Meiolania is the largest known land turtle, with the biggest specimens estimated to be up to 250 centimeters long.

Meiolania had both a spiked head and spiked tail, which may have been used as a defense against predators.

Meiolania's name, which means "small roamer", likely came from the fact that it was originally thought to be a lizard. This deduction was due to the description of the fossil skull.

Turtles are classed in two groups: one folds their necks under their spines, the other folds their necks to their sides. However, due to the spikes on its skull, the Meiolania can't do either, making it a bit of a turtle enigma.