Alienochelys Explained

Alienochelys ("strange turtle") is an extinct genus of marine turtle known from Maastrichian-aged Cretaceous phosphates in Morocco.^[1] With a skull measuring 41.5cm (16.3inches) long, it would have been a very large turtle. It was first described as a member of the family Dermochelyidae, meaning that it is a relative of the modern leatherback turtle,^[2] though a 2018 study identifies it as a sister taxon of Ocepechelon belonging to the family Protostegidae, indicating that it may have been closer to the extinct Archelon.^[3] Unlike other sea turtles, Alienochelys' the jaws being adapted for a powerful crushing pattern well adapted for a durophagous lifestyle, as well as its unusual cranial characteristics.^{[2] [4]}

Notes and References

1. Web site: Fossilworks: Alienochelys. fossilworks.org. 17 December 2021.
2. de Lapparent de Broin . France . Bardet . Nathalie . Amaghzaz . Mbarek . Meslouh . Saïd . 2014 . A strange new chelonioid turtle from the Latest Cretaceous Phosphates of Morocco . Comptes Rendus Palevol . en . 13 . 2 . 87–95 . 10.1016/j.crpv.2013.07.008.
3. I.. Scavezzoni. V.. Fischer. 2018. Rhinochelys amaberti Moret (1935), a Protostegid Turtle from the Early Cretaceous of France. PeerJ. 10. 6. e4594. 10.7717/peerj.4594. 5898427. 29666758 . free .
4. S.L.A.. Cooper. K.J.. Marson. R.E.. Smith. D.. Martill. 2022. Contrasting preservation in pycnodont fishes reveals first record of regurgitalites from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Moroccan phosphate deposits. Cretaceous Research. 131. 4. 105111. 10.1016/j.cretres.2021.105111.