Multi-isotopic analysis reveals the early stem turtle Odontochelys as a nearshore herbivorous forager
DOKPE
- Goedert, Jean Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Amiot, Romain Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France
- Anquetin, Jérémy University of Fribourg
- Séon, Nicolas Muséum National d’Histoire Naturelle, Sorbonne Université, Paris, France
- Bourgeais, Renaud Université PSL, Paris, France
- Bailly, Gilles Musée d’Angoulême, France
- Fourel, François Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France
- Simon, Laurent Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France
- Li, Chun Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Beijing, China
- Wang, Wei Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Beijing, China
- Lécuyer, Christophe Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, France
- 17.08.2023
Published in:
- Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. - Lausanne : Frontiers Media SA. - 2023, vol. 11, p. 1-13
English
Introduction: After decades of debate on the origin of turtles, it is now widely accepted that they are diapsid reptiles originating in the Permian from a terrestrial ancestor. It seems that the initial development of the structures that will later form the unique turtle bony shell took place as a response to a fossorial lifestyle. However, the earliest stem turtle with a fully complete plastron, Odontochelys semitestacea from the Late Triassic (lower Carnian) of China, is somewhat controversially interpreted as an aquatic or even a marine form, raising the question of the environment in which the completion of the plastron happened.
Methods: Here, we analyzed the stable carbon, oxygen and sulfur isotope compositions (δ13C, δ18O and δ34S) of bones from two specimens of Odontochelys along with bones and teeth of two associated specimens of the marine ichthyosaur Guizhouichthyosaurus tangae.
Results and discussion: We first show that δ18O values of Odontochelys are incompatible with a terrestrial lifestyle and imply a semi-aquatic to aquatic lifestyle. Isotopic results also demonstrate that the aquatic environment of Odontochelys was submitted to a strong marine influence, therefore excluding the possibility of a strict freshwater aquatic environment. Additionally, an unusual carbon isotope composition shows that O. semitestacea was herbivorous, probably consuming macrophytic algae in coastal zones like the extant green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) or the marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) do.
Methods: Here, we analyzed the stable carbon, oxygen and sulfur isotope compositions (δ13C, δ18O and δ34S) of bones from two specimens of Odontochelys along with bones and teeth of two associated specimens of the marine ichthyosaur Guizhouichthyosaurus tangae.
Results and discussion: We first show that δ18O values of Odontochelys are incompatible with a terrestrial lifestyle and imply a semi-aquatic to aquatic lifestyle. Isotopic results also demonstrate that the aquatic environment of Odontochelys was submitted to a strong marine influence, therefore excluding the possibility of a strict freshwater aquatic environment. Additionally, an unusual carbon isotope composition shows that O. semitestacea was herbivorous, probably consuming macrophytic algae in coastal zones like the extant green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) or the marine iguana (Amblyrhynchus cristatus) do.
- Faculty
- Faculté des sciences et de médecine
- Department
- Département de Géosciences
- Language
-
- English
- Classification
- Palaeontology
- License
- CC BY
- Open access status
- gold
- Identifiers
-
- DOI 10.3389/fevo.2023.1175128
- ISSN 2296-701X
- Persistent URL
- https://folia.unifr.ch/unifr/documents/327241
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