are turtles dinosaurs

Introduction

The question of whether turtles are dinosaurs is a fascinating one that delves into the evolutionary history and classification of reptiles. This synthesis will explore the relationship between turtles and dinosaurs based on recent research findings.

Key Insights

Turtles as Diapsid Reptiles:
- Turtles are classified as diapsid reptiles, which means they share a common ancestry with other diapsids like snakes, lizards, and dinosaurs. This classification is based on the presence of two holes in the temporal region of the skull, although turtles have a unique morphology that can obscure their phylogenetic relationships.
Distinct Evolutionary Lineages:
- Despite their classification as diapsids, turtles are not considered dinosaurs. Dinosaurs belong to a specific clade within the diapsids, while turtles represent a separate evolutionary lineage. This distinction is supported by fossil evidence and phylogenetic analyses .
Coexistence with Dinosaurs:
- Fossil records indicate that turtles coexisted with dinosaurs during various geological periods. For instance, turtle remains have been found alongside dinosaur tracks and other vertebrates in Late Jurassic and Late Triassic sediments .
Ecological Interactions:
- There is evidence of ecological interactions between turtles and dinosaurs. For example, a turtle shell was found embedded beneath a sauropod track level, suggesting that turtles occasionally visited environments dominated by dinosaurs and may have been trampled by them.

Conclusion

Turtles are not dinosaurs, although they share a common ancestry as diapsid reptiles. They represent a distinct evolutionary lineage separate from that of dinosaurs. Fossil evidence shows that turtles and dinosaurs coexisted and interacted in various ecological settings, but they are classified into different groups within the reptilian phylogenetic tree.

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Are turtles dinosaurs

Summary

Introduction

Key Insights

Conclusion

Sources and full results

Under the feet of sauropods: a trampled coastal marine turtle from the Late Jurassic of Switzerland?

A Late Jurassic turtle shell was found in Switzerland, suggesting it may have been trampled by a large sauropod dinosaur.

Metabolism of leatherback turtles, gigantothermy, and thermoregulation of dinosaurs

Leatherback turtles use large body size, peripheral tissues as insulation, and circulatory changes to maintain warm temperatures in cold seawater and avoid overheating in the tropics, potentially allowing large dinosaurs to live in varied habitats, including Cretaceous polar regions.

Turtles as diapsid reptiles

Turtles are diapsid reptiles, requiring reassessment of their use as 'primitive' reptiles in phylogenetic reconstruction.

A New Late Triassic Vertebrate Fauna from Poland with Turtles, Aetosaurs, and Coelophysoid Dinosaurs

This new Late Triassic site in Poland reveals the presence of a Palaeochersis-like turtle, aetosaur, coelophysoid dinosaur, and carnivorous archosaur, as well as hybodontid sharks, ganoi

A review of nonmarine turtles from the Late Cretaceous of Alberta

The Late Cretaceous of Alberta preserves one of the most complete records of fossil turtles in North America, with a high diversity of taxa and a variety of habitats.

Turtle and pterosaur tracks from the Los Cayos Dinosaur Tracksite, Cameros Basin (Cornago, La Rioja, Spain): tracking the Lower Cretaceous bio-diversity

New fossil turtle and pterosaur tracks have been discovered at the Los Cayos Dinosaur Tracksite in the Lower Cretaceous Enciso Group, providing insight into Lower Cretaceous bio-diversity.

Perhaps juvenile dinosaurs were always scarce

Large dinosaurs likely had a population structure similar to turtles, with few juveniles and many adults, and high infant mortality.

Dinosaur and turtle tracks from the Laramie/Arapahoe formations (Upper Cretaceous), near Denver, Colorado, USA

Dinosaur tracks discovered in the Laramie Formation near Denver, Colorado, are mainly from theropods, but some may be from ornithopods.

First dinosaur and turtle remains from the latest Cretaceous shallow marine deposits of Albaina (Laño quarry, Iberian Peninsula)

The new fossils include an incomplete hadrosauroid femur and partial plates of turtles from the Late Maastrichtian sublittoral beds of Albaina, the first such remains found in the Iberian Peninsula.

Turtle tracks from the Late Jurassic of Asturias, Spain

The Late Jurassic tracks in Asturias, Spain, are likely those of turtles partially buoyed by water or walking in a slightly wet subaerial environment.

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