First reliable records of the genus <i>Chersine</i> (Testudines: Testudinidae) from the Pliocene of Moldova

The shell remains of tortoises of the genus <i>Chersine</i> (= <i>Eurotestudo</i>) are described from the early Pliocene of the Musait and Colibasi localities of Moldova. The incomplete shell from the Musait locality is assigned to a new species, <i>Chersine khosatzkyi</i> sp. nov., which can be distinguished from all other species of <i>Chersine</i> by relatively wide posterior lobe of the plastron with nearly parallel lateral borders and presence of additional suprapygal. An isolated pygal from the Colibasi locality is attributed to <i>Chersine</i> sp. <i>Chersine</i> from the Musait and Colibasi localities represent first reliable records of <i>Chersine</i> in Moldova and the easternmost records of <i>Chersine</i> (the second one outside the Mediterranean region). In addition, these finds are among the oldest fossil records of the genus.