- Source: Euclastes
Euclastes is an extinct genus of sea turtles that survived the Cretaceous–Paleogene mass extinction. The genus was first named by Edward Drinker Cope in 1867, and contains three species. E. hutchisoni, was named in 2003 but has since been reassigned to the genus Pacifichelys, while E. coahuilaensis named in 2009 was reassigned as Mexichelys coahuilaensis in 2010.
Description
Unlike the sea turtles Toxochelys and Eochelone, Euclastes has a secondary palate. However, the secondary palate of Euclastes is not as extensive as it is in Ctenochelys and Angolachelys. The genus can be distinguished by later sea turtles based on its broad, low skull; broad, flat palate; wide, flat dentary bone with an elongated symphysis; and low tomial ridge on the beak. The widened palate and dentaries give Eochelone wide, flat jaws suitable for crushing hard-shelled organisms.
Classification
= Species
=†E. acutirostris Jalil et al., 2009
†E. platyops Cope, 1867
†E. wielandi (Hay, 1908)
= Phylogeny
=Cladogram based on Lynch and Parham (2003) and Parham and Pyenson (2010):
Distribution
Fossils of Euclastes have been found in:
Maastrichtian
Bentiaba, Angola
Quiriquina Formation, Chile
Hornerstown and Navesink Formations, New Jersey
Paleocene
Jagüel and Roca Formations, Argentina
Aquia and Brightseat Formations, Maryland
Sidi Chennane and Couche 2 Formation, Morocco
Eocene
Parkers Ferry Formation, South Carolina
References
External links
www.scistp.org
Kata Kunci Pencarian:
- Euclastes
- Mexichelys
- Cheloniidae
- Turtle
- Pacifichelys
- Tortoise
- Jackson ratio
- Red-eared slider
- Lonesome George
- Burmese star tortoise
