Archelon
AR-ke-LON, “ruling turtle”
Archelon was the biggest sea-turtle of all time, probably weighing over 2 tonnes when alive. Its large front limbs served as wings for underwater flight. The hooked beak was well suited for catching squid-like animals. Turtles are one of the few groups of reptiles that survived the end-Cretaceous mass extinction.
Skeletal replica:
Who Archelon ischyros
When 75 million years ago
Where southwestern South Dakota
Protostega (pro-TOS-te-ga, “first roof”), a smaller relative of Archelon, is found in southwestern Manitoba.
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