Description:

North America, Western United States, South Dakota, Scenic, Brule Formation, Oligocene, ca. 33 million years ago. A fossilized shell from the prehistoric tortoise, Stylemys nebraskensis! The carapace- the upper domed part of the shell, and the plastron or underside, are both preserved, and the interior is infilled with the sediment from fossilization and a protective plaster. Their genus name means "pillar turtle" and they were an herbivorous terrestrial species thriving in temperate to subtropic climates and could reach up to a meter in length. While these ancient tortoises could not burrow due to their forelimb structure, they likely led a very similar life to their 3 modern day descendants: desert tortoise, Texas tortoise, and gopher tortoise. This shell is a hefty 41.4 lb. (18.7 kg) and its survival certainly demonstrates the defensive evolution of turtle bodies! Size: 13" L x 9.5" W x 8" H (33 cm x 24.1 cm x 20.3 cm)

Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection

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#172118

  • Condition: Professionally prepared and excavated, with 90% complete original material with some restoration to scutes along the plastron and carapace marginals (edges) and nuchal and supracaudal scutes. Interior of shell infilled with plaster / matrix.

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June 2, 2022 8:00 AM MDT
Louisville, CO, US

Artemis Fine Arts

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$300 $999 $50
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$2,000 $4,999 $250
$5,000 $9,999 $500
$10,000 $19,999 $1,000
$20,000 $49,999 $2,500
$50,000 $99,999 $5,000
$100,000 $199,999 $10,000
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