Fossilised animal - Manchurochelys - 23 cm - 18 cm

Large turtle fossil-Manchurochelys
Origin: Asia - Liaoning Province, China
Slate size: 23*18cm
Age: Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous


This fossil is a complete skeleton of Manchurochelys, a primitive turtle from the Early Cretaceous of western Liaoning, China, dating back approximately 120 million years.

It preserves an exceptionally complete skeletal structure: an oval-shaped carapace, clearly visible vertebrae and limb bones, and a distinctive long tail, perfectly capturing the morphological features of this primitive turtle. Unlike modern turtles, Manchurochelys had a longer tail, slender limbs, and well-developed claws, indicating a semi-aquatic lifestyle that allowed it to swim in water as well as crawl flexibly on land.

As a typical representative of the Jehol Biota of western Liaoning, China, Manchurochelys is a key species for studying the early evolution of turtles, bridging the transition between more primitive turtles and modern forms. This fossil remains fully embedded in its surrounding rock, with clearly preserved bone textures.