Stupendemys
Stupendemys is a prehistoric genus of freshwater turtle. Its fossils have been found in northern South America, in rocks dating from the late Miocene to the very start of the Pliocene, about 6 to 5 million years ago.[1]
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| Stupendemys geographicus at the AMNH | |
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| Genus: | Stupendemys Wood, 1976
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Stupendemys's carapace measured over 1.80 m (5.9 ft) in length and was also very wide. With a total carapace length of at least 11 feet (3.3 m) it was the largest turtle that ever existed, surpassing even Archelon.[2]
Two species have been described to date. Stupendemys geographicus from Venezuela, and Stupendemys souzai, a bit smaller and more slender, from Brazil.[1]
Ecology
Its weight helped Stupendemys stay under water for long periods, grazing on aquatic plants. It was probably a very weak swimmer, unable to move its bulk against a swift current, and probably avoided smaller streams.[1]
Altogether, the fauna of the time had many large herbivores and few terrestrial carnivores. The habitat was mostly low-lying rainforest that was seasonally flooded, as well as floodplains and swampland. The rivers must have been wide and slow-moving.[1]
Stupendemys Media
Skull of Stupendemys geographica (VPPLT-1337)
Replica of MCZ(P)-4376 in Osaka
Hypothetical ontogenetic series of Stupendemys geographica from Cadena et al. 2021
Middle Miocene South America
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Bocquentin, Jean & Melo, Janira 2006. Stupendemys souzai sp. nov. (Pleurodira, Podocnemididae) from the Miocene-Pliocene of the Solimões Formation, Brazil. Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia 9(2): 187-192. PDF fulltext
- ↑ Mccormick, Cameron (11 March 2010). "The Lord Geekington: Stupendemys: Giant Amongst Mega-Turtles".