29 Nov, 2014 @ 08:00
1 min read
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New Spanish giant tortoise genus discovered

HERDS of giant tortoises – two metres in size – were roaming the plains of Spain two million years ago.

A 10-year study by Spanish and Greek researchers has identified the genus of tortoises that had a large shell covered with protective scales.

“We’re not just talking about any tortoise; this is the largest that lived in Europe, whose size likely exceeded that of those living today in the Galapagos Islands,” said researcher Adan Perez-Garcia.

The researchers, who dubbed the animals ‘Titanochelon’ due to their size, took on research that started in the 1920s in Spain.

Madrid’s National Museum of Natural Sciences provided a treasure trove of fossilised materials to back up the study.

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Jacqueline Fanchini (Reporter)

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4 Comments

  1. @Newport, you don’t understand the meaning of the word and have only drawn more attention to your lack of a basic education. The Spanish are not even a race for starters; they are an ethnicity. Back to school for you.

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