A seemingly ordinary museum exhibit in Australia has become a treasure trove of scientific discovery in a remarkable twist that sounds like something straight out of a mystery novel. For years, visitors to the Museum and Art Gallery Northern Territory would pass by a display of fossilised turtle shell pieces, unaware that they were gazing upon an entirely new species that had been hiding in plain sight.

The fossils, which had been part of the museum's permanent exhibition showcasing Australia's ancient wildlife, were originally discovered in the 1990s. However, it wasn't until recently that the true significance of these fragments came to light. Dr Adam Yates, a senior curator at the museum, spearheaded the effort to re-examine the display after suspecting there might be more to the story.


In an interview with Dr Yates, the painstaking process of removing the glue and plaster that had held the pieces together for so long was detailed. This meticulous work revealed the ventral side of the shell, which had been obscured and unexamined due to the way the fragments were presented.


The discovery of significant variations in the ancient turtle shell was a breakthrough moment. Turtle species differentiation is a nuanced task, requiring a keen eye for the smallest of details. The shells, much like human skulls, are composed of multiple bones fused together, and it's these bones that hold the key to identifying different species.


Dr Yates explained that one particular bone, known as the first coastal, displayed 'complicated patterns' unlike any known turtle species. Photos of the bones were sent to Mehdi Joseph-Ouni, a US-based reptile expert, to confirm the findings. His analysis led to the christening a new name for the species: Elseya mudburra.

The significance of this discovery cannot be overstated. It reminds us that our understanding of prehistoric life is constantly evolving and that museums are not just places of preservation but active sites of research and discovery.

Elseya mudburra lived approximately 14 million years ago in what is now known as Australia's Top End. The region, rich in evolutionary history, has yielded fossils of marsupials, birds, lungfish, and other reptiles. As the continent's climate drier, species like Elseya mudburra likely faced extinction.


This new species of Elseya, or snapping turtle, resembles its modern-day relatives seen in rivers, but with a notable size difference, measuring 40 cm in length. Predominantly carnivorous, this ancient creature would have feasted on fish and crustaceans, with the occasional plant to supplement its diet.

The revelation of Elseya mudburra was accompanied by the identification of another new species, Elseya camfieldensis, also from the museum's collection. Both species were described in the Australian Journal of Taxonomy, highlighting the importance of revisiting and re-evaluating museum collections.

For our readers at the Seniors Discount Club, this story is a testament to the wonders that await discovery, even in the most familiar of places. It's a reminder to stay curious and to appreciate the rich tapestry of Australia's natural history that surrounds us.

We invite you to share your thoughts on this exciting discovery. Have you ever visited a museum and learned that what you saw was more significant than you realised? Do you have a story about a hidden gem discovered after many years? Share your experiences in the comments below, and let's celebrate our planet's incredible past and present biodiversity.