apavone76 Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 I found this here in Las Vegas, it looks to be a turtle head. I'm using a Chromebook for the pictures and unfortunately I don't have any other options to take pictures right now but there is faint yellow line surrounding the gums going around the eye. the same yellowish color appears around a kidney shape near the back of the head and seems to be in the same area the otic chamber is on turtles. on one side of the head it appears to have teeth marks which I have found on other "turtle" pieces in this same area. I've also found what appear to be turtle or reptilian eggs. on one I sanded the "egg shell " off and you can see what appears to be a baby turtle inside and it looks like it was smashed probably right before it hatched . I will try to post these also sometime today. I'm not a paleontologist Anthropologist or geologist but I really believe with DNA testing there's something here if you can't already see it in the pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 Unfortunately, you can't DNA test rocks, even if it were a fossil which I'm pretty sure it isn't, unfortunately. Looks like chert, though the photos aren't very clear. Put the rock on something stable to photograph it. This post from earlier today shows a turtle head fossil. See the separate bones making up the skull? 1 3 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mainefossils Posted November 15, 2021 Share Posted November 15, 2021 (edited) Welcome to the Forum, @apavone76! Unfortunately, I don't think that this is a turtle head. While I see the resemblance to a turtle, it does not have the right morphology. It looks more like a waterworn piece of calcite, although some clearer pictures would be helpful. Petrified animals are extremely rare, and in either case Las Vegas is not known for such preservation - you are more likely to find invertebrates such as brachiopods and trilobites. You might want to look at the topic below, it is an example of a real turtle skull. You could join a fossil club, learning what to look for from other paleontologists is invaluable. Happy Hunting! Edit: @Tidgy's Dad beat me to it! Lol - slow internet. Edited November 15, 2021 by Mainefossils 1 3 The more I learn, the more I find that I know nothing. Regards, Asher Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 Chert nodule. Not a fossil turtle head. 1 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...
jpc Posted November 21, 2021 Share Posted November 21, 2021 1 hour ago, Fossildude19 said: Chert nodule. Not a fossil turtle head. I agree. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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