Name:
Archelon (Greek for "ruling turtle"); pronounced ARE-kell-on
Habitat:
Oceans of North America
Historical Period:
Late Cretaceous (75 million years ago)
Size and Weight:
About 12 feet long and 2 tons
Diet:
Squids and jellyfish
Distinguishing Characteristics:
Leathery shell; wide, paddlelike legs
About Archelon:
Dinosaurs weren't the only creatures that grew to jumbo sizes in the Cretaceous period. Archelon was the largest sea turtle that ever lived, about the size (and shape, and weight) of a classic Volkswagen. By comparison, the biggest Galapagos tortoises of today weigh a little over a quarter of a ton and measure about four feet long!
Archelon differed significantly from modern turtles in two ways. First, its shell wasn't hard, but leathery in texture, and was supported by a skeletal framework underneath; and second, it had unusually wide, flipperlike arms and legs. Today, its closest relative is the sea turtle known as the Leatherback.
