This 13 million-year-old fossil may come from an extinct species of turtle named Stupendemys that had a shell up to 6 feet long! CWRU faculty Darin Croft used think[box]'s industrial scanner to create a high quality file for his research into the climate and habitat of southern Bolivia at that time. This 3D model will be sent to a turtle expert to determine whether the bones belong to Stupendemys or to some other type of turtle. The answer will provide valuable clues about the ancient environment and elevation of this site, which is now more than 11,000 feet above sea level.
Contact:
Darin Croft, dac34@case.edu