Alienochelys

Alienochelys; Temporal range: LateCretaceous,70–66Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
	Skull of specimen.
Scientific classification
Domain:	Eukaryota
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Chordata
Class:	Reptilia
Order:	Testudines
Suborder:	Cryptodira
Family:	†Protostegidae
Genus:	†Alienochelys; de Lapparent de Broin, 2014
Type species
	†Alienochelys selloumi; de Lapparent de Broin, 2014

Alienochelys( "strangeturtle") is an extinct genus of marineturtleknown fromMaastrichian-aged CretaceousphosphatesinMorocco.^[1]With a skull measuring 41.5 centimetres (1.36 ft) long, it would have been a very large turtle.^[2]It was first described as a member of the familyDermochelyidae,meaning that it is a relative of the modernleatherback turtle,^[2]though a 2018 study identifies it as a sister taxon ofOcepechelonbelonging to the familyProtostegidae,indicating that it may have been closer to the extinctArchelon.^[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]

References

^"Fossilworks: Alienochelys".fossilworks.org.Retrieved17 December2021.
^^a ^b ^cde 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.13(2): 87–95.doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2013.07.008.
^Scavezzoni, I.; Fischer, V. (2018)."Rhinochelys amabertiMoret (1935), a Protostegid Turtle from the Early Cretaceous of France ".PeerJ.10(6): e4594.doi:10.7717/peerj.4594.PMC5898427.PMID 29666758.
^Cooper, S.L.A.; Marson, K.J.; Smith, R.E.; Martill, D. (2022). "Contrasting preservation in pycnodont fishes reveals first record of regurgitalites from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Moroccan phosphate deposits".Cretaceous Research.131(4). 105111.doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2021.105111.

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[1] "Fossilworks: Alienochelys".fossilworks.org.Retrieved17 December2021.

[De2014-2] 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.13(2): 87–95.doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2013.07.008.

[3] Scavezzoni, I.; Fischer, V. (2018)."Rhinochelys amabertiMoret (1935), a Protostegid Turtle from the Early Cretaceous of France ".PeerJ.10(6): e4594.doi:10.7717/peerj.4594.PMC5898427.PMID 29666758.

[4] Cooper, S.L.A.; Marson, K.J.; Smith, R.E.; Martill, D. (2022). "Contrasting preservation in pycnodont fishes reveals first record of regurgitalites from the Upper Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) Moroccan phosphate deposits".Cretaceous Research.131(4). 105111.doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2021.105111.

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