Jurassic period marine turtle fossil uncovers by scientists. What we know so far

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fossil of a marine turtle that lived approximately 150 million years ago during the Jurassic period. The turtle, named Solnhofia parsonsi, had a massive head and swam through a shallow, tropical sea in what is now Europe. Unlike modern-day marine turtles, this ancient species had shorter, stumpier limbs relative to its body size, indicating that it likely swam in coastal waters rather than the open ocean. The newly described fossil is the best-preserved individual of this species, featuring a complete skull, shell, and all four limbs. The turtle measured about 12 inches long, with a relatively large skull of about 4 inches. While it is speculated that its large skull may have been useful for crunching through the hard shells of bottom-dwelling crustaceans and mollusks, direct evidence of its diet is yet to be found. The fossil was discovered in southeastern Germany at a limestone quarry rich in fossils from the later part of the Jurassic Period. The area is known to have preserved various marine animals and reptiles from that era. S. parsonsi likely inhabited a network of coastal reefs and lagoons, considering the archipelago of small islands in the region during the Jurassic. The unique limb structure of the fossil indicates that S. parsonsi was adapted to swim closer to the shore rather than venture hundreds of miles into the open ocean. The turtle's habitat was abundant in diverse coastal ecosystems, and the discovery sheds light on the ecosystem's functioning and the various species that coexisted during the Late Jurassic. The ongoing study of the fossil-rich site continues to offer valuable insights into prehistoric life millions of years ago.

Q1. What is Solnhofia parsonsi? A1. Solnhofia parsonsi is a marine