Humerus "Lytoloma elegans"

Lower Cretaceous epoch, Albian stage c. 100,5-113,0 million years ago, Tegana formation, Taouz, Morocco.

Cheloniidae is a family of typically large marine turtles that are characterised by their common traits such as, having a flat streamlined wide and rounded shell and almost paddle-like flippers for their forelimbs. The six species that make up this family are: the green sea turtle, loggerhead sea turtle, olive ridley sea turtle, hawksbill sea turtle, flatback sea turtle and the Kemp's ridley sea turtle.

Sea turtles, along with other turtles and tortoises, are part of the Order Testudines. Although sea turtles have been around for tens of millions of years since the Mesozoic, the body plan of sea turtles has remained relatively constant. Fossil evidence of sea turtles includes hard parts preserved as fossils, body fossils, and evidence of sea turtle activities left as sedimentary structures in the sediment, trace fossils.

Lytoloma elegans is a extict sea turtle species in the genus of Lytoloma in the family of Cheloniidae. This marine turtle lived from the Lower Cretaceous period to the early Paleocene. The Lytoloma elegans was quite similar to our current sea turtles. Exceptional, small-sized fossil humerus are in good condition. Beautiful dark brown patina. Age-related wear and minor abrasion. Chip. Dirt and dust. Fossil is treated with a surface-protecting shellac & beeswax. Size approx. 5,7cm x 2,6cm x 2,3cm. Weight c. 20g.