New findings on the evolution of turtles: A symposium in honor of Marcelo S. de la Fuente

Abstract

With their particular body plan within amniotes and their amazing fossil record, turtles represent a great interest for both neontologists and paleontologists with a strong anatomical background. The Turtle Evolution Symposia are regular international meetings that gather scientists working with different aspects related to the evolutionary history of turtles, from their origin and early evolution until recent times. The latest edition of the Turtle Evolution Symposium was organized in 2021 amidst the COVID-19 outbreak and held virtually from the facilities of the Museo Paleontol ogico Egidio Feruglio in Trelew (Patagonia, Chubut, Argentina). More than 75 scientists from 25 countries presented their latest advances on topics related to turtle evolution, some of which are published in this Special Volume of The Anatomical Record. Both the Turtle Evolution Symposium 2021 and this Special Volume are dedicated to Marcelo S. de la Fuente who was the first researcher who specialized in the study of extinct turtles in South America, and his studies have an important regional and international impact.

Move over “Jurassic Park,” the “Triassic Circus” is thundering into town in a new Special Issue of The Anatomical Record

“…While some of the species put under the mega‐microscope in this Special Issue have appeared in recent systemic/lineage‐related issues of our journal (see, e.g., those focused on dinosaur anatomy and evolution: Dodson, 2009; Fiorillo et al, 2023; Hedrick & Dodson, 2020; Laitman, 2009; Laitman & Albertine, 2009; Laitman & Albertine, 2020; Laitman & Smith, 2023; crocodilians and their relatives: Holliday & Schachner, 2022; Laitman & Smith, 2022; or turtle evolution: Sterli & Vlachos, 2023; Smith & Laitman, 2023), this is the first of our issues to view the plethora of varied species within a period of the Earth's history together under one geologic tent. The collective view of this tetrapod menagerie affords an unparalleled experience of the vibrancy and diversity of organismal life in the Triassic.…”