Coastal Rewilding &
Experimental Ecology Research Group

Coastal Rewilding & Experimental Ecology Research Group

Mega Turtle

By talhaiti71@gmail.com   |  May 18, 2011  |    Green Turtle

Although this animal is already been found in 1996, this giant Archelon ischyros Turtle fossil of 70 million years old keeps impressing me.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Its “flipper-span” reaches 4.9 meters and its shell 4 meters across. Imagine snorkeling next to this this turtle. Did these ancient already graze on seagrasses? Probably not, it had a leathery carapace, and therefore this turtle seems more related to the present carnivorous leatherback turtle. The original fossile was found in Dakota by  the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology . Thanks to Euroturtle for the link!

Share This Story, Choose Your Platform!

About the Author

Related Posts

Optimism for mitigation of climate warming impacts for sea turtles through nest shading and relocation

Read More

Megaherbivores may impact expansion of invasive seagrass in the Caribbean: our paper in Journal of Ecology

Read More

The potential of using drones and other UAVs in sea turtle research and conservation

Read More

Little-Curaçao-green-turtle swims 3100 km in 3 weeks

Read More