Unknown Schlerorhynchid from New Mexico

[readinghiker]

Hey all, I am having a heck of a time trying to identify this tooth.  Both Shimada and Kirkland suggest that it is a schlerorhynchid, but I have not 

found anything in the literature that resembles this morphology.  The shoulders of the tooth are slightly oriented labially, the apical cusp is rounded

(due to deposition or weathering?  If so, why is the keel still so pronounced?), there are no transverse ridges, there is a fairly large lingual uvula, and there is a single arched lingual ridge on each shoulder.  This one has me stumped!  Any and all help will be greatly appreciated!

 

Randy

 

[erose]

Sometimes you just have label it as unknown and wait until better references become available. 

[siteseer]

More shots of that are needed.  In fact, you should shoot an apical and basal view as well as a profile.  Also, what is the size?

[readinghiker]

Here are some more shots.  It is pointless to shoot a basal view, as the root is eroded away.  Please let me know if these added photos help in the

identification of this tooth! 

[Carl]

I agree with sclerorhynchid. Google "Ischyrhiza oral tooth." It may not be Ischyrhiza, but it is very close.

[readinghiker]

Thanks, Carl.

Looking through all of the Ischtrhyza species, I can't find anything with the same morphology.  I just got an e-mail from Dr. Kenshu Shimada, and he thinks it might be

something new. So there is more to research ahead!

Randy

[Al Dente]

It is probably something new. The closest thing to it that I saw was Kiestus texanus.