Paleontologists in Guizhou Province have announced the identification of a new species of prehistoric reptile that bridges a critical gap in turtle evolution. The creature, named Eorhynchochelys sinensis, lived approximately 230 million years ago and possesses a partially formed plastron (the lower shell) but lacks a complete carapace.
This fossil discovery provides the first physical evidence of how turtles developed their unique shells through a series of evolutionary steps. The specimen is exceptionally well-preserved, revealing a beak-like snout and long tail, suggesting it inhabited a semi-aquatic environment.