Technical data
Height: 14 cm
Origin: Java Island, Indonesia
Geological era: Cenozoic
Period: Neogene
Epoch: Miocene (23.03–5.33 million years before present)
Condition: Natural
Conservation: Stabilized
An authentic fossil of a crab from the genus Charybdis, dating to the Miocene epoch – a period lasting from 23.03 to 5.33 million years before present. It is a Neogene specimen belonging to the Cenozoic era, the geological timeframe that shaped modern marine and continental systems.
During the Miocene, the Indonesian region was covered by warm tropical seas characterized by high biodiversity. In this environment lived Charybdis, a member of the Portunidae family, commonly known as swimming crabs, distinguished by adapted hind limbs for active movement in water and strong claws.
The fossil clearly preserves the carapace shape, claws, and lateral limbs, allowing identification of morphological features characteristic of this crab genus. The specimen is natural, without reconstruction or additions, preserved in its original sedimentary rock matrix.
From a geological perspective, this find originates from a period marked by significant climatic changes and transformations of marine ecosystems. Such fossils document the fauna of shallow tropical seas more than 5 million years ago.
The 14 cm plate with clearly preserved form gives the piece a museum-quality character. The visible anatomical structure of the crab allows it to be appreciated not only aesthetically but also as a significant testimony of prehistoric life.
Miocene crab fossils from Indonesia rarely appear on the market, especially in such condition with well-preserved carapace form and limb structure. Natural, complete specimens are becoming increasingly scarce due to the depletion of fossil sites and their transfer into private collections.
This is a relic of Miocene marine life (23.03–5.33 million years before present) – an authentic, geologically dated document of prehistory with scientific and collectible value preserved in its natural form.
