Manouria morla, a Miocene tortoise

PUBLICATION — Chroust M., Szczygielski T., Luján À. H. 2025. Manouria morla sp. nov., the Ancient One: an Early Miocene large tortoise from the Swamps of Ahníkov, Czechia. Swiss Journal of Palaeontology 144: 63. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13358-025-00400-6

Figure: Life restoration of Manouria morla. Author: Rudolf Hima.

The paper presents a new Miocene species of a tortoise from Czechia – Manouria morla. Its specific name refers to Morla the Aged One, a turtle from “The Neverending Story” by Michael Ende. The new species is the oldest member of the extant genus Manouria and its only recognized occurrence from outside of Asia. That suggests stronger than anticipated connections between the Miocene faunas of Central Europe and Asia. The discovery impacts the understanding of the evolution of tortoises, as well, because Manouria is the least derived extant member genus of that clade.