Genus †Proganochelys Phylum Chordata | Class Reptilia Scientific name Proganochelys quenstedti Rank Species | |
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Proganochelys quenstedti is the oldest stem-turtle species with a complete shell discovered to date, known only from fossils found in Germany and Thailand in strata from the late Triassic, dating to approximately 210 million years ago. It has several synonyms, including Chelytherium ("Turtle Beast"), Psammochelys ("Sand Turtle"), Stegochelys ("Roof Turtle") and Triassochelys ("Triassic Turtle").
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Palaeobiology
Proganochelys once considered as the oldest known turtle until the description of Odontochelys, a slightly earlier genus that lived in the Cainian stage of the Triassic. In life it was about 1 meter long. Its overall appearance resembled modern turtles in many respects: it lacked teeth, likely had a beak and had the characteristic heavily armored shell formed from bony plates and ribs which fused together into a solid cage around the internal organs. The plates comprising the carapace and plastron were already in the modern form, although there were additional plates along the margins of the shell that would have served to protect the legs. Also unlike any modern species of turtle, its long tail had spikes and terminated in a club, its head could not be retracted under the shell and its neck was protected by small spines. While it had no teeth in its jaws, it did have small denticles on the palate.
Habitat
Proganochelys is considered to have lived in the giant continent Laurasia during the Triassic period. The fossil records show that Proganochelys might have lived anywhere in between Thailand and Germany. During the Triassic period, Laurasia was primarily dry and warm, especially in arid areas. Proganochelys shared their environment with a variety of dinosaurs. Proganochelys lived in small water bodies such as ponds but it was mainly earthbound.
