Turtle shells first evolved for digging, then protection.“…big claws for breaking u
Turtle shells first evolved for digging, then protection.“…big claws for breaking up soil, and thickened bones for withstanding compressive forces.The turtle’s shell, then, is a wonderful example of exaptation—the evolutionary process where a trait evolves for one function and is then co-opted to serve another. They began as digging platforms and then became suits of armor. Feathers are another example. They now help birds to fly, but they probably originated as ways of keeping warm or signaling to mates and rivals.”Entire article here. -- source link
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