medial margin of the hypoplastron is rounded to flattened (Figs. 5 and 6), but it is unclear once again if a midline contact was present in larger specimens. The posterior aspects of the hypoplastron are deeply incised for contact with the xiphiplastron. This contact was strengthened by a bony flap formed lateral to the posterior plastral processes. Metaplastic bone not only covers the ventral aspects of the posterior plastral lobe, but also wraps onto its posterior aspects. The hyo- and hypoplastra combined form an upturned lip at their lateral margins that rises towards the midline at an angle of 70 degrees and that is decorated on its dorsal side with sculptured metaplastic bone (Figs. 6 and 7). In life, this would have represented the lateral margin of the animal. The xiphiplastra form expanded metaplastic callosities that likely contacted one another along the midline in life, but show now evidence of midline suturing. The lateral margin is broadly rounded, protruding far beyond the margin of the deep tissue processes. Whereas a large fontanelle appears to have been present between the hypo- and xiphiplastra in medium sized individuals (Fig. 7), this space is filled by an expanded anterior process of the xiphiplastra in the largest available specimen (DMNH 125900; Fig. 6).

Phylogenetic Analysis

Results

Our primary phylogenetic analysis retrieved 56 equally parsimonious trees with 312 steps, a consistency index of 0.375 and a retention index of 0.608. The full strict consensus tree and a list of common synapomorphies are provided in File S2. An extraction of the tree relevant to this study is provided in Fig. 8A. Mild weighting with a k value of 11 results in 21 most parsimonious trees with a best score of 13.55014 and a novel arrangement within Hutchemys, which is more concordant with the stratigraphic record by implying fewer ghost lineages (Fig. 8B). The full tree is provided in File S2. In contrast to some previous analyses (e.g., Joyce et al., 2009; Joyce & Lyson, 2010; Joyce & Lyson, 2011; Li, Joyce & Liu, 2015), plastomenids are retrieved as stem-trionychines, regardless of the weighting applied, a conclusion also recently obtained by Brinkman, Rabi & Zhao (2017). The Early Cretaceous Asiatic pan-trionychids included in the matrix are retrieved as a clade in all analyses (File S2), but only extreme weighting with a k value of 1 retrieves this outside of crown Trionychidae. Incidentally, if the matrix is run without the molecular backbone constraint, these turtles are retrieved outside crown Trionychidae even without the application of weights.

Discussion

Supplemental Information