Thick Testudinae hypoplastron (ventral shell)

[alej9582]

Guys

 

I want to propose an identification on the shell fragment below based on some research for which criticism is more than welcomed. Found in Hardee Co., Florida Peace River Formation, Bone Valley Member.

 

First there are only two genera of thick shelled tortoises in the US (Oligocene to Pleistocene) which are Hesperotestudo and Caudochelys (Hulbert, Jr., 2001). The largest and one with thicker shell being Caudochelys crassiscutata. This species is known for having a very thick hypoplastron. The shell fragment bellow is robust, and weirdly thick compared to the other many fragments I have found in the Peace. 

 

So... Judgement time!