Turtle Shell Fossil

Stylemys ("pillar turtle") is the first fossil genus of dry land tortoise discovered in the United States. The genus lived in temperate to subtropical areas of North America, Europe, and Asia. These extinct tortoises had primitive jaw muscles, unlike today's tortoises, which also display the it's transilient 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.

Dimensions (Approx.)

14 x 17"

Origin: South Dakoda

Age: Oligocene (31-35 Million Years Old)

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