Cadena E. A. auteur aut IRD Salas-Gismondi R. auteur aut IRD Zamora-Vega C. auteur aut IRD Flynn J. auteur aut IRD Antoine P. O. auteur aut IRD Baby Patrice auteur aut IRD Pérez-García A. auteur aut IRD text journalArticle eng text/pdf reformatted digital access We describe two fossil turtle shells of Chelus colombiana from Middle Miocene vertebrate localities in the Fitzcarrald Arch and Iquitos regions of Peru. One specimen represents one of the most complete fossil shells of the genus, also one of the largest known, measuring 84.6 cm in carapace length and estimated to have weighed approximately 65 kg. Morphological comparisons confirm synchronous consistency with other C. colombiana specimens from Colombia and Brazil, with only minor variation in the gular and extragular scutes. These new records extend the known geographic distribution of C. colombiana to the southwestern margins of the Pebas wetland system and support a broader pattern of body size gigantism among Miocene South American turtles, likely driven by ecological connectivity rather than climatic factors. However, the absence of associated cranial material remains a major obstacle to fully resolving the taxon (c) 2026 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Nanjing Institute of Geology and Palaeontology. specialized South America Neogene Pebas Formation Testudines Pleurodira paleobiogeography PEROU 064 080 35 5 201135 [10 p.] 2026 1871-174X https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010097484 10.1016/j.palwor.2026.201135 1871-174X [F B010097484] https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010097484 https://horizon.documentation.ird.fr/exl-doc/pleins_textes/2026-08/010097484.pdf IRD - Base Horizon / Pleins textes 2026-08-06 2026-08-19 fdi:010097484 fre