Ancient Turtle Discovery Provides ‘Missing Link’
A newly discovered turtle species has provided scientists with a missing link between the terrestrial turtles from the Triassic period to the modern day aquatic turtles.
The discovery provides scientists with proof that aquatic turtles were roaming the earth at least 164 million years ago.
The new species, called Eileanchelys waldmani, was discovered after six fossils were found embedded in a rock on the Scottish Island of Skye.
“Although the majority of modern turtles are aquatic forms, it has been convincingly demonstrated that the most primitive turtles from the Triassic, about 210m years ago, were exclusively terrestrial.” said Jérémy Anquetin of the department of palaeontology at London’s Natural History Museum.
“Until the discovery of Eileanchelys, we thought that adaptation to an aquatic habitat might have appeared among primitive turtles but we had no fossil evidence of that.”
“Now we know for sure that there were aquatic turtles around 164m years ago. This discovery also demonstrates that turtles were more ecologically diverse early in their history than had been suspected before.”
The ancient turtle (Eileanchelys waldmani), in its natural habitat 164 million years ago. This illustration represents a reconstruction of the Kilmaluag Formation fauna (late Bathonian, Isle of Skye, Scotland).
About The Turtle’s Name
Anquetin, who was also one of the researchers who analysed the fossils, also created the name for the species.
“I liked the idea of giving it a name in Gaelic, so I tried to find words that sound good in Gaelic and Latin.” he said.
“I chose ‘Eilean’, so the whole name means ‘the turtle from the island’.”
The Turtle’s Appearance
Mr Anquetin says that, although the ancient turtle would have resembled a modern freshwater turtle on the outside, on the inside there are key differences.
“The differences are on the inside - in the cranial anatomy. They are small differences but very important. There is no other turtle like this one.” he explained.
Analyzing The Fossils
The six fossils were found at the bay of Cladach a’Ghlinne, on the Strathaird peninsula in 2004. Researchers from the Natural History Museum and University College London then cut the slab of rock away, painstakenly released the fossils from the rock, then analyzed them.
The new species is the most complete Middle Jurassic turtle species ever described. The findings were reported in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences.
The specimens are now being housed in the National Museums Scotland, Edinburgh.
Tags: marine life, new species, turtles
