Posted on 10/22/2015 5:15:40 AM PDT by SunkenCiv
The extinct turtle was about 2 feet long from head to tail.
Its streamlined shell was adapted for living in a riverine environment.
When it was alive, 76 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period, Southern Utah looked more like present-day Louisiana.
The climate was wet and hot, and the landscape was dominated by rivers, bayous and lowland flood plains.
It lived alongside tyrannosaurs, armored ankylosaurs, giant duck-billed dinosaurs such as Gryposaurus and Parasaurolophus, and other dinosaurs that left abundant fossil remains in the Upper Cretaceous Kaiparowits Formation of Southern Utah.
But those fossil beds also hold the remains of many crocodilians, turtles, lizards and amphibians that don't look much different from their modern relatives.
Unlike any turtle ever found, the broad snout of the newly discovered species has two bony nasal openings.
All other turtles have just one external nasal opening in their skulls; the division between their nostrils is only fleshy.
Most ancient turtle species are represented by fossil remains that often consist of nothing more than an isolated skull or shell.
And finds that associate skulls with shells are rare.
(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...
After the surgery she didn’t look much better.
When it was alive, 76 million years ago during the Cretaceous Period, Southern Utah looked more like present-day Louisiana.
The climate was wet and hot, and the landscape was dominated by rivers, bayous and lowland flood plains.
Wait, wait wait! Are scientists saying it was *warmer* 75 million years ago than it was today? But I thought we were doomed if the planet warmed up.
Throughout history and pre-history life has flourished whenever it was warm.
People starve in even a single year without summer!
Interesting link. Surprised that “greenies” have not edited it to claim that the northeast was starting to go industrial and the coal smoke was polluting the whole Earth.
Oops!
Oh the Hugh MAnitee! For the love of all that’s Holy, did yopu have to post that grotesque vermin?
Nailed it.
Is that Yoda in drag?
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