Natural History, including Gorgosaurus
Natural History, including Gorgosaurus
Auction Closed
July 28, 03:27 PM GMT
Estimate
8,000 - 12,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
Mural of Fossilized Saint-Jacques Shells
Gigantopectens restitutensis
Miocene (approx. 18 million years ago)
Lacoste Quarry, Vaucluse, France
41¾ by 27 x 11 inches (106 x 68.6 x 27.9 cm). 376 pounds (170.6 kg). Accompanied by a custom base.
More than two dozen Gigantopectens specimens emerging from their natural limestone matrix.
Gigantopectens restitutensis—also known as a Saint-Jacques shell—is a species of scallop that lived from approx. 34 million years ago until their extinction approx. 781,000 years ago.
Like today's extant scallops, Gigantopectens was a salt water mollusk that made its living on the sea floor by filtering and eating plankton. These bivalves had relatively large shells, growing to heights over 5 inches (13 cm) and widths topping 6 inches (15 cm). Because of the considerable size and fragility of Gigantopectens fossils, their removal from the surrounding rock matrix represents preparatory work of the highest caliber, with the elegant, almost floral-like specimen offered here being a beautiful example.