A fossil enthusiast working with University of Portsmouth paleontologists has uncovered the first side-necked turtle fossil in the UK, a 127 million-year-old discovery on the Isle of Wight. The identification of the fossil was confirmed using innovative radiometric dating and CT scanning methods, revealing the internal structure of the Hilaire’s side-necked turtle.
The side-necked pan-pleurodiran turtles are known for folding their necks sideways into their shells, an action that limits their vision to one eye. This ancient specimen, discovered on a National Trust beach on the Isle of Wight, is almost a complete shell including cervical, dorsal, and caudal vertebrae, scapulae, pelvic girdle, and appendicular bones, though the skull is missing.
Megan Jacobs, the study’s lead author, expressed amazement at the discovery, noting the innovative technique of radiometric dating to confirm the fossil’s age. Additionally, CT scanning revealed intricate details within the fossil, despite its unassuming appearance. She and her team also used uranium and lead analysis to pinpoint the fossil’s origin to the Lower Cretaceous period.
Found on Brook Bay’s southwest coast on the Isle of Wight by collector Steve Burbridge, the fossil site is renowned for vertebrate remains from the Wessex Formation’s cliffs and foreshore exposures. Remarkably, this is the inaugural use of radiometric dating on a Wessex formation fossil.
The fossil, affectionately named “Burby,” has been donated to the Dinosaur Isle Museum. Cutting-edge micro CT scanning at the University of Portsmouth’s Future Technology Centre has allowed for detailed insights into the turtle’s shell structure without damage.
Burbridge expressed astonishment at his find’s importance and the incredible detail revealed, while Dr. Catherine Mottram, a geologist from the University of Portsmouth’s School of the Environment, Geography, and Geosciences, praised the pioneering use of radiometric dating techniques to provide essential dating information.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about fokus keyword: side-necked turtle fossil
Where was the UK’s first side-necked turtle fossil discovered?
The fossil was discovered on the Isle of Wight, specifically on the southwest coast at Brook Bay.
How old is the discovered side-necked turtle fossil?
The side-necked turtle fossil is dated to be 127 million years old, from the Lower Cretaceous period.
What techniques were used to analyze the fossil?
Researchers used new radiometric dating techniques, CT scanning, and analysis of uranium and lead to confirm the fossil’s age and examine its internal structure.
Was the entire fossil found intact?
The turtle fossil is almost a complete shell with various vertebrae, scapulae, pelvic girdle, and appendicular bones. However, the skull was missing.
Who made the discovery?
The fossil was discovered by an amateur fossil collector named Steve Burbridge, in collaboration with paleontologists from the University of Portsmouth.
What is special about the turtle’s anatomy?
The side-necked pan-pleurodiran turtles are unique because they fold their neck into their shell sideways when threatened, which means they can only see out with one eye.
Where is the fossil now?
The fossil, nicknamed “Burby,” was kindly donated to the Dinosaur Isle Museum at Sandown on the Isle of Wight.
How did the researchers manage to study the internal structure without damaging the fossil?
The researchers used cutting-edge micro CT scanning at the University of Portsmouth’s Future Technology Centre to discern various tiny bones inside the turtle’s shell without causing any damage.
More about fokus keyword: side-necked turtle fossil
- Cretaceous Research Publication
- University of Portsmouth’s Future Technology Centre
- Dinosaur Isle Museum
