Scientists Lift Lid on Turtle Evolution 16 May 2012

Scientists lift lid on turtle evolution 16 May 2012

lizards and tuataras (rare lizard-like animals).

Genetic studies, however, say they have more in common with crocodiles and birds -- which fall into the archosaur group of animals that also included the extinct land-bound dinosaurs.

The latter finding has now been confirmed by the most exhaustive genetic study on the topic ever done, said Crawford -- having gathered "ten times as much" information as previous research efforts.

The turtle is a closer relative of crocodiles and birds than The team compared the DNA of the corn snake, the of lizards and snakes, according to researchers who African helmeted turtle, the painted turtle, the claim to have solved an age-old riddle in animal American alligator, the saltwater crocodile, the evolution. tuatara, the chicken, the zebra finch and the Carolina anole lizard.

Crawford said the historic confusion partly arose The turtle is a closer relative of crocodiles and because turtles shared key physical characteristics birds than of lizards and snakes, according to with lizards, snakes and tuataras -- including a researchers who claim to have solved an age-old three-chambered heart. They had little in common riddle in animal evolution. with crocs and serpents.

The ancestry of the turtle, which evolved between Lepidosaurs and archosaurs share a common 200 and 300 million years ago, has caused much reptilian ancestor. scientific squabbling -- its physiology suggesting a different branch of the family tree than its genes (c) 2012 AFP do.

"The evolutionary origin of turtles has confounded the understanding of vertebrate evolution," the scientists wrote in a paper published Wednesday in the Royal Society journal Biology Letters.

Until the latest study, that is -- which claims to have been the biggest of its kind.

"Our study conclusively shows that the genetic story is that turtles are more closely related to birds and crocodilians," research team member Nicholas Crawford from Boston University told AFP.

Anatomy and fossil studies of turtles and their reptilian relatives generally place the shelled creatures in the family of lepidosaurs -- snakes,

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APA citation: Scientists lift lid on turtle evolution (2012, May 16) retrieved 26 September 2021 from https://phys.org/news/2012-05-scientists-lid-turtle-evolution.html

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