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LOWER JAW SHOWN IN OVERHEAD VIEW ABOVE IN BOX AND BELOW
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EXTREMELY RARE LARGE PALEOCENE SEA TORTOISE SKULL WITH ORIGINAL ASSOCIATED MANDIBLE IN MATRIX Khouribga, Morocco PALEOCENE PERIOD: 60 million years ago Fossil sea turtle material is extremely rare. Large specimens are known from the Khouribga Phosphates in Morocco but often, they are poorly preserved and fragmented. In almost all cases, isolated remains are found such as a portion of a skull, lower jaw, shell or limb bone fragments. It is a real rarity to find ASSOCIATED remains such as this remarkable specimen. The skull AND the original mandible were found together in matrix as shown above. The skull and mandible have been prepared to show partial high relief off the matrix. The skull sustained fragmentation when originally uncovered so it has some repair but NONE OF THE COMMON FABRICATION found in turtle fossils from Morocco. The jaw is also 100% authentic and true to the skull as it is still mostly embedded in the matrix. Matrix block is reinforced on the back side. In all the years we have been dealing in top grade specimens from this region, never have we encountered a specimen like this with both, an original lower jaw naturally resting alongside its related skull. This is an extremely rare occurrence and displays very good preservation considering the poorly mineralized bone of this layer and formation. Above images show true natural bone porosity which is lacking in the sea of plaster fakes that dominate the fossil market from Morocco. WARNING: As of this posting, the fossil trade is awash in plaster fakes from Khouribga, Morocco. In the surrounding area of the phosphate mines there, locals actually specialize in the faking of specific types of fossils in the same manner as physicians specialize in different areas of medicine. There are entire workshops in the region filled with fake crocodile skulls (both large and small), fake skeletons, fake turtle skulls with and without shells, fake mosasaur jaws with teeth, fake mosasaur skulls, fake mosasaur teeth with roots, fake bird skulls and artificially assembled matrix group fossils. These deceptive fakes make it to all the international fossil venues and ROUTINELY show up at major and minor shows, shops, websites and auctions. They are sold in large numbers to unsuspecting buyers by either fraudulent or ignorant dealers. Beware and know your dealer will back up the piece forever as well as know your material! The prehistoric sea tortoises comprised some of the most spectacular turtles that ever lived. They thrived during the Late Cretaceous Period, surviving the mass extinction and living on into the Paleocene. By this period, they had developed the two main features that distinguish all sea turtles from their land and river-based relatives. The shell was reduced to a much lighter structure, which also made the sea 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. THIS IS THE ONLY FOSSIL SEA TORTOISE SKULL WE HAVE EVER ENCOUNTERED OR SEEN FROM THIS SITE WITH AN ORIGINAL LOWER JAW! 14" long x 10.5" wide in matrix 5.25" long by 5.25" wide skull SOLD TOR01 Actual Item - One Only |
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