Publication details
Revize historického nálezu obří želvy z brněnských písků (střední miocén, spodní baden)
| Title in English | Revision on historical finding of the giant turtle from the Brno Sand (middle Miocene, lower Badenian) |
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| Authors | |
| Year of publication | 2019 |
| Type | Article in Periodical |
| Magazine / Source | Acta Mus. Moraviae, Sci. geol. |
| MU Faculty or unit | |
| Citation | |
| Web | Full Text |
| Keywords | Testudinidae; Titanochelon; middle Miocene; lower Badenian; Brno-Královo Pole; Carpathian Foredeep; Moravia; Czech Republic |
| Description | The collections of Moravian Museum in Brno contain for decade rare find of fossil giant terrestrial tortoise of the genus Titanochelon. There was no more information about the finding with the only exception for the name of the locality “Královo Pole”. The most common Miocene deposits in the city of Brno (South Moravia, Czech Republic) are the lower Badenian marine clays and sands with abundant marine fossil fauna. The deltaic sand and gravel deposits are usually preserved in Brno area in the form of so-called the Brno Sand. The Brno Sand is discordantly overlaid by marine calcareous clay, informally called “tegel”. The residues of sand attached to the bones indicate that the find comes from the middle Miocene Brno Sand (Lower Badenian). Outcrops of the Brno Sand in Královo Pole are known from the area of “Kostelní zmola”. For clarification of finding situation all available sources such as archive maps, historical photos, historical aerial photos and literature as well as the personal statement of some contemporary witnesses were used. Studied tortoise most likely comes from one of the several sandpits, which were opened in the “Kostelní zmola” from 19th century to 1970s. However, an original finding level within the Brno Sand in “Kostelní zmola” is unclear. According to the other vertebrate findings from the Brno Sand, we assume that Titanochelon most probably comes from sandy layers interbedded with basal gravels. In order to get more information on preservation and original shape of the carapace, the studied remains were restored. This exceptional find is the first report of this taxon in the Czech Republic and the significant contribution to the poor terrestrial fossil record from the lower Badenian deposits of the Moravian part of Carpathian Foredeep (Central Paratethys). |
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