Inaechelys pernambucensis, new species

Etymology. The generic name Inae is a variant of ‘Yemanja’, deity of the sea in many African cults, introduced to Brazil during slavery; chelys is from "turtle". The specific epithet pernambucensis refers to state of Pernambuco, where the fossil was found.

Holotype: DGEO-CTG-UFPE 6171—partial pelvis with left ilium and pubis articulated; DGEO-CTG-UFPE 6172—costal plate; DGEO-CTG-UFPE 6173—costal plate; and DGEO-CTG-UFPE 6174—almost complete plastron associated with two dermal plates of the carapace.

Type locality and age: Poty Quarry, located in the region of Paulista (07°59 'S, 34°51' W), north of Recife, Pernambuco state; Maria Farinha Formation, Paraíba Basin; Early Paleocene (Danian; Albertão et al., 1994).

Diagnosis. Medium to large sized Pelomedusoides with plastron consisting on 11 bones; pubic scar in the xiphiplastron, as usual in Pleurodira; anterior lobe of the plastron short and wide at its base, with the pectoroabdominal groove in front of the mesoplastron, as in all the Bothremydidae. The humeropectoral sulcus does not contact the entoplastron or the epiplastron; the interfemoral dermal groove is longer than the dermal intraabdominal groove; and the plate sutures are highly serrated. Inaechelys pernambucensis differs from Rosasia soutoi by the following set of features: Inaechelys presents pentagonal shaped entoplastron, straight contour of anterior lobe cranial margin, abdominal shield midline notably smaller than the femoral shield midline and contact between plastron plates strongly serrated.