Lot 1825 - S17 Out of This World - Tuesday, 28. June 2022, 04.00 PM
TESTUDO THOMPSONI
USA, South Dakota, White River Badlands
Oligocene (around 33 million years)
80 x 60 cm
Provenance: Swiss private collection
The term turtle is commonly used to describe both turtles and tortoises with the main difference being that turtles are aquatic; whereas tortoises are terrestrial, land-dwelling creatures. Anatomically, both have hard shells protecting their bodies. The top shell is called the carapace, and the bottom shell is called the plastron.
This colossal specimen is a male, as indicated by its pronounced "gular scute" (projection) extending from the front of the plastron, as well as the significant curvature of the underside of the shell. The scutes - the bony external plates - on the shell are in fine condition.
This turtle is, to our knowledge, the largest ever offered for sale. The size, combined with the minimal percentage of restoration, makes this a truly museum worthy fossil.
THOMPSONI海龟化石(TESTUDO THOMPSONI)
CHF 20 000 / 40 000 | (€ 20 620 / 41 240)
Sold for CHF 24 700 (including buyer’s premium)
All information is subject to change.