CRUS039 - LARGE FOSSIL STONE CRAB TUMIDOCARCINUS GIGANTEUS FROM THE MIOCENE OF NEW ZEALAND

Product Description

ID

Tumidocarcinus giganteus

FOUND

Waipara Basin
 - North Canterbury, New Zealand

AGE

MIOCENE PERIOD:
  24 - 5.3 million years

SIZE

6.25" across x 5" deep overall,
 crab carapace 4.3" across

CONDITION

PREPARED FROM A WHOLE 
COBBLE STONE WITH ENDS 
OF APPENDAGES NATURALLY
MISSING HAVING EXTENDED
BEYOND THE STONE.

MINOR REPAIR AND GRINDING 
OF RIGHT SIDE LEG SEGMENTS
ONLY.

NOTE

RARE IN THIS SIZE AND QUALITY

INCLUDES STAND

Comes with a certificate of
authenticity / information sheet

This is an exquisitely preserved Stone Crab fossil from the Miocene of New Zealand.  You can see the classic Stone Crab giant claws, fully intact and preserved in a 3D lifelike manner as is the entire crab.  We acquired this specimen as found from an old German collector.  Nothing was visible other than traces of leg segments in the surface of a round cobble stone.  Over countless hours, we fully exposed the fossil and removed the rock with delicate pneumatic scribes, opting to leave the legs incomplete as it was originally fossilized.  All the detail and color you see is natural with the exception of minor repair to the underside of the rock and grinding to the right side leg segments. 

We not have any other specimens like this and it was the only example in the collection we acquired so this will be the only time we will be offering such a stunning and unique fossil crab from the Miocene of New Zealand.  While this crab was crawling around the ancient ocean floor, the massive Megalodon shark ruled the depths above it.  Perhaps this crab fed on some of the morsels of what remained from the unfortunate victims of the largest shark that ever lived!