MgTattooer86 Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 I recently came across this item for sale. I have some serious concerns about the authenticity of the specimen, for instance, it looks like the matrix is fabricated... the price is very reasonable but I thought I'd post some pictures before I shell out ( haha) any cash for it... .. no stratagraphic details were included, and no mention of species... any thoughts? If you show them a transitional, they'll ask for two more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 Fake. Don't buy it. Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MgTattooer86 Posted March 9, 2015 Author Share Posted March 9, 2015 Fake. Don't buy it. Regards, That's what I figured, thank you. If you show them a transitional, they'll ask for two more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 agree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Triceratops Posted March 9, 2015 Share Posted March 9, 2015 Another one like this came up on the forum recently, it was agreed to be a fake too. -Lyall Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
-Andy- Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 It's not a total fake. I am sure the lower jaw is real at least. You need more pics to verify the main skull section. Here's mine. Looking forward to meeting my fellow Singaporean collectors! Do PM me if you are a Singaporean, or an overseas fossil-collector coming here for a holiday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Raggedy Man Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 (edited) Nature likes symmetry...though a flounder would disagree..lol It is cute though...in a look at what my five year old can do sorta way. Edited March 10, 2015 by Raggedy Man ...I'm back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordTrilobite Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 I would agree that the lower jaw looks real. Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted March 10, 2015 Share Posted March 10, 2015 Still, even with the lower jaw being potentially real, it wouldn't be worth the price, in my opinion. I suppose you could really really like tortise lower jaws. Look at these for comparison: Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fitch1979 Posted March 12, 2015 Share Posted March 12, 2015 There are few fossils so easy to fake as the ones from the moroccan phosphate layers - because, like here, the sandstone is soo easy to sculp, craft, fallsifie, ... it offers great options to the craftsmen :-) To me it looks to be composed at least: the yellowish skull parts seem to be genuine fossil bone (note that I don't mention the word turtle here - I can't be sure of that) as does the lower jaw (can't be 100% sure from pictures though). The whitish parts inbetween the yellowish parts look plaster to me But hard to tell if you don't get the piece in the hand.. Another thing that strikes me is the matrix: the sand seems to be so... eh .. homogenous .. only pure sand.. so pure pure sand .. shouldn't be in my experiences .. (but perhaps can be from some places?) d Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaleoRon Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Here is a 100% natural Moroccan turtle skull that I purchased in Tucson this year. The matrix looks a bit strange because this specimen had been left out in the rain by the dealer. It was soggy when I bought it. I tweaked the pics a bit to better show the bone structure. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted March 19, 2015 Share Posted March 19, 2015 Te key is to know that skulls are not one mass of solid bone; they are made up of many fused elements, and the 'joints' are visible. 3 "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MgTattooer86 Posted March 31, 2015 Author Share Posted March 31, 2015 I generally do not buy anything like this unless it's from one of the few online dealers I trust.... It was a long shot but for the price I figured I would check. And I would have to agree with fossildude... I have a few turtle mandibles from Florida... I think I paid 15-20 each depending. These were the only photos available on the page.. The lack of sutures was confusing... If you show them a transitional, they'll ask for two more. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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