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iMeiolania Fossil range: Oligocene to Holocene
Image:Meiolania platyceps.jpg Meiolania platyceps fossil
Conservation status
Extinct (fossil) </div>
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Chordata Class: Sauropsida Order: Testudines Suborder: Cryptodira Family: Meiolaniidae Genus: Meiolania
Synonyms
Miolania

Meiolania is an extinct genus of cryptodire turtle from the Oligocene period to Holocene period, with the last relic populations at Lord Howe Island of New Caledonia which survived in the first millennium. It was huge, measuring 2.5 m (8 ft 4 in) in length. It lived in Australia and New Caledonia and fed on plants. Its surviving relatives are the cryptodire turtles of South America.

Meiolania had an unusually shaped skull- it sported many knobbly or horn-like protrusions. Two horns faced sideways, giving the skull a total width of 60 cm (2 ft). The tail was protected by armored 'rings' and sported thorn-like spikes at the end.

ja:メイオラニア