First reliable records of the genus Chersine (Testudines: Testudinidae) from the Pliocene of Moldova

The shell remains of tortoises of the genus Chersine (= Eurotestudo) 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, Chersine khosatzkyi sp. nov., which can be distinguished from all other species of Chersine 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 Chersine sp. Chersine from the Musait and Colibasi localities represent first reliable records of Chersine in Moldova and the easternmost records of Chersine (the second one outside the Mediterranean region). In addition, these finds are among the oldest fossil records of the genus.