Phosphatochelys ("phosphate turtle") is an extinct genus of bothremydid pleurodiran turtle that was discovered near Oued Zem, Morocco. [1] The genus consists solely of type species P. tedfordi.
| Phosphatochelys Temporal range: | |
|---|---|
Scientific classification  | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Pleurodira |
| Family: | †Bothremydidae |
| Tribe: | †Taphrosphyini |
| Subtribe: | †Taphrosphyina |
| Genus: | †Phosphatochelys Gaffney & Tong, 2003 |
| Species: | †P. tedfordi |
| Binomial name | |
| †Phosphatochelys tedfordi Gaffney & Tong, 2003 | |
Discovery
Phosphatochelys was discovered in the Oued Zem locality of Morocco, and is known from exclusively from a complete 6.8-centimetre-long skull, lacking the lower jaw.[1][2] The holotype was given to one of the describers by a friend, who had purchased it in France.