Protostegidae

Protostegids; Temporal range: Cretaceous,
	Life restoration of Archelon ischyros
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Clade:	Panchelonioidea (?)
Family:	†Protostegidae; Cope, 1873
Type species
	†Protostega gigas; Cope, 1872
Genera
	†Archelon; †Atlantochelys; †Bouliachelys; †Calcarichelys; †Chelosphargis; †Cratochelone; †Desmatochelys; †Iserosaurus; †Kansastega; †Notochelone; †Protostega; †Rhinochelys; †Santanachelys; †Teguliscapha; †Terlinguachelys; †Pneumatoarthrus; †Ocepechelon;

Protostegidae is a family of extinct marine turtles that lived during the Cretaceous period. The family includes some of the largest sea turtles that ever existed. The largest, Archelon, had a head one metre (39 in) long. Like most sea turtles, they had flattened bodies and flippers for front appendages; protostegids had minimal shells like leatherback turtles of modern times.

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