資料來源
20160218 New freshwater turtle species discovered in Papua New Guinea provides insight into Australia's ecological past
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-02-18/new-png-turtle/7180688
A new species of freshwater turtle has been discovered in Papua New Guinea, which researchers say would have been present while the island was still forming.
A study published in the international journal, Zootaxa, says the turtle, named Elseya Rhodini, is one of three distantly-related species found across PNG and Indonesia's Papua province.
The study's lead author, Arthur Georges from the University of Canberra, says the three species evolved from a common ancestor somewhere between 17 and 19 million years ago.
"That animal has seen the whole orogenesis [mountain creation] of New Guinea happen," he said.
"It's been there so long that it's seen the telescopic uplift of the mountain ranges and the accretion of some of those island arcs onto the northern edge of New Guinea.
"So it's actually seen the formation of New Guinea, which we find quite remarkable."
Mr Georges said the turtle's discovery was an important insight into the region's past.
"It's sort of the museum of Australasia, because Australia underwent progressive aridification and we lost a lot of species, and representatives of those are still present in the extremely biodiverse Papua New Guinea," he said.
"So it's really important for the region to document what's there."
The newly discovered turtle species is part of the Chelidae family of side-neck turtles which are restricted to South America and Australia, along with PNG, Timor and Rote in Indonesia.
Mr Georges said it took genetic testing to confirm it was a separate species.
He said it had been known to locals as a food source, but its habitat protected it from becoming endangered.
"It's actually really abundant," he said.
"It's found up in the small streams that run up into the forest, so it's not found in the swamps and the rivers where most of the people hunt.
"So, it's not as conspicuous as the other turtles."
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拜託一下,看哪位大大有空
幫忙翻成中文,造福其他龜友
想幫忙的自己在樓上留言
這樣就不會重覆翻譯了
