The lower jaws of baenid turtles. American Museum novitates ; no. 2749

Abstract

"The baenid lower jaw has a well-developed processus coronoideus, no ridges or pits on the triturating surface, a relatively small dorsal opening of the fossa meckelii, and, except in Chisternon and Baena, a large splenial bone. None of these feaures is unique to baenids nor is the combination unique. Distinctly expanded triturating surfaces are found in Eubaena and Palatobaena. Chisternon and Baena are the only baenids definitely known to lack splenials; the anteroventromedial wall of the fossa meckelii is open in these genera. An associated skull and jaws of Plesiobaena putorius show that previous identification of jaws with expanded triturating surfaces as pertaining to this species was in error, the two known species of this genus have narrow jaws"--P. [1].