Land Turtle Shell

Warm red and brown tones delineate remarkable details of this beautifully preserved land turtle shell, an elegant sculpture from nature. The Stylemys nebrascensis tortoise grew from a few inches long up to as much as two feet. This adult shell is a rare and unique specimen for size and completeness. This museum-quality, free standing piece is sure to fascinate and inspire any spectator.
The Stylems was the first tortoise discovered and described in North America. Unlike today’s tortoises, these ancient creatures were herbivores. Complete shells are extremely rare, the expansion of mineral deposits in the shells often fragment them before excavation. Additionally, adult specimens were often scavenged after death and seldomly preserved.