Limb anatomy of the Triassic turtles

The paper deals with the anatomy of limbs and associated skeletal structures in the Triassic (c.a. 215 Myr) turtles belonging to the genus Proterochersis known from the territory of modern-day Germany and Poland. The material includes specimens coming from individuals of varied age. The observed changes occurring during growth suggest that adult individuals may have had a more terrestrial mode of life than juveniles. This is the first study of the limb anatomy in Proterochersis, which represents the most ancestral group of turtles.

The illustration shows the forelimb bones of the Proterochersis turtle.