Meiolania Platyceps
| Meiolania platyceps Temporal Range: Late Pleistocene | |
 | |
| Classification | |
| Genus | Meiolania |
| Species | M. platyceps |
| Fossil record | |
| Fossil range | Late Pleistocene |
Meiolania platyceps /ˌmaɪoʊˈleɪniə ˌplætɪˈsɛps/ is an extinct species of large, horned, land-dwelling turtle belonging to the family Meiolaniidae. It was endemic to Lord Howe Island, a volcanic island in the Tasman Sea, approximately 644 km ENE of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Discovery
Fossilized remains of Meiolania platyceps were first described by Sir Richard Owen in 1886. The fossils, including several skulls, incomplete shells, and articulated tail-sheaths, were discovered in coral-sand deposits estimated to be around 50,000 years old near the northern end of Lord Howe Island.
Description
Meiolania platyceps is characterized by its unique triangular skull adorned with cow-like horns and large curved points at
the rear. Unlike other turtles, it could not retract its head into its shell, likely due to the absence of predators on the island. Its robust body was supported by short, powerful legs and ended in a long tail armored with bony rings, which culminated in a spiked, bony sheath.
Habitat and Ecology
Lord Howe Island's isolated environment allowed Meiolania platyceps to thrive without significant predators. It adapted well to terrestrial life, with limbs suited for walking rather than swimming. Its extinction, however, remains a topic of debate among scientists.
Taxonomy
Meiolania platyceps belongs to the Meiolaniidae, a family of turtles with a fossil record dating back 60 million years. Other species of Meiolaniidae are known from Patagonia, South America, and Australia.
Significance
The remains of Meiolania platyceps provide valuable insights into the evolution and adaptation of turtles in isolated ecosystems. Its discovery also highlights the diversity of prehistoric fauna on Lord Howe Island.[1]
References
- Prehistoric Animals of Australia, By Susan quirk and Michael archer, 1983, P.36.
