meiolaniid

Noun

meiolaniid (plural meiolaniids)

1. Any of the extinct armoured land turtles of the family †Meiolaniidae.
   • The meiolaniids were ancient turtles that evolved during the Eocene epoch, between 55 and 34 million years ago. Fossils of meiolaniid species come from Argentina, from Australia, and from several islands near Australia, including Tasmania and New Caledonia.2007, Rebecca Stefoff, Turtles, page 52
   • Turtle remains are particularly common at Lightning Ridge, comprising several distinct lineages including aquatic chelids and peculiar meiolaniid-like taxa—meiolaniids were spectacular horned turtles known from the Australian region and South America.2012, Elizabeth T. Smith, Benjamin P. Kear, “Chapter 9: Spoochelys ormondea gen. et sp. nov., an archaic Meiolaniid-Like Turtle from the Early Cretaceous of Lightning Ridge, Australia”, in Donald B....