Archelon Fossil Replica

Object/Artifact

Maritime Museum of San Diego

Name/Title

Archelon Fossil Replica

Entry/Object ID

Q2022.23.5

Description

Archelon fossil replica

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Replica

Nomenclature Secondary Object Term

Specimen, Animal

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Reproduction

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Biospecimen

Nomenclature Sub-Class

Nomenclature Class

Documentary Objects

Nomenclature Class

Biological T&E

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Nomenclature Category

Category 05: Tools & Equipment for Science & Technology

Interpretative Labels

Label

Archelon (Ark-Kell-On) Archelon ischyros. American paleontologist George Reber Wieland named the species in 1895. The name means ruling turtle. Their size could be up to 13 feet long and 16 feet wide when measured flipper to flipper, and weighed around 4,900lbs. They mostly ate fish, jelly fish, squid, shell-fish, ammonites and plants. This extinct marine turtle is from the late Cretaceous and was the largest turtle ever documented. Fun Fact: Archelon had a leathery covering supported by a skeletal frame and probably could not withdraw its head for protection. Despite its large size it was defenseless in open waters of the Western Interior Seaway and was likely a meal for giant mosasaurs and sharks.