The Conversation
International · 38 mins ago
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Turtles finally have a place in the tree of life: X-ray study of South African fossils was a decider
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A study using X-ray analysis of South African turtle fossils has helped resolve the long-standing scientific debate about where turtles fit in the evolutionary tree of life, placing them among other vertebrate groups whose evolutionary relationships were previously unclear.
Turtles finally have a place in the tree of life: X-ray study of South African fossils was a decider
The origin of turtles has always been a bit of a puzzle for scientists who study the evolution of animals. To this day, where they fit in the tree of life remains a highly debated topic.
The evolutionary relationships of most vertebrate groups are well understood. Thanks to genetic and morphological (anatomical, body shape) data, even animals with highly specialised skeletons can be clearly placed on the animal family tree. Examples include whales or birds.
Turtles, however, have long remained a
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