A revision of the fossil turtles of the Late Jurassic locality of Canjuers, France, and description of a new thalassochelydian species

Spicher, Gaël E.; Joyce, Walter G.; Gueriau, Pierre; Peyer, Karin; Reneleau, Vincent; Anquetin, Jérémy

doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlag140

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Journal article

A revision of the fossil turtles of the Late Jurassic locality of Canjuers, France, and description of a new thalassochelydian species

DOKPE

Spicher, Gaël E. ORCID JURASSICA Musuem, Porrentruy, Switzerland
Joyce, Walter G. ORCID University of Fribourg
Gueriau, Pierre ORCID University of Lausanne
Peyer, Karin ORCID Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris
Reneleau, Vincent Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Paris
Anquetin, Jérémy ORCID JURASSICA Musuem, Porrentruy, Switzerland

2026

Published in:

Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. - Oxford Academic. - 2026, vol. 208, no. 1

English The Tithonian (Late Jurassic) limestones of Canjuers (Var, France) represent one of the most important Late Jurassic fossil localities in Europe, yielding an exceptional invertebrate and vertebrate fauna that includes a small number of thalassochelydian turtles, representing the youngest Jurassic turtle fauna known from Europe. Despite the significance of this locality, the turtle material has received limited attention, with most studies dating back more than three decades. Here, we re-examine the turtle specimens from Canjuers using modern imaging techniques to improve the visualization of morphological details. Two specimens represent a new species, described here as Caesaria templaria gen. nov. et sp. nov., characterized by a medium-sized skull, short snout, well-developed pygal bone lacking a pygal notch, posterior peripherals broader than long from peripheral VII onward, wide vertebral scutes, and undulated intervertebral scute sulci. A third specimen is referred to Solnhofia parsonsi based on skull outline, elongate snout, large skull, and reduced costo-peripheral fontanelles; minor differences from previously described material are interpreted as taxonomically irrelevant. A fourth specimen represents a juvenile individual, but its poor preservation precludes precise identification. Collectively, the Canjuers’ turtles provide new insights into Late Jurassic thalassochelydian diversity through the recognition of a new species.

Faculty

Faculté des sciences et de médecine

Department

Département de Géosciences

Language