BOGOTA, Columbia: Paleontologists have made a remarkable discovery in Colombia, unearthing fossils of giant tortoises dating back around 57 million years.
The University of Rosario, leading the excavation, revealed that the fossils belong to the extinct reptile species known as Puentemys mushaisaensis, measuring approximately 1.5 meters (five feet) in length.
This finding, located in the mountainous region of Socha in northeastern Colombia, is unprecedented in the Andean area, far from other excavations of the same species near the Caribbean Sea.
According to paleontologist Edwin Cadena, who led the research, the discovery of these fossils provides valuable insights into the landscapes of northern South America during the Paleocene and Eocene epochs.
These epochs, part of the Paleogene period following the extinction of dinosaurs, depict a region characterized by lower-elevation ranges and interconnected lakes, offering clues about the ancient environments and biodiversity of this prehistoric era.
