A new, Early Cretaceous carettochelyid turtle from South Korea provides insights into softshell evolution and aquatic ecology.

ABSTRACT: Here, we present a new Cretaceous carettochelyid turtle, Byeoljubuchelys yeosuensis gen. et sp. nov., from the Lower Cretaceous Hasandong Formation of Yeosu, Korea. A nearly complete shell and select elements of the girdles and limbs provide crucial insight into the evolution and aquatic adaptation of this family. Phylogenetic analyses place Byeoljubuchelys yeosuensis at the most basal position within Carettochelyidae. The mid-sized plastron of Byeoljubuchelys yeosuensis appears to be plesiomorphic for the group. The expansion of the plastron during carettochelyid evolution, especially during the Paleogene, may be an evolutionary response to increasing body size or the threat of mammalian predators. Although the shell of Byeoljubuchelys yeosuensis lacks d

SUBMITTER: Kim M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12686080 | biostudies-literature | 2025

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature