Fossil - Humerus of a sea turtle (Lytoloma elegans)

Fossil - Humerus of a sea turtle (Lytoloma elegans)

Cretaceous, Alba stage ca. 100.5-113.0 million years ago, Tegana formation, Taouz, Morocco.

Lytoloma elegans is an extinct species of sea turtle that lived during the Early Cretaceous and Early Paleocene, about 100 million years ago. The species' body structure closely resembled that of modern sea turtles. The fossilized humerus of the ancient sea turtle is in good condition. It measures approximately 57mm x 26mm x 23mm.

Sea turtles (Cheloniidae) are a family of turtles that includes 6 species. The family includes all sea turtles except for the leatherback turtle, which belongs to the same superfamily, Chelonioidea. The size of sea turtles varies between species. The largest is the green turtle (Chelonia mydas), whose carapace is about 0.8 - 1.0 meters long. This turtle weighs about 35-200 kilograms. The smallest of the species is the rare kempii (Lepidochelys kempii), whose carapace is 60 cm long and weighs 5 - 40 kilograms. Sea turtles are otherwise very similar. All sea turtle species are well adapted to marine life. Between their dorsal and ventral carapace are ancient inner marginal plates. The skull, which is relatively large for the species, is completely ossified and has a shallow depression in the back. The upper jaw has a horn-like tip that is hooked and curved downwards. The limbs of sea turtles have evolved into paddle-like structures, with one or two claws on each. Sea turtles swim by paddling with their long front limbs, and the hind limbs act as a rudder. Sea turtles have lived on Earth for about 150 million years.

Symbol meaning

Ritual use

Note! Fossils are natural products that are millions of years old, so each one is unique. Therefore, colors, shapes and brightness may vary. The condition varies from fair to good and there are typical wear, fractures and small chips for fossils.