Fossilized turtle discovered 45 million years in Antarctica

Seymour Island, where two fossils of ancient turtles are found. (Photo: internet).

Archaeologists from the Argentine Antarctic Research Institute have discovered two pieces of tortoise shell bone at La Meseta mountain in the island of Seymour in Antarctica. Although no fossil turtles can be identified, scientists claim that these two bone fragments may be of two different species of turtles that lived during the prehistoric Eocene (more recently 40 million years).

These fossil samples are dated to about 45 million years. The team thinks their findings are important to help scientists better understand the environment and temperature of the Antarctic region during the Eocene period.

" These fossils show that the Antarctic turtles in the Eocene era are more diverse than previously thought ," said Professor Marcelo S. de la Fuente, of the National Museum in San Rafael (Argentina) and is a member of the research team, said.

During the Eocene period, the Earth is much different than it is now. At the beginning of this period, Antarctica was not separated from Oceania and Antarctic climate was much warmer than it is today and even tropical forests exist. But over a long time Antarctica has become the coldest place on Earth.

The discovery of fossils of ancient turtles is evidence that Antarctica once had a warmer climate condition than we thought because turtles only grow in warm weather conditions. .

" The diversity of animal species mainly occurs in warm climates. Thus, fossils of vertebrate animals such as turtles have been discovered, showing that the Antarctic region once had gas conditions. The post-warmer is much warmer than the current cold condition , 'explains Dr. Fuente.