FIRST FOSSIL RECORD (LATE MIOCENE) OF PHRYNOPS (PHRYNOPS-GEOFFROANUS COMPLEX, CHELIDAE) FROM URUGUAY - BIOSTRATIGRAPHICAL AND PALEOENVIRONMENTAL CONTEXT

The first fossil remains of Phrynops are described from Uruguay. This material includes most of the anterior portion of the carapace and a s mall plastral fragment and is referred to the P. geoffroanus complex. The fossil was collected in the Kiyu Formation, at Puerto Arazati, San Jose Department, in association with a ''Mesopotamian''' mammal assem blage of probable Huayquerian Land-Mammal Age (late Miocene). The pres ence of Phrynops supports earlier work which established a marginal (f luvio-marine) depositional environment for these sediments.