Meiolania sp. nov. 'New Caledonia'
New Caledonia giant horned turtle
Taxonomy & Nomenclature
Synonym/s: Meiolaniidae sp. [New Caledonia] (TEWG et al., 2015:23)
Possibly a distinct species from M. platyceps, but there is insufficient sub-fossil material to study (Gaffney et al., 1984).
Conservation Status
Extinct if valid
Last record: c. 531 AD
Distribution
New Caledonia (including Tiga Island)
Biology & Ecology
Hypodigm
Media
References
Gaffney, E. S., Balouet, J. C. and de Froin, F. (1984). New occurrences of extinct meiolaniid turtles in New Caledonia. American Museum Novitates 2800: 1-6.
Turtle Extinctions Working Group et al. (2015). Turtles and Tortoises of the World During the Rise and Global Spread of Humanity: First Checklist and Review of Extinct Pleistocene and Holocene Chelonians. Chelonian Research Monographs No. 5: 1-66.
http://extinctanimals.proboards.com/thread/11250/meiolania-sp