The turtle shell is a complex structure that currently serves a largely protective function in this iconically slow-moving group [1]. Developmental [2, 3] and fossil [4-7] data indicate that one of the first steps toward the shelled body plan was broadening of the ribs (approximately 50 my before the completed shell [5]). Broadened ribs alone provide little protection [8] and confer significant locomotory [9, 10] and respiratory [9, 11] costs. They increase thoracic rigidity [8], which decreases speed of locomotion due to shortened stride length [10], and they inhibit effective costal ventilation [9, 11]. New fossil material of the oldest hypothesized stem turtle, Eunotosaurus africanus [12] (260 mya) [13, 14] from the Karoo Basin of South ...
Extant and fossil chelids are restricted to South America and Australasia. Based on morphological da...
The unique ability of modern turtles to retract their head and neck into the shell through a side-ne...
A new, thin-shelled fossil from the Upper Triassic (Revueltian: Norian) Chinle Group of New Mexico, ...
Transitional fossils informing the origin of turtles are among the most sought-after discoveries in ...
SummaryThe origin of the turtle shell has perplexed biologists for more than two centuries [1]. It w...
Unlike any other tetrapod, turtles form their dorsal bony shell (carapace) not from osteoderms, but ...
Fossils provide a glimpse into the architecturally complex origins of modern vertebrate body plans. ...
The origin of turtles is one of the most long-lasting debates in evolutionary research. During their...
<p><i>Pappochelys</i> extends the fossil record of Triassic stem-turtles back by some 20 million yea...
A variety of means, including forelimb proportions and shell bone histology have been used to infer ...
SummaryOne of the major remaining gaps in the vertebrate fossil record concerns the origin of turtle...
Turtles are a major group of reptiles with moderate species richness (335 extant species) but high e...
The turtle shell offers a fascinating case study of vertebrate evolution, based on the modification ...
The turtle shell is an evolutionary novelty that is synapomorphic for chelonians. The carapace is in...
Turtles have a highly modified body plan, including a rigid shell that constrains postcranial anatom...
Extant and fossil chelids are restricted to South America and Australasia. Based on morphological da...
The unique ability of modern turtles to retract their head and neck into the shell through a side-ne...
A new, thin-shelled fossil from the Upper Triassic (Revueltian: Norian) Chinle Group of New Mexico, ...
Transitional fossils informing the origin of turtles are among the most sought-after discoveries in ...
SummaryThe origin of the turtle shell has perplexed biologists for more than two centuries [1]. It w...
Unlike any other tetrapod, turtles form their dorsal bony shell (carapace) not from osteoderms, but ...
Fossils provide a glimpse into the architecturally complex origins of modern vertebrate body plans. ...
The origin of turtles is one of the most long-lasting debates in evolutionary research. During their...
<p><i>Pappochelys</i> extends the fossil record of Triassic stem-turtles back by some 20 million yea...
A variety of means, including forelimb proportions and shell bone histology have been used to infer ...
SummaryOne of the major remaining gaps in the vertebrate fossil record concerns the origin of turtle...
Turtles are a major group of reptiles with moderate species richness (335 extant species) but high e...
The turtle shell offers a fascinating case study of vertebrate evolution, based on the modification ...
The turtle shell is an evolutionary novelty that is synapomorphic for chelonians. The carapace is in...
Turtles have a highly modified body plan, including a rigid shell that constrains postcranial anatom...
Extant and fossil chelids are restricted to South America and Australasia. Based on morphological da...
The unique ability of modern turtles to retract their head and neck into the shell through a side-ne...
A new, thin-shelled fossil from the Upper Triassic (Revueltian: Norian) Chinle Group of New Mexico, ...