Phosphatochelys Explained

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.

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.

Notes and References

  1. E. S. Gaffney and H. Tong. 2003. Phosphatochelys, a new side-necked turtle (Pelomedusoides: Bothremydidae) from the Paleocene of Morocco. Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History 279:644-659.
  2. http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=taxonInfo&taxon_no=131511 Fossilworks: Phosphatochelys