Detecting turtle fossils mating

German scientists first discovered fossils of a vertebrate animal - including humans - in a "doing it" position.

Scientists at the University of Tuebingen (Germany) have discovered fossils of nine pairs of turtles in the position of mating at the Messel Pit archaeological site near Darmstadt, Germany. The team said that the turtles were killed by inhaling toxic gas rising from the crater.

Fossil a pair of Allaeochelys crassesculpta turtles in a mating position

Dr. Walter Joyce, head of the research team, said the fossil belongs to an extinct ancient tortoise named Scientific name Allaeochelys crassesculpta . The upper shell of this turtle is about 61cm long and 30cm wide.

The anatomical evidence shows that each pair of discovered fossil turtles includes 1 female and 1 male. Males have longer tails and stick out of the apricot, while the females' tail is shorter and fits in tomorrow.

'This is the first time we have discovered fossils of pairs of turtles including a female and a male. The tail of some males is placed in a straight position with the female's tail. That proves that they're mating , 'said Dr. Walter Joyce on the Daily Mail.

According to scientists, the volcanic gas that rises from the lake in Messel Pit area has killed many animals in and around the lake. This explains why so many vertebrates of vertebrates are discovered in the lake.

'Maybe Allaeochelys crassesculpta turtles start mating on the surface of the lake. Then they poisoned the skin and sank to the bottom of the lake in the position of mating. The poison gas under the lake prevents their bodies from decomposing , 'said Dr. Walter Joyce.

50 million years ago, the Messel Pit archaeological site - recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site since December 1995 - includes many large lakes surrounded by subtropical forests. Therefore, this area has a very diverse ecosystem.

So far, archaeologists who have excavated in this area have more than 10,000 fossils of many different species of fish, thousands of fossil insects, fossils of mammals, such as dwarf horses, mouse, bat, tatu, .