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9.5" Colorful Fossil Tortoise (Stylemys) - South Dakota
This is a colorful, 9.5" long shell (carapace and plastron) of an Oligocene-aged tortoise (Stylemys nebrascensis) from the White River Formation in the Badlands of South Dakota. Geologic pressures following preservation resulted in this exploded appearance, making for a unique presentation.
It comes with a display stand.
Most of the posterior marginal scutes have been restored, along with a couple of the anterior marginal scutes. Restorations makes up less than 5% of this specimen.
It comes with a display stand.
Most of the posterior marginal scutes have been restored, along with a couple of the anterior marginal scutes. Restorations makes up less than 5% of this specimen.
Stylemys ("pillar turtle") is the first fossil genus of dry land tortoise discovered in the United States. They lived in temperate to subtropical areas of North America, Europe, and Asia.
These extinct tortoises had primitive jaw muscles, unlike today's tortoises that also display the os transiliens bone, and would have been herbivorous. While Stylemys species did exhibit the same neck structure as modern tortoises, the forelimbs weren't ideal for burrowing.
These extinct tortoises had primitive jaw muscles, unlike today's tortoises that also display the os transiliens bone, and would have been herbivorous. While Stylemys species did exhibit the same neck structure as modern tortoises, the forelimbs weren't ideal for burrowing.
SPECIES
Stylemys nebrascensis
LOCATION
Shannon County, South Dakota
FORMATION
White River Formation
SIZE
Length: 9.5", Width: 7.4", Height: 4.2"
CATEGORY
SUB CATEGORY
ITEM
#316911
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