Testudines

A new specimen of Testudo sensu stricto from the late Miocene locality Nikiti 2 (NIK; Macedonia, Greece) is described. It is a small-bodied testudinid very close to the species Testudo marmorum, but it can be differentiated from it by some minor features not observed on the holotype specimen of T. marmorum. It belongs to the group of extant and extinct testudinids that have a hypo-xiphiplastral hinge, which is a character of the Testudo sensu stricto lineage. It is characterized by a dome-shell shape that flares posteriorly with slightly posterior upturned peripherals, a large and flat dorsal epiplastral lip, xiphiplastra with straight and parallel lateral margins, and a quadrangular, long and very thick pygal.