Science News
First remains of Miocene reptiles from Moravia
PUBLICATION — Březina J., Chroust M., Szczygielski T., Hrazdil V. 2024. Miocene crocodylian and marine turtle from Kienberg: First record from the Moravian part of the Vienna Basin. Geologica Carpathica 75 (5): 329–338. doi.org/10.31577/GeolCarp.2024.19
Figure: specimens from Kienberg: crocodile tooth (left) and femur of a sea turtle (right).
The paper describes the first remains of a crocodile and a sea turtle from the Middle Miocene locality of Kienberg in the Moravian part of Czechia. Although the presented finds have a limited diagnostic value, they are significant, insofar as they represent the first Miocene tetrapods reported from that area. Besides the well-known fully marine invertebrates and fishes, the offshore fauna indicates a beach-like environment nearby.