The answer to the mystery of the evolutionary origin of the turtle

Scientists claim to have found an answer to a long-standing mystery about the evolution of animals when it is said that turtles are close relatives to crocodiles and birds than lizards and snakes.

The ancestors of turtles, evolved from 200-300 million years ago, have caused much controversy in the scientific world because of its physiological function and genes that represent this species in two different branches on the evolutionary tree.

In the article published in the journal Biology Letters on May 16 by the Royal Society, scientists emphasized: "The evolutionary origin of turtles has caused confusion when learning about evolution of vertebrate animals ".

However, research team member Nicholas Crawford of Boston University told AFP: "Our research convincingly demonstrates that in the genetic story, turtles are more closely related to birds and crocodiles."

Anatomical and fossil studies for their turtles and reptiles generally put turtles on the lepidosaurs of snakes, lizards and tuataras (rare animals resembling lizards).

Meanwhile, genetic research confirms that turtles have more in common with crocodiles and birds. These two species belong to the archosaur group, which also includes extinct terrestrial dinosaurs.

Mr. Crawford said the following finding has been confirmed by the most thorough gene study ever on the subject, after collecting 10 times more information than previous research efforts.

According to Crawford, previous mistakes stem from the fact that turtles share important physical characteristics with lizards, snakes and tuataras, including three chambers.