Protostegidae
| Protostegids Temporal range: Cretaceous, | |
|---|---|
| Life restoration of Archelon ischyros | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Domain: | Eukaryota |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Reptilia |
| Order: | Testudines |
| Suborder: | Cryptodira |
| Clade: | Panchelonioidea (?) |
| Family: | †Protostegidae Cope, 1873 |
| Type species | |
| †Protostega gigas Cope, 1872 | |
| Genera | |
Protostegidae is a family of extinct marine turtles that lived during the Cretaceous period. The family includes some of the largest sea turtles that ever existed. The largest Archelon had a head one metre (39 in) long. Like most sea turtles, they had flattened bodies and flippers for front appendages; protostegids had minimal shells like leatherback turtles of modern times.