PSchleis Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 I found this on Myrtle Beach, Jan 3, 2020. It kind of looks like a snake to me, but I can't find anything on the Internet that looks quite like it to confirm. The first photo is the underside of it - a very detailed imprint of something in the shape of a burst. The other photos are of the top of it. Note the two bumps at the front, almost looking like eyes, and the two holes that look like nostrils. Thank you for your help! Paula 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Snake skulls are comprised of fragile bones loosely bound together. Your find looks nothing like a snake skull. If it is in fact some sort of bone , it is beach-polished severely. 2 http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 This looks like a very worn/eroded part of a fish skull. Maybe something like the frontal portion of a fossil sea robin skull. People have called them "Baby Alligator Heads". 2 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old bones Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Fish skull / frontal bone for sure. Probably sea robin as Tim says. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Sea robin frontal bones (they are two fused bones) is a highly imaginative identification, I think. How do you explain the pores and vertical columns in the image? . . . That would be highly unusual fish bone, wouldn't it? 2 hours ago, PSchleis said: 1 http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 Harry, It may be the rear part of the skull? 1 Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSchleis Posted January 4, 2020 Author Share Posted January 4, 2020 I have a dozen fish skulls I've collected, and this didn't seem to be similar to any of them at all. Even holding them here side by side, I can't see it. The starburst pattern, in particular, doesn't resemble the others I have. But I suppose erosion could account for that. By the way, just curious, but why is every fossilized fish skull a "sea robin." There must have been tens of thousands of species of fish, but I never hear anyone speak of a fish skull that isn't a sea robin. Does anyone know? Thanks again! Paula Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 48 minutes ago, PSchleis said: . Does anyone know? In a nut shell, these are over represented because they are over engineered relative to most. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted January 4, 2020 Share Posted January 4, 2020 I think Rockwood is describing the durability of these sea robin skull parts. They survive, therefore they are over-represented in printed and on-line fossil guides. I think most fish skulls, if not destroyed by predators and scavengers, just fall apart into non-descript pieces which are not of much interest to collectors. That reality is what makes lagerstatten like Messel, Santa Ana FM (Brazil), Green River and Solnhofen so wonderful. 3 http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PSchleis Posted January 5, 2020 Author Share Posted January 5, 2020 5 hours ago, Harry Pristis said: I think Rockwood is describing the durability of these sea robin skull parts. They survive, therefore they are over-represented in printed and on-line fossil guides. I think most fish skulls, if not destroyed by predators and scavengers, just fall apart into non-descript pieces which are not of much interest to collectors. That reality is what makes lagerstatten like Messel, Santa Ana FM (Brazil), Green River and Solnhofen so wonderful. Thanks Rockwood and Harry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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