Mesodermochelys
Extinct genus of turtles / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Mesodermochelys is an extinct genus of sea turtle known from the Campanian to the Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) of what today is Japan.[2] One species is known, the type species M. undulatus;[1] it was given its binomial name by Ren Hirayama and Tsutomu Chitoku in 1996.[3] Studies of its skull indicate that it was a primitive member of the Dermochelyidae (leatherback turtle family) that was closely related to the Protostegidae.[2] It has been described as the best representative of Mesozoic dermochelyids.[1]
Quick Facts Scientific classification, Type species ...
Mesodermochelys | |
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Mesodermochelys undulatus | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Chordata |
Class: | Reptilia |
Order: | Testudines |
Suborder: | Cryptodira |
Superfamily: | Chelonioidea |
Family: | Dermochelyidae |
Genus: | †Mesodermochelys Hirayama & Chitoku, 1996 [1] |
Type species | |
†Mesodermochelys undulatus Hirayama & Chitoku, 1996[1] |
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