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I found a fossil bone on January 9th, 2024 at a location that produces majority Blancan fauna fossils. I decided to give this fossil its own thread because 1) In 15 years hunting Peace River and Bone Valley, I have not seen a bone remotely like it, 2) I want to leave some "bread crumbs" detailing what I have learned since finding it. What can I determine by examining the find? At first glance I thought it was the broken tip of a rib. It is not. It does have a "bone" texture which is rather unique. There is a horizontal crisp ridge line running the 80 mm length of the fossil. There is a knob like feature on the proximal end. Width 20 mm, broken (thankfully) on the underside . About 3-4 mm in from the outer edge there is a longitudinal canal running the length of the find ending just to the right of the knob. If you look closely, there is an parallel canal 2-3 mm from the opposite edge running to the left side of the knob. Lets take a closer look at the left side of the knob. An exit hole for the canal near the tip, and 3 foramina holes which sometimes are seen on the outside of a jaw to transport fluids/veins/nerves. However , this is not a jaw , its shape is wrong. So this is where I start searching the internet for a bone representing fauna in my search area that is 20 mm in diameter and likely 100-150 mm in length with a knob at the end... After a while.... Once I start finding Baculum, my searches get better... I need something around 20 mm diameter... I have to figure out which end is proximal, and what about that knob.. Armand_de_Montlezun(1841_1914)_Baculum_Melursus_ursinus Polar Bear Baculum study == Length 190 mm average, width 18.7 mm average.... I realize that I need a Large bear to match the diameter on my fossil find... From the UF Paleonlology Database... Amphicyon longiramus Baculum.. Note the groves on each side leading to the proximal end of this Baculum, also the ridge along the top.. "Amphicyon is an extinct genus of large carnivorans belonging to the family Amphicyonidae, subfamily Amphicyoninae, from the Miocene epoch. Members of this family received their vernacular name for possessing bear-like and dog-like features. " Amphicyonids encompass a wide variety of carnivorous mammal ecomorphologies that are today filled by canids and ursids (Figuerido et al., 2011). Like modern carnivores, many species of bear-dogs (including Amphicyon longiramus) were highly sexually dimorphic (Hunt, 1998; Figs. 2-3), with males being much larger than females. Another quote from UFMNH: Characteristic species for the Blancan in Florida: Trachemys platymarginata, Anabernicula gracilenta, Melagris anza or M. leopoldi, Dasypus bellus, Holmesina floridanus, Pachyarmatherium leiseyi, Paramylodon harlani, Eremotheirum eomigrans, Phugatherium dichroplax, Canis edwardii, Arctodus pristinus, Smilodon gracilis, Xenosmilus hodsonae, Hemiauchenia macrocephala, Equus (Plesippus) sp., Tapirus haysii, Cuvieronius tropicus, and Mammut americanum. Note that Arctodus pristinus, Lesser short face Bear, Arctodus in Wikipedia. "There is much variation in adult size among specimens- the lack of finds, sexual dimorphism, individual variation and potentially ecomorphs could be augmenting the average size of both species of Arctodus.[2][7][49] Size differences between specimens of Arctodus simus (such as skull and long bone dimensions) led Kurtén to suggest a larger northern/central subspecies (A. s. yukonensis) and a southern subspecies (A. s. simus).[43][7][35] evolving in the Irvingtonian and Rancholabrean respectively.[35][7] However, the discovery of a very large southern Arctodus simus in Florida and New Mexico (deep within the supposed range of A. s. simus),[19][50] & possibly Rancho La Brea,[7] and notably small specimens from the Yukon and Vancouver Island,[16][17] put doubt on this designation.[51] Perceived ecomorphologies are possibly due to the low number of specimens, and sex-biased sampling.[19] For example, only one baculum ( bone) has been recovered from over 100 giant short-faced bear sites in North America (Potter Cave). I tracked down Potter Creek Cave in Shasta county and got this photo of human tools found within the cave... Item #1 seems very similar to a large Bear Baculum. I have come to the end of the search without an Identification of a unusual find. That sometimes happens. I can always wait and hope that another fossil hunter finds a similar unusual bone.

Bought these in a lot of online auction site, guy said he found them in New York. Any help identifying them is greatly appreciated, thank you!

We found this on the Kaw river west of Lawrence. Been finding fossil horse and camel teeth, but this one is different than anything else we have found. My hunch is that it is some sort of incisor, but unfortunately the actual tooth part is broken as seen in photos. Thank you to everyone in advance!

A couple of weeks ago I went on a trip to the Zandmotor beach in the Netherlands. This beach is mainly known for Pleistocene fossils. I try to go every couple of weeks, but this time I found a couple of really nice fossils - all within the time span of 20-30 minutes. In total I stayed for a couple of hours and found a couple more bone fragments. I would love to share my top 3 with you: The first one is the best fossil I’ve found so far: a piece of upper jaw from a woolly rhino (coelodonta antiquitatis) with the first molar. The second one is a complete radius from an otter (lutra lutra). The final find of the three was a fragment of a radius from either a cave lion (panthera leo spelaea) or a bear (ursus sp.). I still need to compare this one in real life with someone else’s collection. I’m incredibly stoked to have found these beautiful fossils and wanted to share it with you!

I was told by one of my professors that this is a skull from a Miocene cave bear from Nebraska, but it looks exactly like a Merycoidodon skull to me.

Just found this while hunting today at Big Brook. Not sure if it's fossil or modern, but I'm pretty sure it's a bear claw. Can anyone tell me what I've found here? Thanks!

Hi, I went to the fleamarket and bought some teeth and claws. What is this? A blackbear claw?

Hi all, does anyone know why fossils from Cave bears usually are very lightly colored? The dentin and enamel in their teeth also look like they've hardly even been fossilized.

So I came across this canine on the internet. And in the comments it was being debated by the seller as a Dire Wolf canine, but multiple reactions said it's a bear canine. So I thought it might be interesting to post it here and know what it actually is. Florida find, 2'28 inch

Hello, I have a bear canine found in Manatee county Florida and was wondering if someone could help me figure out the species. thanks in advance

Went out Monday, going back out tomorrow. My last find of the day was a bear premolar. I have posted a thread http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/130052-maybe-bear/&tab=comments#comment-1405238 But needed more time to sort, take photos, etc We had gone to a spot on the Peace River that we had hunted numerous times before, knew every curve and straightaway, where we found gravel and how deep.. Sometimes it pays to go home again. We had a hurricane that moved LOTS of sand and gravel , and some of that came from the banks, and rearranged it down the riverbed. We were basically prospecting for new gravel on top and returning to deep holes. Just small teeth early, then found a stretch of more productive gravel on top... So, 4 armadillo osteoerms, a couple of Equus teeth, 3 tillybones, 3 gator teeth, chunk of ivory, bunch of small shark teeth.. There were some odd finds... a couple of sponges... when did we last have sponges in the Peace River.... Should I search for an ID on this sponge ? Were there many different kinds and shapes? I also found almost a a perfect end of a dolphin vert, but most of it had disintegrated. ... strange. I pay a lot of attention to texture.... This has got to be bone , maybe hoof core.... the "bone" is shaped and curving from top to point,, and has channels, maybe for blood vessels.... I rarely toss anything that I don't understand I only bone I have seen that reminds me of this.... curving bones layers, blood vessels... Sloth claw is a possibility... there may be others... There were many others.... That's a wrap... 5am is coming fast. Looking forward to the hunt.

I was out most of the day hunting the Peace River...It was a gorgeous day, getting warmer. My success started slow but picked up at the end.. I will need another thread for displaying the finds, but tomorrow maybe.. I was very pleased with this. I have only a few bear fossils. When I got home , I started searching... Not too many photos on the Internet of this tooth and I noted that few of the photos identified the tooth position ( lower, left m1) for example. This looks like bear, maybe an upper right P4 of Ursus Americanus.... but I am really guessing and need some confirmation. On the loss of enamel, is that natural or post mortem? Thanks for the assist, Jack

Hey y'all, had a great hunt on a south Florida river last weekend. Walked away with my second dire wolf canine, and my buddy scored two bear molars among dozens of other great keepers. A super curious manatee even came over to take a look. For those interested in seeing all the finds (some good ones I forgot to take pictures of), here's the YouTube video from the hunt. Super fantastic day.

Hi all, I found this fossilized toe bone (measures just under 1.5 inches) that washed out of the Charleston Harbor in Charleston, South Carolina. I got one ID on it. His initial thoughts were it was from a carnivore and he narrowed that down to a Canid or a Bear. He looked at it more and determined it to be a Canid and most likely Dire Wolf. I wanted to run it past any of the mammal experts here to get an opinion. As an avid shark tooth hunter, this is outside of anything I know. I will say Ice Age fossils, outside of horse teeth, are way less common for me here in the Lowcountry of South Carolina unlike other places in Florida. Any help would be appreciated. Happy to post additional pictures and thanks in advance!

Thoughts on these Indonesian “fangs” ?? they look polished to me, but is there other red flags (Other than that their Indonesian)?? thanks

Hi I got these teeth with some other fossil and i just dont know what they are from. They are Pleistocene I believe going of the other fossils from this area. (Indonesia, Java) Teeth numbered 1 and 2 are crocodilian, i know that much, they are clear to see and still have the serrations down either side... I am not sure if tooth 3 is also crocodilian? but maybe the surface/ details of the tooth has been polished (a real bad habbit they have over there) but teeth 4,5 & 6 are different. Their colours are very different, but again, I'm not sure. I think they have been polished also. I did have a tooth a while back that was ID'd as bear (species unverified) not sure if these are bear, wolf, or something else? It's quite hard researching fossils from there, so would be great to hear your views., Many thanks in advance. sorry took these without scale, they measure largest 130mm and the smallest 70mm

Can anyone help me identifying this jaw, unfortunately the selle can't send me a photo of the chewing surface. I can't understand if it is a boar jaw or a tapir jaw. I'd like to hear your opinion

Can someone please help me with an ID on this? I was almost positive it’s a short faced bear, but the person who found it thinks tiger. It was found in Indonesia. It weighs 5 kilos.

Hi, I acquired this tooth a couple days ago and was wondering if anyone could confirm that it is fully authentic, I don’t really have reason to believe it’s faked, or restored, the root just looks odd... I’m thinking it’s just odd preservation, because 1. I’ve never seen a restored bear canine that’s not museum quality, and 2. I’d think it would be completely restored too museum or near museum quality. @Harry Pristis @Shellseeker @Bone Daddy@PODIGGER. TIA, I appreciate all thoughts!

Hey, I purchased these in two groups as raccoon, river otter, and possum canines, but I wanted to make sure they’re what I got them as. Biggest of them all is 1 3/16 @Harry Pristis @Shellseeker @Bone Daddy. TIA!

Hey guys, Here's a partial canine that I got from Cris & Kyle around 2 and a half years ago. It's from the Santa Fe River in Florida, so Pleistocene in age. I've compared it to several canines online, and my best guess right now is spectacled bear (Tremarctos floridanus), but I feel like it could also be a lower canine from a dire wolf (Canis dirus). It doesn't seem cat-like to me. What do you think? I can provide more angles if necessary. Thanks in advance, Max

I almost didn’t realize this was a tooth until I polished it with a magic eraser because the algae was so think. I found it in Florida. Any thoughts?