Desmatochelys
Desmatochelys (from Greek δεσμός desmos 'link' + χέλῡς khelus ‘tortoise’) is an extinct genus of sea turtles belonging to the family Protostegidae. This genus contains two known species, D. lowii and D. padillai. D. lowii was first discovered in 1895, followed by D. padillai in 2015. Having been estimated at over 120 million years old, D. padillai is currently the oldest known species of sea turtle.
| Desmatochelys Temporal range: Cretaceous, | |
|---|---|
| Holotype skull of Desmatochelys lowi from two angles | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Family: | †Protostegidae |
| Genus: | †Desmatochelys Williston, 1894 |
| Type species | |
| †Desmatochelys lowi Williston, 1894 | |
| Other species | |
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Desmatochelys lived during the Cretaceous, and had a wide geographic range, primarily along the Western Interior Seaway.
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