Meiolania
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| phylum | Chordata | Meiolania ("small roamer") is an extinct genus of cryptodire turtle from the Oligocene to Holocene, with the last relict populations at New Caledonia which survived until 2,000 years ago. Meiolania had an unusually shaped skull that sported many knob-like and horn-like protrusions. Two large horns faced sideways, giving the skull a total width of 60 centimetres (2.0 ft), and would have prevented the animal fully withdrawing its head into its shell. The tail was protected by armored 'rings', and sported thorn-like spikes at the end.
For more information, visit the Wikipedia entry. Get back to Anapsida |
| clade | Anapsida | |
| order | Testudines | |
| family | Meiolaniidae | |
| genus | Meiolania | |
| Period | Oligocene to 2000 years ago |
