Meaning of meiolaniid | Babel Free

Definitions

Any of the extinct armoured land turtles of the family †Meiolaniidae.

Examples

“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.”

“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.”

“Meiolaniids are a peculiar group of extinct turtles bearing cranial horns and frills, caudal rings, and tail clubs and restricted to South America (Eocene) and Australasia (Oligocene to Holocene).”

CEFR level