View original imageThis is an original generative reconstruction, not a photograph or scientific plate.
531 / Mesozoic
Placochelys
Placochelys placodonta
A broad shell, toothless beak and crushing plates converged strongly on turtles.
- Time range
- About 225–201 million years ago
- Final stage
- Late Triassic
- Geographic range
- Warm shallow sea and lagoon · Europe
01 / DEFINITION & ECOLOGY
What was Placochelys?
Placochelys (Placochelys placodonta) was an extinct organism known from About 225–201 million years ago, with a range in Warm shallow sea and lagoon · Europe.
Life and ecology
It pried shellfish from the bottom and crushed them in the mouth.
02 / DISAPPEARANCE
Why did Placochelys disappear?
The end-Triassic marine crisis eliminated placodonts.
03 / EVIDENCE
How do scientists know about Placochelys?
Shells, skulls and limbs demonstrate convergence and show it was not a true turtle.
04 / SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Check the source record
Use the scientific name to compare taxonomy, occurrence records and the fossil record. Database coverage and classifications may differ.
05 / REVISION HISTORY
How has this record changed?
- Verified authoritative entity sources and added three responsive reconstruction sizes.
- Initial bilingual species record published.
06 / CORRECTIONS & ADDITIONS