Archelosauria: Turtles, Crocodiles, Dinosaurs, and Birds

A recent study using new genetic sequencing techniques, called Ultra Conserved Elements (UCE), has reconstructed the “tree of life” for turtles. The new tree places turtles within the newly created group called Archelosauria that includes turtles, crocodiles, dinosaurs, and birds. This new group may be the largest vertebrate group “to ever receive a new scientific name”. Using the huge amount of data, the scientists refute the older idea of turtles being closely related to lizards and snakes. Leer más.