It looks like it was made in Spore
Direct descendent:
If turtle shells were on the inside.
Turtle shells are already on the inside. The entire surface of their shells is skin!
Looks like a turtle without its shell. Are the scientists sure it didnt have a shell made of cartilage thats been lost to time?
I donβt know where this particular fella fits in the history, but turtles evolved from similar quadruped reptiles. Basically, their ribs evolved flat and wide so that their chests could support them better while burrowing tunnels. That turned into the turtle plastron.
I feel like this is one of those models weβre completely wrong about.