rODOCNEMlS ANTI QUA. 
289 
])ivision B. PLEURODIRA. 
Family PELOMEDUSID.E. 
Genus PODOCNEMIS, Wagler. 
[Syst. Ampli. (1830) p. 135.] 
This genus, including Pleurodiran tortoises in which the temporal fossae are 
roofed in and the raesoplastra are small and laterally situated, is represented in the 
Eocene of the Fayrim hy several species. Of these Podocnemis antiqua, Andrews, and 
Podocnemis stromeri, Beinach, with its variety major, are from the Qasr-es-Sagha beds, 
while Podocnemis fajumensis, Andrews, and P. hlanchenhorni, Beinach, with its 
variety ovata, are from the Fluvio-marine beds of the Upper Eocene. Judging from 
the great variation in the plastra, of which a considerable number have been examined, 
it seems very probable that P. hlanckenhorni is identical with P. ; indeed, 
according to Beinach’s figures, there seems to be more difference between the two 
forms of P. hlancl'cnliorni than there is between the typical form and P. fajumensis. 
Podocnemis antiqua, Andrews. 
[Text-fig. 92.] 
1903. Podocnemis antiqua, C. W. Andrews, Ann. & Mag. Nat. Hist. [7] vol. xi. p. 120, pi. viii. 
tigs. 2 A, B. 
1903. „ ,, A. von Beinach, Abhandl. Senckenberg. natnrf. Gesell. vol. xxix. 
pt. 1, p. 19. 
Type Specimen. — A crushed shell, much coated with gypsum and with all the 
furroAvs marking the outlines of the epidermal shields entirely lost (text-fig. 92) ; 
Geological Museum, Cairo. 
Shell broad and short, somewhat pointed posteriorly. Nuchal bone broad and short, 
with a straight anterior border. In the plastron the xiphiplastrals form the longest 
suture in the middle line. 
Form. & Loc. — Qasr-el-Sagha beds (Middle Eocene) : north of Birket-el-Qurun. 
The carapace in this species is flatter posteriorly than in front, where it seems 
to have been highly arched. The nuchal border is straight, without a trace of any 
emargination ; the nuchal bone {Nu.) is much broader than long. There are 
six neurals. The first is in contact Avith the nuchal in front ; at the point of 
junction of the nuchal, first neural, and first costal there is a small opening through 
the shell. The second to fifth neurals, like the first, are much longer than AAude, 
their anterior borders are slightly concave, Avhile laterally they are bounded by a very 
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