Scientists Discover That Turtles Began Living in Shells Much Earlier Than Once Thought

Unique among Earth’s creatures, turtles are the only animals to form a shell on the outside of their bodies through a fusion of modified ribs, vertebrae and shoulder girdle bones. The turtle shell is a unique modification, and how and when it originated has fascinated and confounded biologists for more than two centuries.

First known turtle swam on the half shell

Levittown man illegally took turtles from N.J. marshes, sold them

Scientists Discover That Turtles Began Living in Shells Much

Giant Galapagos Tortoise Thought Extinct for 100 Years Found Alive

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Scientists discover that turtles began living

New record: World's oldest animal is 507 years old

Three-Toed Box Turtle Missouri Department of Conservation

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