Dating to the Triassic Period over 200,000,000 YEARS AGO.

Discovered and excavated in in the grey layer of mudstone and silts of Guizhou, China.

Like dinosaurs, these creatures belonged to the reptile family - this creature predates the famous huge North American dinosaurs and dinosaurs living during the Triassic period were often very tiny in comparison. Scientists have concluded from the heavy bone structure that this creature was making the evolutionary step from sea dwelling to land dwelling - its skeletal structure had evolved to become too heavy for purely aquatic life and it was able, with its heavy forearms, to pull itself along on dry land!

These creatures died as the result of a volcanic eruption and are preserved in the volcanic ash which covered them some 200,000,000 years ago.

This rare specimen is of stunning preservation, preparation, posture and condition. The bones are clear, well defined and are set against the contrasting dark grey shale of the well squared section of matrix. These pieces are normally crossed by white calcite lines which are a natural occurrence in this rock formation.

As the volcanic ash dried and hardened over time, cracks formed. Water then filtered through these cracks leaving the calcite we see today  and have been a natural part of the rock formation for millions of years. This specimen is exceptional, being completely free of calcite.