PaleoNoel Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 Hi everyone, I've been hesitant to post this fossil on here for a while as I didn't know if I wanted to hear a response which would contradict what I had hoped this would be. However, I recognize that to maintain a reliable and accurate collection I would have to properly identify what I found. The fossil in question is a possible partial egg that I found last year in the White River formation of Wyoming (Late Eocene/Early Oligocene) w/PaleoProspectors. This formation is known to produce fossil bird and reptile eggs (in fact, someone found a large, complete egg on this ranch the week before I was out there) so I knew that there was a possibility. When I found it most of the inside still contained sediment, which I have since gently scraped away to the best of my abilities. It has an odd dent in the top and no obvious pores, but the overall shape and the apparent shell make me think this is an egg. It is 8 mm tall and about 10 mm in diameter. I want to know what you all think. I would especially like to hear the opinions of @CBchiefski @jpc @MarcoSr @Auspex@Troodon Interior of the egg before I cleaned out the matrix. After I scraped away the matrix. Here's two views of the top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 4 hours ago, PaleoNoel said: apparent shell Sorry. Looks like the result of hydration to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 I don't think it's an egg, but we can call in some other opinions: @Troodon @CBchiefski Here are some brightened pics: 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...
JohnJ Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 Check out This Topic and see if you find your answer. 1 The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 Pretty small specimen, don't think its an egg but interesting to hear what others say. Like JohnJ link. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 It looks like a fossil dung beetle ball to me. Image form researchgate.com this is mine from Wyoming. 9 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 Sorry, not an egg. Not sure what it is, but it is not an egg, not bird nor turtle. It does not have White River egg texture. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 I don't know about a dung beetle ball, but it does look like coprolite from that formation. 2 Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeschWhat Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 4 hours ago, Bobby Rico said: It looks like a fossil dung beetle ball to me. Image form researchgate.com this is mine from Wyoming. Lori www.areallycrappystory.com/fossils www.facebook.com/fossilpoo Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 Not an egg. Below is a White River bird egg from my sons' ranch in Nebraska: Below are White River egg shell pieces from my sons' ranch in Nebraska: Marco Sr. 6 "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 3 hours ago, GeschWhat said: Thanks I was given that for Christmas from the Great man himself Doren but I have some more I could gift you a couple. Cheers Bobby 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bobby Rico Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 More dung beetle balls for comparison. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted June 19, 2020 Share Posted June 19, 2020 Dung ball camp. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 8 hours ago, GeschWhat said: I don't know about a dung beetle ball, but it does look like coprolite from that formation. Some White River coprolites from my sons' ranch in Nebraska. I also think it could be a coprolite. Marco Sr. 3 "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 The concave base and dimple on top makes me think this is a femoral head from a mammal femur. The photo is from here-https://veteriankey.com/fractures-of-the-femur/ 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 I think it was Gilligan who once said "He's got a point too". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaleoNoel Posted June 20, 2020 Author Share Posted June 20, 2020 Thanks everyone for all the input, a bit disappointed it's not an egg, but the truth is more important than my hopes of its identity. Hopefully I find some eggs in the next few weeks, stay tuned! As for the ID, I see similarities in both camps, so it's hard for me to come to a conclusion. I am appreciative of the help regardless. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 A look at a thin section under a microscope should result in a conclusive ID ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nimravis Posted June 20, 2020 Share Posted June 20, 2020 On 6/19/2020 at 11:50 AM, GeschWhat said: Lori- send me a pm with your address and I will send you some that I collected in Douglas, Wyoming. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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