The shell of this immense sea turtle easily spans 12 feet in length. Its narrow head ends in a hooked beak.
Archelon CR 5
XP 1,600
N Huge animal
hp 59 (7d8+28)
Melee bite +10 (2d8+9)
Space 15 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
Base Atk +5; CMB +13; CMD 24 (28 vs. trip)
Feats Improved Initiative, Iron Will, Lunge, Weapon Focus (bite)
Skills Perception +10, Swim +18
SQ hold breath
Environment warm or temperate water or coastlines
Organization solitary or bale (2-6)
Treasure none
An ancient relative of the smaller leatherback sea turtle, the archelon can grow up to 13 feet long and 16 feet from flipper to flipper. Weighing as much as 5,000 pounds, the archelon has an exceedingly powerful bite, and doesn’t hesitate to use it to deter aquatic nuisances.
Like other sea turtles, female archelons come ashore to lay and bury their eggs in sandy beaches, preferably facing deep water and without coral reefs. Once done, they return to the sea, leaving their eggs defenseless.
These creatures are often used by coastal tribes as guardians and escorts from island to island. Aquatic creatures, particularly locathah, often use them as beasts of burden, but their relatively slow swim speed makes them poor mounts.
Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 3, © 2011, Paizo Publishing, LLC; Authors Jesse Benner, Jason Bulmahn, Adam Daigle, James Jacobs, Michael Kenway, Rob McCreary, Patrick Renie, Chris Sims, F. Wesley Schneider, James L. Sutter, and Russ Taylor, based on material by Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook, and Skip Williams.