Euclastes
| Euclastes | |
|---|---|
 |
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| E. platyops skull | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Division: | Amniota |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Subphylum: | Vertebrata |
| Class: | Sauropsida |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Superfamily: | Chelonioidea |
| Genus: |
Euclastes Cope, 1867 |
| Species | |
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Euclastes is an extinct genus of sea turtle. It was first named by Edward Drinker Cope in 1867, and contains three species. E. hutchisoni, was named in 2003 but has since been reassigned to the genus Pacifichelys, while 'E. coahuilaensis' named in 2009 was reassigned as Mexichelys coahuilaensis in 2010
Unlike the sea turtles Toxochelys and Eochelone, Euclastes has a secondary palate. However, the secondary palate of Euclastes is not as extensive as it is in Ctenochelys. The genus can be distinguished by later sea turtles based on its broad, low skull; broad, flat palate; wide, flat dentary bone with an elongated symphysis; and low tomial ridge on the beak. The widened palate and dentaries give Eochelone wide, flat jaws suitable for crushing hard-shelled organisms.
Cladogram based on Lynch and Parham (2003) and Parham and Pyenson (2010):
Euclastes
Cheloniidae sensu stricto
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