A South Alabama family stumbled onto quite the discovery while fishing along a riverbank — the fossilized shell of a 32-million-year-old leatherback sea turtle, according to a news release issued jointly by the McWane Science Center, Poarch Creek Indians, and the Learning Campus.
The specimen, nearly four feet long and three feet wide, represents a new genus and species and is among the most complete fossils of its kind ever found.
Adam and Adrienne Coleman, along with their children Talah and Corey, often combine fishing with fossil hunting — a pastime passed down from Adam’s father.
“My dad got me into collecting fossils when I was a kid,” Adam said. “Now we look for them every time we’re on the river.”
During a 2021 outing, the family noticed a massive dome-shaped object embedded in limestone. “I’d never seen anything like it,” Adrienne recalled. Unsure of its significance, the Colemans kept the discovery secret, often returning to visit the mysterious fossil.
Over a year later, Adam contacted Dr. Andrew Gentry, a paleontologist in south Alabama. Gentry was stunned when he examined the find. “When I saw the fossil for the first time, it was hard to believe what I was seeing,” he said. “It was absolutely breathtaking.”
Gentry explained that leatherback turtles are unusual because their shells consist of tiny bones called ossicles, which quickly fall apart after death. “This makes intact fossil leatherback shells exceptionally rare,” he said.
Recognizing its importance, Gentry enlisted McWane Science Center’s Jun Ebersole and assembled a team of scientists from across Alabama and beyond. Together, they recovered and transported the massive fossil to a research lab for study.
The team determined the fossil dated to the early Oligocene Epoch, about 32 million years ago. It represented a new genus and species, named Ueloca colemanorum. “Ueloca” combines Muscogee words for “water” and “turtle,” chosen with guidance from the Poarch Creek Indians’ Calvin McGhee Cultural Department.
“This is the first fossil to carry a Muscogee name and it’s exciting to see our language recognized in this way,” said Samantha Martin, Creek Language Coordinator. “Opportunities like this weave our voice into history and ensure it’s never forgotten.” She also thanked Dr. Gentry and Muscogee speaker Dr. Marcus Briggs-Cloud for including the Tribe’s voice in the project.
The species name “colemanorum” honors the Coleman family for their discovery and help in recovering the fossil.
“This is truly a one-in-a-million fossil,” said Ebersole. “Specimens like this are why Alabama is quickly becoming a globally recognized hot-spot for fossil diversity.”
Scientists say Ueloca provides critical insight into the origins of modern leatherbacks. Gentry noted the fossil’s preservation allowed for comparisons with specimens worldwide, suggesting two distinct groups of leatherbacks once existed. Only one lineage survives today. “Ueloca has helped advance our understanding of the history of leatherback sea turtles but there are still unanswered questions,” he said.
The fossil is now on display at McWane Science Center in Birmingham. Gentry called the project a career highlight. “It never ceases to amaze me how quickly paleontology can turn a group of strangers from entirely different backgrounds, disciplines, and cultures into a cohesive team,” he said. “The thrill of discovery is universal.”
The team’s findings were published in the journal Palaeodiversity and are available online.
Sherri Blevins is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You may contact her at [email protected].
