Robson Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 Hi everyone. This is my very first post here. I'm glad the opportunity to discuss a question. I have found a skull that I think is a primate, but first of all I would like to know if it is a fossil or a modern bone skull, but it is a natural material, for sure. It was found at a dense forest near home and it was on ground mixed with leaves and soil material. Obviously I had looked for the mandible even though I was not able to do that. I appreciate any kind of help. So, is it a fossil? What kind of animal specimen would it be? Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kane Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 It looks modern to my eye, but you can always perform the burn test: apply a flame to a small portion of the bone (not the teeth). If it smells of burnt hair, that suggests the presence of collagen, which would likely place it as modern as opposed to fossil. 3 2 ...How to Philosophize with a Hammer Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 Check this out 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 I agree, this looks like a modern skull. 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...
Robson Posted April 21, 2021 Author Share Posted April 21, 2021 13 minutes ago, Troodon said: Check this out A quick search lead me to think it is an Alaouta caraya, known as Bugio in Brazil. But im in doubt. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 The upper/canine teeth seem to compare better in the Black Spider Monkey than the one you mentioned but I'm far from a primate expert. But to answer your initial question it looks like a primate skull and like others have said most likely modern. Experts on primates can discuss which one it is. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted April 21, 2021 Share Posted April 21, 2021 without seeing it in person, I would bet all my money on it being modern. Found in leaf litter. No rock attached to it. Perfectly preseved. Modern coloring, especially the shiny white teeth. There is no reason to believe this is a fossil. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robson Posted April 22, 2021 Author Share Posted April 22, 2021 (edited) Yeah guys you all are right regarding the piece is a fossil or not cause it is a modern skull bone. The flame test sad me clearly. But the specimen of the primate remains in doubt even though tje friend Trodon had given a bet. Any guess else? Edited April 22, 2021 by Robson Typing correction. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClearLake Posted April 22, 2021 Share Posted April 22, 2021 Welcome to the forum. That is indeed a very nice skull and as you have been told and discovered, it certainly does appear to be recent. As far as an ID, there are over 135 species of primates from Brazil, but your suggestion of Alouatta caraya looks reasonable. See the picture below taken from: https://animaldiversity.org/accounts/Alouatta/specimens/collections/contributors/phil_myers/ADW_mammals/specimens/Primates/Alouatta_caraya/ventral2479/ You can see that there are many features that match. I looked at the other species of Alouatta on the same website and they do not match as well. Hopefully someone more familiar with Brazilian skulls will have an opinion, but I think you have narrowed it down. Here are are some pictures of Ateles paniscus which was also suggested but your skull does not seem to match that. The foramen magnum is much further forward and a different shape. Also the “hole” just behind the incisors is single in Anteles and double in yours. There are other differences as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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