Ancient Plant Fossils Unveiled as Rare Baby Turtles

Two small fossils initially thought to be prehistoric plants have been re-identified as the remains of baby marine turtles. The oval fossils, found in Colombia and dating back 132-113 million years, were originally believed to be a species of sphenophyllum, but further examination revealed bone growth patterns and evidence of turtle shells. The researchers suggest the turtles were less than a year old and possibly belonged to the species Desmatochelys padillai. The misidentification highlights the importance of careful analysis in paleontology.