Where have Archelon fossils been found?
Its fossils date to 70 million years ago in the Cretaceous period, when a shallow sea covered most of central North America. Most of the known remains have been found in South Dakota, Kansas, and Nebraska.
Is the Archelon real?
Archelon, extinct giant sea turtle known from fossilized remains found in North American rocks of the Late Cretaceous epoch (100 million to 66 million years ago). Archelon, protected by a shell similar to that found in modern sea turtles, reached a length of about 3.5 m (12 feet).
Where was Archelon found?
In 2002, while hiking along the Sheyenne River valley near Cooperstown, Griggs County, Peter Mack of Christine, North Dakota (formerly of Cooperstown) discovered a portion of the lower jaw and several other bones of the giant sea turtle called Archelon (Figures 1 and 2).
When did Archelon go extinct?
Archelon, other turtles (chelonians), and reptiles may have descended from captorhinids, primitive anapsids that lived during the Early Carboniferous period, about 340 million years ago and went extinct at the end of the Triassic period, about 250 million years ago.
Why did archelon go extinct?
The increasing threat of egg or hatchling predation by new marine or mammalian species may have led to the extinction of Archelon, and the disappearance of gigantic protostegids seems to have coincided with the increasing size of dermochelyids.
When did archelon first appear?
Research history. The first specimen of Archelon (YPM 3000) was collected from the Pierre Shale of South Dakota by Dr. G.R. Wieland in 1895 and described by him the following year (Wieland, 1896).
Does Archelon exist?
Archelon is an extinct marine turtle from the Late Cretaceous, and is the largest turtle ever to have been documented, with the biggest specimen measuring 460 cm (15 ft) from head to tail, 400 cm (13 ft) from flipper to flipper, and 2,200 kg (4,900 lb) in weight. …
Is the Archelon turtle extinct?
Extinct
Archelon/Extinction status
Is Archelon still alive?
When did Archelon exist?
66 million years ago – 83.6 million years ago (Campanian – Maastrichtian)
Archelon/Lived
What did the Archelon go extinct?
When did the Archelon turtle become extinct? However, it may be assumed that if these animals managed to live throughout the Cretaceous period, they might have become extinct around 66 million years ago.
What did the Archelon eat?
Archelon lived roughly 65 million to 75 million years ago, and its food source was like what sea turtles today eat — jellyfish and crustaceans. Their predators included sharks and the Mosasaur. Archelon had no reason to dive down, and so mainly lived at the surface of the water, where food was abundant.
What is an Archelon?
In New Leaf, a plaque by the display offers information about the fossil instead of Blathers. “With a name that literally means “ruler turtle,” the archelon was an ancient species of sea turtle. Reaching 13 feet in length and two metric tons in weight, it was a giant that lived up to its name.
Where can I find Archelon in the museum?
The archelon is displayed on the left side of the second fossil room, between the plesiosaur and the quetzalcoatlus .?? A mounted cast of Archelon ischyros.
How big was the Archelon turtle?
Archelon, protected by a shell similar to that found in modern sea turtles, reached a length of about 3.5 m (12 feet). The front feet evolved into powerful structures that could efficiently propel the great bulk of Archelon through the water. This article was most recently revised and updated by Richard Pallardy.
“With a name that literally means “ruler turtle,” the archelon was an ancient species of sea turtle. Reaching 13 feet in length and two metric tons in weight, it was a giant that lived up to its name. It likely ate jellyfish and squid, though theories say it may have also preyed on ammonites.