Mosasaur flipper digit? and additional fossil

[Jimbone]

Mosasaur flipper digit? and additional fossil found in close proximity. 

 

These were found in the Republican river valley of south central Nebraska. Found below an eroding layer of Pierre shale after a heavy rain. The same location as these Mosasaur verts.

 

The triangle one seems to be part of hind flipper digit. The other has a interesting profile on one edge with a series of small holes in the valley.

 

Any ideas would be welcome

 

Thanks, Jim

 

 

[Fossildude19]

The extra fossil looks like perhaps a piece of fish mandible/maxilla.

 

@JohnJ

[JohnJ]

Additional separate images could be useful.  

 

Neither strike me as mosasaur at the moment.

[Fossildude19]

I wonder if the triangular bone isn't a broken fish hypural/urostyle ?

 

@Ptychodus04

[Jimbone]

Here are some better pix, I see myself getting biased towards Mosasaur only because of how closely the "shark barf" verts were found. Thanks for the fish possibilities, I can see the similarities.

 

Not sure if it comes through on the pictures, but on the small end of the triangular fossil seems to be starting to clover leaf into 3 or 4 lobes.

 

Also, what do you make of the light colored scratches on the top and bottom of the flatter fossil?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 7, 2022 by Jimbone

[Jared C]

2 hours ago, Jimbone said:

Also, what do you make of the light colored scratches on the top and bottom of the flatter fossil?

 

Scarring from plant roots

[Ptychodus04]

These bones don’t read as fish bones to me. Fish bone has a distinctive layering that is not present. I would argue reptilian based on how the bone structure appears in the pics.

 

The light coloration looks like weathering. I’ve seen this on many specimens, mostly teeth but sometimes bones also.

[pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon]

I don't think the mosasaur paddle digit fragment is actually a paddle digit fragment. For, apart from the specimen lacking a clear epiphysis, the bone seems too thick to me. It also has a bit of a twist in the shaft, that would be unusual for mosasaur paddle bones. No idea what else it could be, but maybe a pelvic element of some reptile?

[Jimbone]

Thank you for everyone's input, I ran out of daylight when I found these so on my next outing to that location I will see if I can find any more bits and report back.

 

Regards,

Jim