When Cal State Fullerton geology graduate student Emma Martinez learned about a fossilized shell of a 32-million-year-old leatherback sea turtle discovered along the shoreline of the Alabama River, she jumped at the chance to help study the ancient marine animal.
Martinez and James F. Parham, professor of geological sciences and her research adviser, collaborated with Alabama paleontologist Andrew D. Gentry to describe this new genus and species of leatherback sea turtle.
“Having the opportunity to research this fossil sea turtle that once roamed Earth millions of years ago is an extraordinary experience,” Martinez said.
Parham said the new species, Ueloca (pronounced Wee-low-juh) colemanorum, is derived from the Mvskoke (Creek) words “Uewv” for water and “Loca” for turtle. The name honors the Indigenous people of southern Alabama and recognizes the contributions of Poarch Creek Indian tribal members to the research project.
“To our knowledge, this is the first scientific name ever derived from the Mvskoke language, making it both culturally significant and scientifically unique,” said Parham, who studies ancient marine turtles and their evolution. “The turtle shell, roughly 4 feet long and 3 feet across, is one of the most complete fossils of its kind found anywhere in the world.”
The research team’s study, “A New Leatherback Marine Turtle From the Lower Oligocene of North America and a Phylogenetic Nomenclature for Dermochelyidae,” was published Sept. 12 in the open-access journal Palaeodiversity.
Parham and Martinez — her first published research — are co-authors of the publication. Gentry, Learning Campus at Gulf State Park senior education and research manager, is the first author and studies fossil turtles of Alabama.
“Learning about their evolutionary history can help us appreciate how resilient they have been over millions of years,” said Martinez, whose graduate thesis focuses on 16-million-year-old undescribed fossil leatherback sea turtle specimens from Orange County.
Parham has had a fossil species named after him and contributed to a 2022 study with Gentry of a new giant species of freshwater turtle found in Alabama. He and his students have studied fossil leatherbacks for many years, focusing on their rich fossil record in Orange County.
The CSUF researchers said this latest discovery in Alabama helps fill a significant gap in the fossil record of leatherback sea turtles.
“By studying this well-preserved specimen, we can fill in missing information to better understand their morphological evolution and diversity through time,” said Martinez, who plans to pursue a career in geospatial and environmental analysis.
Parham noted that only one leatherback turtle species exists today, which is also the state marine reptile of California, and is endangered.
“The modern leatherback is the last survivor of a lineage of sea turtles at least 50 million years old. Their shells are unlike those of any other turtle and are made up of thousands of interlocking plates,” Parham explained.
In addition to being new to science, Parham added that studying the new specimen helped to confirm that fossil leatherbacks included two main lineages, one with ridged shells and one with smooth shells.
Martinez said her research experiences have helped her develop skills that will be useful in her future career.
“I’ve learned how to collect and analyze data, think critically about complex problems and clearly communicate my findings,” she said. “These experiences are preparing me to work in environments where problem-solving, accuracy and collaboration are essential.”