Archelon << AHR kuh lon >> was a giant prehistoric marine turtle. Archelon lived during the late Cretaceous Period, about 100 million to 66 million years ago. Scientists are unsure whether Archelon was closely related to sea turtles living today.
Archelon grew to about 11 feet (3.4 meters) in length and 15 feet (4.6 meters) in width from the tips of its front flippers. It had a reduced shell that did not cover its entire body, much like the modern leatherback sea turtle does. Archelon had a large head with a sharp, hooked beak. It had large front flippers and smaller rear limbs that were probably used for steering. Like modern sea turtles, it probably could not retract its head or limbs into its shell.
Archelon weighed as much as 6,000 pounds (2,700 kilograms). It and the prehistoric aquatic (water-dwelling) turtle Stupendemys were the largest turtles known to have ever lived. In comparison, the largest living turtle today, the leatherback sea turtle, grows up to 8 feet (2.4 meters) long and can weigh up to 2,000 pounds (900 kilograms).
Paleontologists discovered fossils of Archelon in central North America. During most of the Cretaceous Period, a shallow sea covered much of this region. Archelon probably ate seaweed, jellyfish, and mollusks. Like all turtles, Archelon had to surface to breathe. Females probably returned to beaches to lay their eggs, just as living sea turtles do.
