Alienochelys
Appearance
Alienochelys Temporal range: Late Cretaceous,
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Skull of specimen. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Cryptodira |
Family: | †Protostegidae |
Genus: | †Alienochelys de Lapparent de Broin, 2014 |
Type species | |
†Alienochelys selloumi de Lapparent de Broin, 2014
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Alienochelys ("strange turtle") is an extinct genus of sea turtle known from Maastrichian-aged Cretaceous phosphates in Morocco.[1] Its name comes from the fact that unlike other sea turtles, Alienochelys' jaws are adapted for a powerful crushing pattern, as well as its unusual cranial characteristics.[2] It is a relative of the modern leatherback turtle, as well as the extinct Archelon.
References
- ^ "Fossilworks: Alienochelys". fossilworks.org. Retrieved 2016-05-27.
- ^ "Alienochelys, new giant marine turtle and other Mesozoic turtle stuff". dml.cmnh.org. Retrieved 2016-05-27.