New species of ancient turtle discovered in Madagascar

[Still Waters]

A team of researchers from Universität Freiburg, the Denver Museum of Nature & Science, Université d'Antananarivo and Stony Brook University has discovered a new species of pelomedusoid turtle in Madagascar. 

The ancient turtle was found in a geological formation in a part of Madagascar generally rich in fossilized birds, mammals, crocodiles and even dinosaurs. Study of the turtle, which the team has named Sahonachelys mailakavava, showed it to be from the Late Cretaceous and that it was a pelomedusoid (a freshwater turtle) and that it was less than a half-meter long.

They note that the turtle find is particularly important because it has both a shell and a skull—most others from its era have one or the other. Having a complete skeleton, they note, makes it easier to place the turtle on the family tree.

https://phys.org/news/2021-05-species-pelomedusoid-turtle-madagascar.html