Discovered turtles from the period of dinosaurs

The first prehistoric creature like modern modern turtles was discovered in a British quarry.

The researchers found a 120-million-year-old reptile with thick-legged membranes and paddle-shaped feet in Southern Nova Olinda, Brazil. It dates back to the late Cretaceous, the time when the dinosaurs dominated the earth.

According to Sarah Fielding and colleagues at the University of Portsmouth, the animal may be one of the first turtles to swim. In fact, fossils from 200 million years ago have shown that creatures belonging to the lineages of turtles look more tortuous, and cannot swim like sea turtles.

" The most important aspect of this turtle is that it is an unprecedented creature, and the impression of a paddle-like foot on the hind legs. It shows the turtle at that time, the upper half, half underwater, "Fielding said.

The animal belongs to the group Araripemys barretoi, living from the late Cretaceous. Many quarries of the same period in Brazil also store many fossil turtles belonging to this group.

However, the new animal is called A. arturi, which is different at some important points. While A. barretoi has an arrow-shaped nail, this new creature has very simple nails.

Fielding said the prehistoric turtle may be similar to today's Trionyx freshwater turtle. It eats fish, frogs, shrimp, snails and some small birds.

MT ( Discovery )