Sl8r Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 I recently found a few fossil mammal bone fragments near Cape Town along the beach, and then I came across this strange object. I thought it resembles a large mammal tooth but I’m not sure if it is a fossil or not, if so what is it? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A.C. Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 It looks similar to that of horse or other large mammal as you said. If your area has deposits of formations that contain fossils of these species I think it may be safe to assume that it is indeed a fossil, though if not then it could be modern. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meganeura Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 That's absolutely a horse (Equus sp.) molar. Left, lower, m1/m2, I believe? @Harry Pristis please correct me if I'm wrong. No clue if it's fossilized though - the fact that dentine (The stuff that fills in between the enamel bands) is gone is strange though. For comparison - here's a left lower fossilized m1/m2 equus tooth I found in central Florida a few weeks ago: 1 Fossils? I dig it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Cole Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 I agree that it looks like horse. It also resembles some of the worn fossil horse teeth I've found. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 Given that it was found in South Africa, it might be some other Equid than horse. 2 The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meganeura Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 1 minute ago, JohnJ said: Given that it was found in South Africa, it might be some other Equid than horse. I may or may not have forgotten that Zebras and Donkeys existed... 1 1 Fossils? I dig it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted August 16, 2022 Share Posted August 16, 2022 It's an unerupted lower cheek tooth from an equid. Whether it's from a zebra or horse (Equus caballus), I can't say. Such an isolated tooth from the beach can't be reliably dated. A horse tooth from Africa would not be a fossil. 2 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...
Sl8r Posted August 17, 2022 Author Share Posted August 17, 2022 (edited) Thanks for all the feed back everyone, glad to have an ID that it’s an equid sp. tooth! Now I just need to figure out if it’s modern or fossilized! Edited August 17, 2022 by Sl8r Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wynand Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 definately looks fossilised Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wynand Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 Could also be bovid. These were ID'ed as pleistocene bovid and found approx 40km North from where you found that one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meganeura Posted October 24, 2022 Share Posted October 24, 2022 1 hour ago, Wynand said: Could also be bovid. These were ID'ed as pleistocene bovid and found approx 40km North from where you found that one. While I see your point here - the enamel pattern on @Sl8r’s tooth is decidedly equuid - that pattern is a lower cheek tooth pattern. Bison have very different enamel patterns. 2 Fossils? I dig it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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