Lot 518
HUGE FOSSIL BADLANDS TURTLE. Stylemys nebrascensis was a 30 million year old turtle that roamed the White River Formation of the Badlands of South Dakota. This huge 15 x 12 inch turtle is one of the largest ever offered at auction. The average size is usually only 5-8 inches long. The white outer carapace is remarkably complete with only a few plates moved slightly from the millions of years of fossilization. Stylemys’ carapace was formed by a series of scutes made of keratin originally. Keratin is the same material that our finger nails are made of. About 80 percent of the underside of the turtle, the plastron, which was formed by bony plates is preserved along with some white leg bones which are clearly still buried in the matrix. The shape and appearance is of museum quality with little distortion of the shape of the outer shell. A rare opportunity to buy a really large museum quality turtle.
Add $40 for domestic shipping.
Estimated Value $800 - 1,000.
|
| |
| Unsold |
