What are these strange bones from the Peace River? I came across these two in a flat of Plio-Pleistocene bones I was sorting yesterday. I thought they must be two of the same species . . . until I started to photograph them. Now, I am not so sure.
I formerly dismissed such bones as sea robin 'noses' or rostra . . . common and not all that interesting. But, these bones cleaned up to be quite interesting (or maybe my attitudes have shifted).
I can't find much about fish rostra, so I am not sure of any identification. (Years ago, someone at the FSMuseum told me these were sea robin fossils.)
NOT sea robin
Family TRIGLIDAE
Prionotus sp.
Remains of these fish are found as fossils from Late Pliocene to Late Pleistocene, according to Hulbert's book. I have encountered a live sea robin in the Peace River. But . . . are these rostra sea robin remains? Are they even fish rostra?
Tell us something about these bones . . . or just share your Peace River fish stories.
Edit: These bones appear to be the frontal bones ('noses') of porgies or seabream.
Order PERCIFORMES
Family SPARIDAE Rafinesque 1810
Hulbert report four or five different genera of Sparidae from the Plio-Pleistocene of Florida.