Whose name is attached to the lizard-like fossil that helped explain the origin of turtles?
Quick Answer
The origin of turtles has been debated for more than a century, with fossils such as Eunotosaurus and Pappochelys helping to fill the gap. Researchers including Tyler Lyson have helped clarify that turtle shells evolved gradually.
The Full Story
Tyler Lyson and other paleontologists have been central to recent discoveries showing that turtle shells did not appear all at once. Fossils like Pappochelys and Eunotosaurus reveal intermediate stages, with broadened ribs and other shell-related features. These finds suggest the turtle body plan evolved gradually over millions of years. Although turtles are reptiles rather than amphibians, their evolutionary story is one of the most intriguing in vertebrate biology.
Key Facts
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"How turtles got their shells, step by step"
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