Chupacabrachelys

In Depth        Chupacabrachelys is a genus of side-necked turtle known to have lived in what is now Texas during the late Cretaceous.‭ ‬As a side necked‭ (‬pleurodiran‭) ‬turtle,‭ ‬the head would not have retracted under the shell,‭ ‬but rather folded back under the side.‭ ‬Further to being a pleurodiran,‭ ‬Chupacabrachelys is also a bothremydid turtle,‭ … Read more

Mexichelys

In Depth        Mexichelys was originally described as a species of Euclastes,‭ ‬but was re-described to its own genus in‭ ‬2010.‭ ‬Like relative genera,‭ ‬Mexichelys is thought to have been a durophagous carnivore of shelled organisms such as molluscs and crustaceans. Further Reading -‭ ‬Euclastes coahuilaensis sp.‭ ‬nov.,‭ ‬a basal cheloniid turtle from the late Campanian … Read more

Toxochelys

In Depth        Toxochelys is a genus of sea turtle that lived during the late Cretaceous,‭ ‬and is also one of the most common sea turtles that lived in the Western Interior Sea Way,‭ ‬a shallow sea that once submerged the central portion of the North American Continent.‭ ‬As a genus,‭ ‬Toxochelys seems to be in-between … Read more

Pacifichelys

In Depth        Pacifichelys is a genus of sea turtle that lived along the coastlines of Peru and California‭ ‬during the mid Miocene.‭ ‬The morphology of the skull suggests that Pacifichelys fed upon hard shelled organisms such as shelled molluscs and crustaceans.‭ ‬A former species of Euclastes,‭ ‬E.‭ ‬hutchisoni,‭ ‬has now been renamed as a species … Read more

Calcarichelys

In Depth        Calcarichelys was a relatively small late Cretaceous turtle but one with a highly specialised shell.‭ ‬Instead of the usual concave curve across the back,‭ ‬a series of enlarged spikes ran down the middle of the back.‭ ‬These are taken as being almost certainly a defensive adaptation to make it more difficult for predators … Read more

Protostega

In Depth        Protostega is one of the largest turtles to ever swim in the ocean and so far is only eclipsed by Archelon in terms of overall size.‭ ‬Like with Archelon,‭ ‬Protostega is thought to have had a‭ ‘‬soft‭’ ‬shell similar to the modern leatherback turtle‭ (‬Dermochelys coriacea‭)‬.‭ ‬Also like with Archelon,‭ ‬Protostega is thought … Read more

Chelosphargis

In Depth        Chelosphargis was originally named as species of Protostega in‭ ‬1906‭ ‬by Oliver Perry Hay.‭ ‬However the description of Calcarichelys in‭ ‬1953‭ ‬led a later palaeontologist,‭ ‬Rainer Zangerl to conclude that P.‭ ‬advena should be reclassified as a distinct genus.‭ ‬Chelosphargis is regarded as being almost identical to Calcarichelys,‭ ‬a turtle with a series … Read more

Carbonemys

In Depth        The Carbonemys holotype remains were first discovered in a coal mine,‭ ‬and since coal is essentially fossilised carbon,‭ ‬the name Carbonemys was chosen for the genus.‭ ‬The form of the shell is very interesting as it indicates that Carbonemys would have been a member of the Pleurodira,‭ ‬a group better known as the‭ … Read more

Tacuarembemys

In Depth        Tacuarembemys is a genus of turtle that lived in South America during the late Jurassic. Further Reading -‭ ‬Tacuarembemys kusterae,‭ ‬gen.‭ ‬et sp.‭ ‬nov.,‭ ‬a new Late Jurassic-‭?‬earliest Cretaceous continental turtle from western Gondwana.‭ ‬Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology‭ ‬34‭(‬6‭)‬:1329-1341.‭ ‬-‭ ‬D.‭ ‬Perea,‭ ‬M.‭ ‬Soto,‭ ‬J.‭ ‬Sterli,‭ ‬V.‭ ‬Mesa,‭ ‬P.‭ ‬Torino,‭ ‬G.‭ ‬Roland‭ & … Read more

Khunnuchelys

In Depth        Khunnuchelys is a genus of turtle that seems to‭ ‬have been widespread across Asia during the Late Cretaeous.‭ ‬However,‭ ‬at the time of writing Khunnuchelys is only known from partial skull material. Further Reading -‭ ‬Khunnuchelys gen.‭ ‬nov.,‭ ‬a new trionychid‭ (‬Testudines:‭ ‬Trionychidae‭) ‬from the Late Cretaceous of Inner Mongolia and Uzbekistan.‭ ‬-‭ … Read more