Reassessment of a Putative Fossil Stinkpot (Kinosternidae: Sternotherus) from the Late Miocene (Clarendonian) of Kansas

Abstract The oldest paleontological record of the Stinkpot Musk Turtle, Sternotherus odoratus, from the WaKeeney local fauna (approximately 10 million years ago, Mya) is refuted here. Kinosternids from this fauna are represented only by the genus Kinosternon. Kinosternon sp. probably represents a new taxon, but lack of sufficient material hinders a proper description. A gap of between 9 and 12.5 million years now exists between the first occurrences of Sternotherus (at approximately 4.5–7 Mya) and sister group Kinosternon (between 16 and 17 Mya).