diginupbones Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 I have never found a jaw like this. The only thing I can find that is similar is tapir which would be pretty rare for this area. Found in south central South Dakota. Miocene 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted July 19, 2021 Share Posted July 19, 2021 Nice find. Can't help with ID, but this is cool. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diginupbones Posted July 22, 2021 Author Share Posted July 22, 2021 As unique looking as this is, I thought it would be an easy one for you guys! I’m wondering if we can narrow this down a bit? Can we eliminate A few possibilities like horse, deer and camel? @Harry Pristis @Shellseeker Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted July 22, 2021 Share Posted July 22, 2021 My best guess is it is from an artiodactyl, a group that was varied in the Miocene. 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...
Styles Posted July 22, 2021 Share Posted July 22, 2021 Weird how the teeth don't extend beyond the alveolar process. Juvenile? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossil_Adult Posted July 22, 2021 Share Posted July 22, 2021 This is a really cool find! I can't shed light on what it is but it looks really cool! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted July 22, 2021 Share Posted July 22, 2021 1 hour ago, Styles said: Weird how the teeth don't extend beyond the alveolar process. Juvenile? This individual was a juvenile; the i1s are emergent. These incisors are very large, and maybe further identification can be done if one is loose enough to remove from the jaw to photograph. Here's the dental timetable for modern horses for example. 1 1 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...
Shellseeker Posted July 23, 2021 Share Posted July 23, 2021 Not much help... here A previous TFF thread that shows some nice up close Tapir incisors.. Tapir incisors seem to have longitudinal lines. http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/topic/100770-pleistocene-tampa-bay-mammal-id/ Yours on the other hand has horizontal lines... As a South Dakota miocene fossil hunter, here is another thread that might interest you. Let's see if @fossillarry or @siteseer have a view. The White Queen ".... in her youth she could believe "six impossible things before breakfast" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diginupbones Posted July 23, 2021 Author Share Posted July 23, 2021 4 hours ago, Harry Pristis said: These incisors are very large, and maybe further identification can be done if one is loose enough to remove from the jaw to photograph. I took a closer look at this piece and cleaned it up a bit. Unfortunately those teeth are pretty much encased in bone and didn’t move a bit. Probably why they stayed in there for thousands of years. 1 hour ago, Shellseeker said: As a South Dakota miocene fossil hunter, here is another thread that might interest you. Let's see if @fossillarry or @siteseer have a view. Thanks Jack, I don’t know how I missed that thread. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hemipristis Posted July 23, 2021 Share Posted July 23, 2021 Antelope? 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' George Santayana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFausta Posted July 23, 2021 Share Posted July 23, 2021 I know very little about the Miocene of the Dakotas but this fossil has FASCINATED me. The fact that the incisors are so large, and that there are only two of them, with a flattened cross-section and the interesting linear enamel has got me pulling out all my books! Can you tell me what formation(s) this might have come from? I will happily research this until i go cross-eyed (thats kinda my jam.. i finished a 50-page report on some pleistocene mammal fossils yesterday and now i am just killing time :)) (I am a Cultural Resource Management paleontologist originally from California, so its mostly pleistocene vertebrates and miocene marine fossils). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diginupbones Posted July 23, 2021 Author Share Posted July 23, 2021 This was found in the northern edge of the Ogallala formation.Those two large incisors have me scratching my head also. It’s hard to tell (for me) how many teeth it would’ve eventually had it as an adult. Here are a couple of more angles that might help. I appreciate your interest! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RFausta Posted July 23, 2021 Share Posted July 23, 2021 1 hour ago, diginupbones said: This was found in the northern edge of the Ogallala formation.Those two large incisors have me scratching my head also. It’s hard to tell (for me) how many teeth it would’ve eventually had it as an adult. Here are a couple of more angles that might help. I appreciate your interest! I am leaning towards peccary but i am hitting the point of confirmation bias so i gotta take a break Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted July 23, 2021 Share Posted July 23, 2021 1 hour ago, RFausta said: I am leaning towards peccary but i am hitting the point of confirmation bias so i gotta take a break Well, there could be major changes to the jaw later in life to accommodate tusks; but, as is, I don't see peccary. 1 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...
diginupbones Posted August 30, 2022 Author Share Posted August 30, 2022 Solved!!! From Dr Hulbert, “This is a mandibular symphysis from a horse. The paired permanent first incisors are beginning to erupt but were unworn at the time of death. The scoop-like shape of the incisors suggest it might be Megahippus” 3 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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