Koller - Out of This World Tuesday, 28 June 2022, 4pm

1825 TESTUDO THOMPSONI The largest fossil turtle on the market 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. Anato- mically, 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 museumworthy fossil. CHF 20 000 / 40 000 (€ 19 420 / 38 830) | 26 Out of This World | Natural History, Space Exploration & Entertainment Memorabilia