Identification of Podocnemididae (Pleurodira) in the British record by the first specimen of the coastal Eocenochelus recognized outside Continental Europe

A turtle shell from the lower Eocene of the Bracklesham Bay (Sussex, England), preserving the partial carapace and the almost complete plastron, is studied here. It is recognized as a member of Pleurodira, being attributed to the coastal podocnemidid Eocenochelus. This systematic identification confirms the presence of Podocnemididae in the British record, corresponding to the first evidence of the presence of this genus of the Erymnochelys group (Erymnochelyinae) outside continental Europe. The finding shows that this lineage of African origin not only reached southern France during the early Eocene, but its dispersion towards higher latitudes also occurred at that time, across epicontinental areas.