Possible Bison Vertebrae

[MOGARDE]

I found this on a sandbar along the Missouri River, and in the State of Missouri, and was wanting to get confirmation on if it is a bison vertebrae.

[Earendil]

Looks like it to me. Is it fossilized?

[Thomas.Dodson]

Yes, Bison cervical vertebrae.

[MOGARDE]

It does not appear to be completely fossilized.  I was wondering which vertebrae it was, thank you!

[jpc]

how do you separate bison from cow vertebrae?  Asking because I am curious.

[Thomas.Dodson]

2 minutes ago, jpc said:

how do you separate bison from cow vertebrae?  Asking because I am curious.

There's a handful of small differences. The most obvious are differences in the spinous process, the body of the vertebrae, and the angle and bifurcation of the transverse process. I've attached some pictures from "A Guide to the Identification of Postcranial Bones of Bos taurus and Bison bison (Darlene McCuaig Balkwill and Stephen L. Cumbaa)" that illustrate some of these differences.

[jpc]

Thanks.

 

[MOGARDE]

Thanks everyone!  

Thomas.Dodson -Thank you! The diagrams were very helpful and interesting