Archelon Relic

Archelon was huge marine turtle (a chelonian) that was the size of a car. It lived during the time of the dinosaurs, but it was not a dinosaur. This... more

by Maria Urso

Title

Archelon Relic

Artist

Maria Urso

Medium

Photograph - Photography

Description

Archelon was huge marine turtle (a chelonian) that was the size of a car. It lived during the time of the dinosaurs, but it was not a dinosaur. This carnivore was about 10-13 feet (3-4 m) long. Archelon had a wide, flattened shell, paddle-like legs, a long, narrow head, weak jaws, and a short, pointed tail. Archelon, like other anapsids, had a solidly-roofed skull with no opening (except for eyes, and nostrils).

Archelon's shell was not like that of modern-day turtles; it did not have the numerous shell bones of modern-day tortoises. Archelon's back probably had a leathery covering or horny plates over a bony framework on its back. Archelon was a carnivore (meat-eater). It had very weak jaws and a toothless beak; it may have eaten jellyfish. Archelon swam using its paddle-like flippers. Archelon belonged to the Class Reptilia (reptiles), Order Chelonia (turtles, tortoises and terrapins), Suborder Cryptodira, Family Protostegidae (sea turtles from the late Cretaceous period with flippers and minimal shells), Genus Archelon.

Uploaded

August 25th, 2013