A Giant Chelonioid Turtle from the Late Cretaceous of Morocco with a Suction Feeding Apparatus Unique among Tetrapods
Figure 1
Ocepechelon bouyai gen. et sp. nov., geographical and stratigraphical occurrence.
Ocepechelon has been found in the Upper Level III (Upper Maastrichtian) phosphatic deposits of the Sidi Chennane area, SE part of the Oulad Abdoun Basin, central Morocco. A, general geographical map of Morocco showing the main phosphatic basins (Ganntour and Oulad Abdoun basins); B, details of the Oulad Abdoun Basin with the northeastern main exploited areas (Daoui, Meraa El Arach, Sidi Chennane); C, synthetical stratigraphical column of the Maastrichtian phosphatic series in the northeastern part of the Oulad Abdoun Basin. Abbreviations : LLIII, Lower Level III; ULIII, Upper Level III; Ph, phosphates; Ma, marls; Li, limestones. The black star indicates the stratigraphical occurrence of Ocepechelon bouyai gen. et sp. nov.