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LARGE PALEOCENE SEA TORTOISE LOWER JAW - Khouribga, Morocco PALEOCENE PERIOD: 60 million years ago This prehistoric tortoise lower jaw is a highly uncommon find. It is a complete and unbroken anterior portion missing only the thin posterior portions that would articulate with the skull. This specimen would have been a part of a tortoise skull that is exactly the same size and type as TOR01. As the majority of vertebrate skull fossils are found WITHOUT the lower jaw, this would be an invaluable addition to complete a skull if you had one in your collection without the lower jaw. Specimen is complete with NO REPAIR AND NO FABRICATION. The prehistoric sea tortoises comprised some of the most spectacular turtles that ever lived. They thrived during the Late Cretaceous Period. By this period, they had developed the two main features that distinguish all sea turtles from their land and river-based relatives. First, since there were fewer predators in the sea than on the land, the sea turtles did not need to carry such heavy armor on their backs, so the shell was reduced to a much lighter structure, which also made the turtles more maneuverable than their land-living relatives. Second, the toes of the front and back limbs were greatly elongated, and modified into broad flippers that gave greater propulsion when swimming. Today, only seven species of sea turtles survive, grouped in two families. All of the species are endangered. The green turtle and the great leatherback turtle, both of which inhabit warm seas, are the most familiar members of the families. No sea turtle, whether extinct or modern, has the ability to retract its head or legs into its shell. VERY UNCOMMON SPECIMEN - SOLID PRESERVATION AND EXCEPTIONAL DETAIL A VALUABLE COMPLIMENT TO OWNERS OF A SKULL WITHOUT THE LOWER JAW 2.75" across SOLD MV14-003 INCLUDES DISPLAY BOX Actual Item - One Only |
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