Alatochelon

Alatochelon is an extinct genus of tortoise with a single known species, Alatochelon myrteum.^[1]

Alatochelon Temporal range: Pliocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Superfamily:	Testudinoidea
Family:	Testudinidae
Genus:	†Alatochelon Pérez-García, Vlachos, & Murelaga, 2020
Species:	†A. myrteum
Binomial name
†Alatochelon myrteum Pérez-García, Vlachos, & Murelaga, 2020

Name and speculated origin

Alatochelon is derived from the Ancient Greek alato-, meaning salt; and -chelon, meaning turtle. The 'salt' is in reference to the Messinian salinity crisis, during which it is hypothesized that the African spurred tortoise may have crossed over into Europe, and differentiated into Alatochelon myrteum through allopatric speciation.^[2] Myrteum is derived from the Latin word 'myrtle', which is believed to be the ancient name of Murica, the region of Spain in which the first fossil of Alatochelon myrteum was found.^[2]

Description

Alatochelon myrteum was a large species of tortoise that lived in the lower Pliocene era.^[2] As of 2023, the sole fossil found came from the Region of Murcia, Spain; thus its exact range is unknown. Alatochelon myrteum had a tall carapace, and a maximum shell length of at least one meter.^[2] Other defining characteristics include a longer-than-wide nuchal scute and a well developed nuchal notch.^[2]

Behavior

Alatochelon myrteum was likely herbivorous.^[3]