Odontochelys semitestacea

References

Images

Diagram illustrating the evolutionary stages of turtle shell development, showing skeletal outlines of Eunotosaurus, Pappochelys, Odontochelys, and Proganochelys with red highlighting the expanding shell area over time. Below, side-by-side illustrations compare the body structure and stride length of early reptiles with flexible spines and fast crawling to Eunotosaurus and later turtles with rigid spines and slower movement.

Odontochelys semitestacea

fossil turtle

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turtle
Origin and evolution
Odontochelys semitestacea, a species dating from about 220 million years ago, during the Late Triassic, is the oldest species to possess a complete plastron, broad dorsal ribs, and a series of neural plates, though it lacked a fully developed carapace. Authorities contend that this species…
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Odontochelys semitestacea, a species dating from about 220 million years ago, during the Late Triassic, is the oldest species to possess a complete plastron, broad dorsal ribs, and a series of neural plates, though it lacked a fully developed carapace. Authorities contend that this species…
Read More