Figure 2. Osteocytes-like microstructures from fossil turtles from Messel Pit, under transmitted light microscopy.

(A–E) osteocytes-like microstructures from Allaeochelys crassesculpta. Red arrows (osteocytes-like microstructure), blue arrows (collagen fibrils-like microstructures) in (A). (F–H) osteocytes-like microstructures from Neochelys franzeni. Some of the osteocytes-like and collagen fibrils-like microstructures are still embedded in a remaining thin layer or bone, transparent to lighter colored material.