| Desmatochelys Temporal range: Cretaceous, 120–83.5 Ma [1] |
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Scientific classification  |
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| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Family: | †Protostegidae |
| Genus: | †Desmatochelys Williston, 1894 |
| Type species | |
| Desmatochelys lowi Williston, 1894 |
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Desmatochelys is an extinct genus of sea turtles belonging to the family Protostegidae.[2][3]
The genus contains the following species:
According to Elizabeth L. Nicholls the genus should be expanded to include closely related members belong to Notochelone and Rhinochelys.[4]
As of 2015, D. padillai is the oldest known species of sea turtles.[5]
Members of the genus are characterised by the extended skull roof, large nasal bones, a paddle-like humerus and a distinct body shell or carapace.[6]
References[edit]
- ^ Edwin A. Cadena and James F. Parham (2015). "Oldest known marine turtle? A new protostegid from the Lower Cretaceous of Colombia". PaleoBios 32 (1): 1–42.
- ^ Karl, H. V., & Tichy, G. (2010). Maorichelys wiffeni n. gen. n. sp., una nueva tortuga marina del Eoceno de Nueva Zelanda (Testudines: Dermochelyidae).
- ^ "Introduction to Testudines". UCMP Berkeley. Retrieved 25 April 2015.
- ^ Nicholls, Elizabeth L. (1992). "Note on the occurrence of the marine turtle Desmatochelys (Reptilia: Chelonioidea) from the Upper Cretaceous of Vancouver Island". Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences 29 (2): 377–380. doi:10.1139/e92-033.
- ^ Jandial, Shraddha (8 September 2015). "Oldest fossil sea turtle discovered in Colombia". India Today. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
- ^ "Desmatochelys". Paleos. Retrieved 18 September 2015.
Further Reading[edit]
Calloway, Jack; Nicholls, Elizabeth, eds. (1997). Ancient Marine Reptiles. Academic Press. p. 243. ISBN 9780080527215.
