Description

Cretaceous Age Turtle Claw Fossil for Sale

Turtle Claw
Late Cretaceous Age
Hell Creek Formation
Powder River County, Montana
This well preserved claw measures .93” long. This specimen will come in a 1.25″ gem jar with an ID label as well. Finally, Authenticity is Guaranteed.
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Turtles of the Hell Creek Formation

During the Late Cretaceous Period, about 66 to 67 million years ago, turtles lived among dinosaurs in the region recorded by the Hell Creek Formation. Today, these rocks occur in Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming. Although dinosaurs often receive more attention, turtles were an important part of this ancient ecosystem.

Hell Creek was warmer and wetter than the region is today. Rivers crossed broad floodplains, while ponds, channels, and wetlands provided excellent turtle habitat. As a result, scientists have found many turtle fossils in Hell Creek rocks. These fossils include shells, skulls, and other bones.

Moreover, Hell Creek supported several kinds of turtles. Softshell turtles lived in freshwater habitats, while other groups had hard, protective shells. For example, Axestemys was a large softshell turtle known from the formation. Meanwhile, baenid turtles, an extinct group of freshwater turtles, were also common.

Importantly, turtles survived the mass extinction at the end of the Cretaceous, although many other animals disappeared. Their ability to live in freshwater environments may have helped some groups survive. Therefore, Hell Creek turtles give scientists valuable clues about ancient rivers, food webs, and survival during a major extinction event. In addition, their fossils help reconstruct a world shared with Tyrannosaurus and Triceratops.