Quick Bite: Ocepechelon the Whale Turtle

Meet Ocepechlon, one of the strangest turtles to ever paddle the open ocean in our first Past Time Quick Bite! This new species was announced a few weeks ago based on a lone, beautifully preserved skull from the Late Cretaceous (end of the Age of Dinosaurs) of Morocco. The gigantic animal had a long, tubular snout that the discoverers have interpreted as an adaptation to suction feeding, a specialized feeding method used by lots of aquatic animals including some types of whales. But this would be the first known suction-feeding sea turtle. Ocepechelon also has its nasal opening placed high on its head, between its widely spaced eyes, just like the spout of a whale. Based on the researcher’s analysis, its closest relatives include the gigantic leatherback sea turtle, a huge, beautiful animal that is critically endangered. In case you were cruising for a new favorite, bizarre sea turtle, look no farther than Ocepechelon! Images and comparisons are up at www.pasttime.org