News remains of Chelonoidis cubensis (Leidy, 1868) (Testudines: Testudinidae) in Gibara, east of Cuba
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Jan 24, 2026
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Abstract
The discovery of remains referable to the extinct tortoise Chelonoidis cubensis (Leidy, 1868), from a cave in Gibara, Holguín province, eastern Cuba, is reported. The recovered specimens are poorly mineralized. This is the second report of the species for the paleofauna of the northeastern region of Cuba.
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caves, La Campana, Pleistocene, cervical scute, carapace
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Acevedo-González, M., & Arredondo de la Mata, O. (1982). Paleozoogeografía y geología del Cuaternario de Cuba, características y distribución geográfica de los depósitos con restos de vertebrados. Academia de Ciencias de Cuba, IX Jornada Científica del Instituto de Geología y Paleontología, 59–84.
Albury, N. A., Franz, R., Rímoli, R., Lehman, P., & Rosenberger, A. L. (2018). Fossil land tortoises (Testudines: Testudinidae) from the Dominican Republic, West Indies, with a description of a new species. American Museum Novitates, 2018(3904), 1–28.
https://doi.org/10.1206/3904.1
Arredondo, O. (1975). Paleontología. pp. 16–38. En La Cueva del Túnel (M. Acevedo González, O. Arredondo de la Mata, y N. González Gotera), Pueblo y Educación, La Habana. pp. 73.
Arredondo, O. (1996). Lista de especies extinguidas de vertebrados halladas en las provincias orientales cubanas. Garciana, 24–25, 1–2.
Auffenberg, W. (1974). Checklist of fossil land tortoises (Testudinidae). Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Biological Sciences, 18(3), 121–251.
Austin, J. J., Arnold, E. N., & Bour, R. (2003). Was there a second adaptive radiation of giant tortoises in the Indian Ocean? Using mitochondrial DNA to investigate speciation and biogeography of Aldabrachelys (Reptilia, Testudinidae). Molecular Ecology, 12, 1415–1424.
Bour, R. (1980). Essai sur la Taxonomie des Testudinidae actuels (Reptilia: Chelonii). Bulletin du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 4(2), 541–546.
Bramble, D. M. (1971). Functional morphology, evolution, and paleoecology of gopher tortoises. Unpublished PhD Dissertation, University of California, Berkeley.
Broin, F. de, & de la Fuente, M. S. (1993). Les tortues fossiles d’Argentine: synthèse. Annales de Paléontologie, 79, 169–232.
Carbot-Chanona, G., Jiménez-Hidalgo, E., Díaz-Cruz, J. A., Rivera-Velázquez, G., & Reynoso, V. H. (2023). A new large tortoise from the early Oligocene (Arikareean NALMA) of Oaxaca, southern Mexico and its phylogenetic position within Pan-Testudinidae. Historical Biology, 35(9), 1748–1761. https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2022.2114352
De la Fuente, M. S. (1994). Descripción de Nuevos Especímenes y Relaciones Filogenéticas de Chelonoidis gringorum (Simpson, 1942) (Chelonii: Testudinidae) del Mioceno Temprano de Patagonia Central, Argentina. Stvdia Geologica Salmanticensia, 30, 107–131.
De la Fuente, M. S. (1997). Las tortugas pleistocenas del extremo meridional de la Provincia de Santa Fe, Argentina. Stvdia Geologica Salmanticensia, 33, 67–90.
De la Fuente, M. S., Zacarías, G. G., & Vlachos, E. (2018). A review of the fossil record of South American turtles of the clade Testudinoidea. Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History, 59(2), 269–286. https://doi.org/10.3374/014.059.0201
Franco Álvarez, G. L., González García, R. A., Recio Herrera, A. M., Furrazola–Bermúdez, G., Delgado Damas, R., & Triff Oquendo, J. (2011). Léxico Estratigráfico de Cuba. Centro Nacional de Información Geológica. Instituto de Geología y Paleontología. La Habana.
pp. 655.
Franz, R., & Franz, S. E. (2009). A new fossil land tortoise in the genus Chelonoidis (Testudines: Testudinidae) from the Northern Bahamas, with an osteological assessment of other Neotropical Tortoises. Bulletin Florida Museum of Natural History, 49(1), 1–44.
https://doi.org/10.58782/flmnh.enun2868
Kehlmaier, C., Barlow, A., Hastings, A. K., Vamberger, M., Paijmans, J. L. A., Steadman, D. W., Albury, N. A., Franz, R., Hofreiter, M., & Fritz, U. (2017). Tropical ancient DNA reveals relationships of the extinct Bahamian giant tortoise Chelonoidis alburyorum. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 284(1846), 20162235. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2016.2235
Kehlmaier, C., Albury, N. A., Steadman, D. W., Graciá, E., Frank, R., & Fritz, U. (2021). Ancient mitogenomics elucidates diversity of extinct West Indian tortoises. Scientific Report, 11(1), 3224. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82299-w
Le, M., Raxworthy, C. J., McCord, W. P., & Mertz, L. (2006). A molecular phylogeny of tortoises (Testudines: Testudinidae) based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution, 40(2), 517–531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2006.03.003
Leidy, J. (1868). Notice of some vertebrate remains from the West Indian islands. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 20, 178–180.
Loveridge, A., & Williams, E. E. (1957). Revision of the African tortoises and turtles of the suborder Cryptodira. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 115, 161–557.
Matthew, W. D., & de Paula Couto, C. (1959). The Cuban edentates. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 117, 1–56.
Pereira, A. G., Sterli, J., Moreira, F. R., & Schrago, C. G. (2017). Multilocus phylogeny and statistical biogeography clarify the evolutionary history of major lineages of turtles. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 113, 59–66.
Pritchard, P. C. H. (1984). Evolution and zoogeography of South American turtles. Studia Palaeocheloniologica, 1, 225–233.
Schoch, R. R., & Sues, H–D. (2020). The origin of the turtle body plan: evidence from fossils and embryos. Palaeontology, 63(3), 375–393. https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12460
Viñola–López, L. W., & Almonte, J. N. (2022). Revision of the fossil land tortoises (Testudines: Testudinidae) from Hispaniola with the description of a new species, Dominican Republic Novitates Caribaea, (20), 11–29. https://doi.org/10.33800/nc.vi20.302
Williams, E. (1950). Testudo cubensis and the evolution of Western Hemisphere tortoises. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 95(1), 1–36.
Woloszyn, B. W., & Silva Taboada, G. (1977). Nueva especie fósil de Artibeus (Mammalia: Chiroptera) de Cuba, y tipificación preliminar de los depósitos fosilíferos cubanos contentivos de mamíferos terrestres. Poeyana, 161, 1–17.
Zacarias, G. G., de la Fuente, M. S., Fernández, M. S., & Zurita, A. E. (2013). Nueva especie de tortuga terrestre gigante del género Chelonoidis Fitzinger, 1835 (Cryptodira: Testudinidae), del Miembro inferior de la Formación Toropí/Yupoí (Pleistoceno tardío/Lujanense), Bella Vista, Corrientes, Argentina. Ameghiniana, 50(3), 298–318.
Albury, N. A., Franz, R., Rímoli, R., Lehman, P., & Rosenberger, A. L. (2018). Fossil land tortoises (Testudines: Testudinidae) from the Dominican Republic, West Indies, with a description of a new species. American Museum Novitates, 2018(3904), 1–28.
https://doi.org/10.1206/3904.1
Arredondo, O. (1975). Paleontología. pp. 16–38. En La Cueva del Túnel (M. Acevedo González, O. Arredondo de la Mata, y N. González Gotera), Pueblo y Educación, La Habana. pp. 73.
Arredondo, O. (1996). Lista de especies extinguidas de vertebrados halladas en las provincias orientales cubanas. Garciana, 24–25, 1–2.
Auffenberg, W. (1974). Checklist of fossil land tortoises (Testudinidae). Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Biological Sciences, 18(3), 121–251.
Austin, J. J., Arnold, E. N., & Bour, R. (2003). Was there a second adaptive radiation of giant tortoises in the Indian Ocean? Using mitochondrial DNA to investigate speciation and biogeography of Aldabrachelys (Reptilia, Testudinidae). Molecular Ecology, 12, 1415–1424.
Bour, R. (1980). Essai sur la Taxonomie des Testudinidae actuels (Reptilia: Chelonii). Bulletin du Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, 4(2), 541–546.
Bramble, D. M. (1971). Functional morphology, evolution, and paleoecology of gopher tortoises. Unpublished PhD Dissertation, University of California, Berkeley.
Broin, F. de, & de la Fuente, M. S. (1993). Les tortues fossiles d’Argentine: synthèse. Annales de Paléontologie, 79, 169–232.
Carbot-Chanona, G., Jiménez-Hidalgo, E., Díaz-Cruz, J. A., Rivera-Velázquez, G., & Reynoso, V. H. (2023). A new large tortoise from the early Oligocene (Arikareean NALMA) of Oaxaca, southern Mexico and its phylogenetic position within Pan-Testudinidae. Historical Biology, 35(9), 1748–1761. https://doi.org/10.1080/08912963.2022.2114352
De la Fuente, M. S. (1994). Descripción de Nuevos Especímenes y Relaciones Filogenéticas de Chelonoidis gringorum (Simpson, 1942) (Chelonii: Testudinidae) del Mioceno Temprano de Patagonia Central, Argentina. Stvdia Geologica Salmanticensia, 30, 107–131.
De la Fuente, M. S. (1997). Las tortugas pleistocenas del extremo meridional de la Provincia de Santa Fe, Argentina. Stvdia Geologica Salmanticensia, 33, 67–90.
De la Fuente, M. S., Zacarías, G. G., & Vlachos, E. (2018). A review of the fossil record of South American turtles of the clade Testudinoidea. Bulletin of the Peabody Museum of Natural History, 59(2), 269–286. https://doi.org/10.3374/014.059.0201
Franco Álvarez, G. L., González García, R. A., Recio Herrera, A. M., Furrazola–Bermúdez, G., Delgado Damas, R., & Triff Oquendo, J. (2011). Léxico Estratigráfico de Cuba. Centro Nacional de Información Geológica. Instituto de Geología y Paleontología. La Habana.
pp. 655.
Franz, R., & Franz, S. E. (2009). A new fossil land tortoise in the genus Chelonoidis (Testudines: Testudinidae) from the Northern Bahamas, with an osteological assessment of other Neotropical Tortoises. Bulletin Florida Museum of Natural History, 49(1), 1–44.
https://doi.org/10.58782/flmnh.enun2868
Kehlmaier, C., Barlow, A., Hastings, A. K., Vamberger, M., Paijmans, J. L. A., Steadman, D. W., Albury, N. A., Franz, R., Hofreiter, M., & Fritz, U. (2017). Tropical ancient DNA reveals relationships of the extinct Bahamian giant tortoise Chelonoidis alburyorum. Proceedings of the Royal Society B, 284(1846), 20162235. https://doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2016.2235
Kehlmaier, C., Albury, N. A., Steadman, D. W., Graciá, E., Frank, R., & Fritz, U. (2021). Ancient mitogenomics elucidates diversity of extinct West Indian tortoises. Scientific Report, 11(1), 3224. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82299-w
Le, M., Raxworthy, C. J., McCord, W. P., & Mertz, L. (2006). A molecular phylogeny of tortoises (Testudines: Testudinidae) based on mitochondrial and nuclear genes. Molecular Phylogenetics & Evolution, 40(2), 517–531. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ympev.2006.03.003
Leidy, J. (1868). Notice of some vertebrate remains from the West Indian islands. Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia, 20, 178–180.
Loveridge, A., & Williams, E. E. (1957). Revision of the African tortoises and turtles of the suborder Cryptodira. Bulletin of the Museum of Comparative Zoology, 115, 161–557.
Matthew, W. D., & de Paula Couto, C. (1959). The Cuban edentates. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 117, 1–56.
Pereira, A. G., Sterli, J., Moreira, F. R., & Schrago, C. G. (2017). Multilocus phylogeny and statistical biogeography clarify the evolutionary history of major lineages of turtles. Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution, 113, 59–66.
Pritchard, P. C. H. (1984). Evolution and zoogeography of South American turtles. Studia Palaeocheloniologica, 1, 225–233.
Schoch, R. R., & Sues, H–D. (2020). The origin of the turtle body plan: evidence from fossils and embryos. Palaeontology, 63(3), 375–393. https://doi.org/10.1111/pala.12460
Viñola–López, L. W., & Almonte, J. N. (2022). Revision of the fossil land tortoises (Testudines: Testudinidae) from Hispaniola with the description of a new species, Dominican Republic Novitates Caribaea, (20), 11–29. https://doi.org/10.33800/nc.vi20.302
Williams, E. (1950). Testudo cubensis and the evolution of Western Hemisphere tortoises. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, 95(1), 1–36.
Woloszyn, B. W., & Silva Taboada, G. (1977). Nueva especie fósil de Artibeus (Mammalia: Chiroptera) de Cuba, y tipificación preliminar de los depósitos fosilíferos cubanos contentivos de mamíferos terrestres. Poeyana, 161, 1–17.
Zacarias, G. G., de la Fuente, M. S., Fernández, M. S., & Zurita, A. E. (2013). Nueva especie de tortuga terrestre gigante del género Chelonoidis Fitzinger, 1835 (Cryptodira: Testudinidae), del Miembro inferior de la Formación Toropí/Yupoí (Pleistoceno tardío/Lujanense), Bella Vista, Corrientes, Argentina. Ameghiniana, 50(3), 298–318.
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How to Cite
Rodríguez Garrido, L. M. (2026). News remains of Chelonoidis cubensis (Leidy, 1868) (Testudines: Testudinidae) in Gibara, east of Cuba. Novitates Caribaea, (27), 84–92. https://doi.org/10.33800/nc.vi27.393
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