Lot 674
Rare Museum-Quality Complete Jurassic Turtle From China. Turtles are not found often as fossils, but when found, only their shell remains. Additionally, most fossil turtles are only 20-30 million years old. This museum quality 7 inch long turtle (Manchurochylus) is both much older--140 million years old--and virtually complete, with all four limbs detailed down to the tiny claws and complete detailed skull. The reason for this extraordinary preservation is that 140 millions ago a volcanic eruption in Liaoning, China buried this turtle under a layer of protective volcanic ash. The brown shell of the turtle has been compressed onto its plastron and lies in a lifelike position on the thin stone volcanic matrix. The turtle is nearly perfect except for a slight shift in the perimeter of the shell on the left side, which is still complete. This remarkable turtle has been professionally mounted and framed for hanging in a 16 x 13 inch brown frame. Weight is 3½ pounds.
Estimated Value $900 - 1,500.
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| Realized $1,150 |
