First Prehistoric Creature Similar to Modern Turtles Discovered in a Quarry in England
Researchers have uncovered a 120-million-year-old reptile with thick flippers and paddle-shaped feet in southern Nova Olinda, Brazil. This creature dates back to the Late Cretaceous period, when dinosaurs roamed the Earth.
According to Sarah Fielding and her team at the University of Portsmouth, this animal may be one of the first turtles known to swim. In fact, fossils from 200 million years ago suggest that creatures in the turtle lineage resembled land turtles more and could not swim like sea turtles.
“The most significant aspect of this turtle is that it is an unidentified creature, and the remarkable paddle-like feet on its hind limbs. It indicates that the turtle at that time was half terrestrial, half aquatic,” said Fielding.
This animal belongs to the group Araripemys barretoi, which lived during the Late Cretaceous. Many other quarries from this period in Brazil also preserve numerous turtle fossils from this group.
However, the newly identified creature, named A. arturi, differs in several key aspects. While A. barretoi has arrowhead-shaped claws, this new species has very simple claws.
Fielding mentioned that this prehistoric turtle may resemble the modern freshwater turtle Trionyx. It likely fed on fish, frogs, shrimp, snails, and some small birds.
M.T. (Discovery)
