Phosphatochelys

Phosphatochelys ("phosphate turtle") is an extinct genus of bothremydid pleurodiran turtle that was discovered near Oued Zem, Morocco. ^[1] The genus consists solely of type species P. tedfordi.

Phosphatochelys Temporal range: Eocene PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Pleurodira
Family:	†Bothremydidae
Tribe:	†Taphrosphyini
Subtribe:	†Taphrosphyina
Genus:	†Phosphatochelys Gaffney & Tong, 2003
Species:	†P. tedfordi
Binomial name
†Phosphatochelys tedfordi Gaffney & Tong, 2003

Discovery

Phosphatochelys was discovered in the Oued Zem locality of Morocco, and is known from exclusively from a complete 6.8-centimetre-long skull, lacking the lower jaw.^[1][2] The holotype was given to one of the describers by a friend, who had purchased it in France.