World's oldest turtle shells stand test of time

A fossilised turtle shells found in Poland London – Agencies Fossilised turtle shells found in Poland could provide invaluable clues in solving the riddle of the origin of this ancient reptile, experts said. The shells, dating back to 215 million years have been venerated by cultures across the globe. "Late-Triassic turtle fossils are extremely rare. There are around eight spots on Earth where you might find them, and here in Poland we've unearthed the oldest and most extensive collection," said Tomasz Sulej, a paleobiologist with the Polish Academy of Sciences (PAN) who made the discovery in a region known as the Polish Jurassic Highland.
Sulej said a “guardian angel” led him to poke around a landfill near the southern town of Poreba in September 2008. Recent test confirmed the turtle fossil he unearthed is the world’s oldest.
The prestigious Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology and National Geographic Polska recently published details of the discovery.
"Finding something that has been in the mud for 215 million years, it's like bringing it back to life!" Sulej exclaimed.
While turtle fossils of a similar age were also discovered in Germany, the Polish find includes shells, along with neck and tail vertebrae and unique limb bones.
Sulej's discovery came on the heels of a new 200 million-year-old dinosaur species unearthed in nearby Lisowice in 2006-2007.
It was named the Smok Wawelski –- Wawel Dragon –- after a fabled fire-breathing dragon, whose lair was in a cave at the foot of Krakow's 14th century Wawel Castle.
Digs in the area have turned up several hundred fossils from six species including turtles, sharks, scaled fish and dinosaurs.
Now, Sulej says his mission is to find a turtle skull.
Though fossils carry no organic material for DNA testing, their structures hold precious clues to the origins of species.
"Each new turtle fossil is invaluable as it could provide clues to their origin, which up to now has been a bit of a mystery," he said.
About half of the globe's 328 recognised species of fresh water and marine turtles and land-faring tortoises could vanish in the coming decades, according to the Turtle Conservation Coalition, an alliance of wildlife societies around the globe.
"After being here for a couple hundred million years, dozens of species of turtles are now on the verge of extinction, quite simply due to being captured or eaten on an unprecedented scale, particularly in Asia," says Mariusz Lech, reptile keeper at the zoo.
"Being realistic about the modern-day threats they face, especially in Southeast Asia -- China, the Philippines, Indonesia or Madagascar -– turtles are disappearing fast. Some species could vanish within 20 years if radical steps aren't taken to protect them now," Lech warned.