North America, Western United States, South Dakota, Pennington County, Brule Formation, Oligocene, ca. 33 million years ago. A nearly complete fossilized shell - both the carapace and plastron- from a prehistoric tortoise species, Stylemys nebraskensis. The interior is infilled with the sediment from fossilization and a protective plaster - but fossilized pieces that might be the remains of bones, protrude from the front opening. The 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. Size: 11.5" L x 9" W x 4.5" H (29.2 cm x 22.9 cm x 11.4 cm); weight: 16 lb (7.2 kg)

Provenance: private New Jersey, USA collection

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#183864

Professionally prepared. Some minor restoration to a few of the costal / marginal scutes. Approximately 90% or more original material. One portion of the carapace is sunken in due to fossilization process. Otherwise this is an excellent medium-sized specimen!