Michael, Jack, and Wyatt sit down with Dr. Tyler Lyson, Associate Curator of Vertebrate Paleontology at the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, to discuss the origin, evolution, and purpose of the turtle shell and body plan. Topics covered include early stem turtle biology and anatomy, the dilemma associated with the phylogenetic position of turtles with respect to other amniotes, how turtles breathe, and what it is like to work with fossil chelonians.

Learn more about Dr. Lyson's work at: https://www.dmns.org/science/earth-sciences/staff/tyler-lyson/

Learn more about the CheloniaCast Podcast and Student Research Fund at: https://theturtleroom.org/cheloniacast/

Follow the CheloniaCast Podcast on Facebook/Instagram/Twitter @cheloniacast

Host social media - Jason Wills - @chelonian.carter / Michael Skibsted - @michael.skibstedd / Jack Thompson - @jack_reptile_naturalist_302 / Ken Wang - @americanmamushi / Wyatt Keil - @wyatts_wildlife_photography