A fossil initially thought to be a plant has been reidentified as the inner shell of a juvenile turtle, as revealed by Fabiany Herrera and Héctor Palma-Castro. This discovery has led researchers to affectionately name the fossil “Turtwig,” drawing inspiration from a half-turtle, half-plant Pokemon.
In the mid-20th century, Padre Gustavo Huertas, a Colombian priest, collected various fossils and rocks around Villa de Levya. Among these, he discovered two small, leaf-patterned rocks, classifying them as fossilized plants. However, a recent examination published in Palaeontologia Electronica contradicted this classification, identifying these specimens as the remains of juvenile turtles.
Héctor Palma-Castro, a student of paleobotany at Universidad Nacional de Colombia, expressed his astonishment at this finding. The fossils, initially described in 2003 as Sphenophyllum colombianum by Huertas, date back to the Early Cretaceous period, about 132 to 113 million years ago. This finding was unexpected as other species of Sphenophyllum were believed to have gone extinct over 100 million years earlier. The age and location of these fossils intrigued Fabiany Herrera, a curator at the Field Museum in Chicago, and his student, Palma-Castro.
Upon closer examination, Herrera and Palma-Castro observed peculiarities in the fossils that suggested they were not plant remains. The fossils, about 2 inches across, resembled rounded nodules with preserved plant leaves. However, the researchers noticed details inconsistent with the plant Sphenophyllum.
Further analysis by Edwin-Alberto Cadena, a paleontologist at Universidad del Rosario, and his student, Diego Cómbita-Romero, confirmed the fossils were indeed turtle carapaces. Cadena identified the specimens as hatchling turtles, which was surprising due to their small size. Cómbita-Romero noted the absence of typical external markings on a turtle’s shell and realized the visible part of the fossil was the internal side of the carapace.
The turtle’s bone structure helped estimate its age at death. Features like the carapace thickness and rib knitting indicated it was likely in a post-hatchling stage, between 0 to 1 years old.
Cadena highlighted the rarity of finding fossilized baby turtles, noting their thin shell bones are easily destroyed. This discovery is significant as it provides insights into the growth of Cretaceous turtle species, some of which reached up to fifteen feet in length.
The scientists acknowledged Padre Huertas’s initial misclassification, considering the fossil’s resemblance to certain plant fossils. The features he identified as leaves and stems were actually modified rib bones and vertebrae of the turtle shell. The nickname “Turtwig” was chosen to reflect the Pokemon’s dual nature, echoing the fossil’s initial misidentification as a plant.
Palma-Castro remarked on the role of imagination in paleontology, emphasizing how such discoveries expand our understanding of the past and the potential for future finds.
The study also underscores the significance of re-examining historical fossil collections in Colombia, especially concerning Early Cretaceous flora. Herrera emphasized the need to explore these collections further to better understand the evolution of land plants during this period.
This research, published in Palaeontologia Electronica in December 2023, was supported by the National Geographic Society and the Negaunee Integrative Research Center at the Field Museum.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Cretaceous Fossil Discovery
What was the initial interpretation of the fossil named “Turtwig”?
The fossil named “Turtwig” was initially interpreted as a plant due to its leaf-like patterns. It was later identified as the inside of a baby turtle’s shell.
Who collected the fossil and where was it found?
The fossil was collected by Padre Gustavo Huertas, a Colombian priest, near Villa de Levya, Colombia, during the 1950s to 1970s.
How did researchers reclassify the fossil?
Researchers at the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, including Fabiany Herrera and Héctor Palma-Castro, re-examined the fossil and noticed features inconsistent with plants, leading to its reclassification as a turtle fossil.
What is the significance of the fossil’s reclassification?
The reclassification of the fossil is significant as it provides insights into the fauna of the Early Cretaceous period and challenges previous assumptions about the region’s biodiversity.
Why was the fossil named “Turtwig”?
The fossil was nicknamed “Turtwig” after a Pokémon character that is half-turtle, half-plant, reflecting its initial misidentification as a plant and its true nature as a turtle.
More about Cretaceous Fossil Discovery
- Palaeontologia Electronica
- Universidad Nacional de Colombia
- Field Museum Research
- Cretaceous Turtle Fossils
- Early Cretaceous Floras Research
4 comments
i’m not surprised they mistook it for a plant, nature can be really deceptive sometimes.
wow just amazing to think what we might find next in paleontology, its like a constant treasure hunt!
This is so fascinating! Makes you wonder what else is hidden out there waiting to be discovered
gotta love how they named it after a pokemon, shows how science can have a sense of humor too.