Gigantic marine turtle discovered

Paleontologists have found an 80 million-year-old fossil believed to be one of the largest marine turtles ever to have lived


SPAIN

CATALONIA
Barcelona
20km 12 miles


Cal Torrades: Fossil found of almost complete pelvis and parts of carapace, dates between 83.6 to 72.1 million years ago

20cm

Based on pelvis size, it is likely new turtle could have reached length of up to 3.74 metres

This makes Leviathanochelys aenigmatica Europe's largest marine turtle ever discovered and one of the world's largest

Artist's impression


LARGEST MARINE TURTLES

1. Archelon
Extinct. Lived in North America: 4.6 metres

2. Leviathanochelys aenigmatica
Extinct: 3.74 metres

3. Leatherback turtle
Largest living turtle: 2.13 metres - largest specimen found

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Sources: Nature, Institut Català de Paleontologia, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona 
Pictures: ICRA_Arts, Nature
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