Actually, in the past two years scientists uncovered two other new species from the mid-Jurassic era. Those came from Russia and Argentina. Previously, scientists hadn't known that aquatic turtles existed before the Late Jurassic period. Now they're able to date more accurately the period during which land turtles dating to 210 million years ago (in the Triassic era) evolved into water turtles. Differences in the turtles' skulls provides crucial information which distinguishes the two types. Since these turtles found in Scotland were in such remarkably good shape, they confirmed theories offered when the turtles in Russia and Argentina were discovered.
Scientists believe that the turtles found in Scotland lived in shallow bodies of fresh water. They base this theory on the geological qualities of the rock in which the fossils were found (shale and limestone containing layers of mud) and the fossils of sharks and salamanders found with the turtles.
Appropriately, the name Eileanchelys waldmaniare incorporates the Gaelic word "eilean" meaning "island." Translated, Eileanchelys waldmaniare means "the turtle from the island."
As keeper of two aquatic turtles, I'm thrilled to learn more about their ancestry. And as a fan of traditional Irish and Scottish music, I absolutely LOVE the fact that the new species has a Gaelic word rolled into its name!
This post highlights information from the sources listed below. Please click on the first two, as they contain some rather amazing copyrighted pictures which I know you'll enjoy.
(1) "Ancient Turtle Discovered on Skye," BBC News website, 19 Nov 2008, as viewed online on 21 Nov 2008.
(2) "Earliest Aquatic Turtles Found in Scotland," Natural History Museum (Tring, England) website, 19 Nov 2008, as viewed online on 21 Nov 2008.
(3) "A New Stem Turtle From The Middle Jurassic Of Scotland: New Insights On The Evolution And Palaeoecology Of Basal Turtles," PubMed, National Center for BioTechnology Information website, 18 Nov 2008, as viewed online on 23 Nov 2008.
(4) "A new, nearly complete stem turtle from the Jurassic of South America with implications for turtle evolution," PubMed, National Center for BioTechnology Information website, 23 Jun 2008, as viewed online on 23 Nov 2008.
(Scientists involved in the discovery of the Scotland turtles were associated with University College London (UCL) and the Natural History Museum in Tring (about 35 miles northwest of London). Their report has been published in the journal entitled "Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences." The Scotland turtle fossils are housed at the National Museums Scotland in Edinburgh. The project was funded by the National Geographic Society.)
© 2008, Linda Mason Hood
Truffles, Turtles & Tunes Copyright Statement
1 comment:
Just wanted to inform you if you are so interested in turtles, you should check the following websites.
NYTTS.org (the New York Turtle and Tortoise Society) holds semi-regular meetings (Central Park Zoo)a yearly scientific seminar in March, and in June the annual turtle show in the village.
"Confessions of a Turtle Wife," a website about the above book and what its like being married to a turtle fanatic. (Me) Free first chapter on the site.
And Herpdigest.org,the only free weekly electronic newsletter that reports on the lattest news of reptile and amphibian conservation. (lots of stories on turtles). www.herpdigest.org try it. send me your email and I'll send you some sample copies with lots of recent turtle articles.
Like the recent discovery of a fossil that might have been the earliest turtle. The missing link between reptiles with a shell and without.
And HerpArts.com where you can get a lot of turtle gifts, like the only turtle calendar printed inthe US. full color. And a bumpersticker saying I love MY RES.
asalzberg@herpdigest.org
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