Bone ID

[Bringing Fossils to Life]

For the longest time I have puzzled over this strange bone. At first of course I thought it was a "Hynerpton scute," because I have a memory of finding it somewhat near where the holotype was found and no papers picture them, so I couldn't compare. Recently I've doubted its identity as I've researched Ichthyostega scales and scutes, but have no idea of what it actually is. Any ideas? On the imprint nearest to the camera a texture can be seen, shiny smooth with little circular rounded bumps that are the negatives of pores. Size a little less than 1.5 cm from end to end.

[Fossildude19]

Looks like a fish skull element to me - maybe something like Eusthenodon sp.

 

Cropped and darkened:

 

 

@Paul1719  @jdp

[Bringing Fossils to Life]

I looked at the paper describing the species of Eusthenodon from near red hill, and the texture looks very similar; however, I couldn't find any round enough looking bones that would be as thin as this. I couldn't find anything on Hyneria either. Do you have any idea where on the skull this bone may have been located, and compared to other fish?

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/355825921_A_new_species_of_Eusthenodon_Sarcopterygii_Tristichopteridae_from_the_Upper_Devonian_Famennian_of_Pennsylvania_USA_and_a_review_of_Eusthenodon_taxonomy

[Fossildude19]

Sorry, I don't. That's why I tagged the other members. 

[jdp]

Eusthenodon seems right to me but there are other possibilities as well. I don't think this is Hyneria or Densignathus though.

[Bringing Fossils to Life]

Where on the skull is most likely, if it is Eusthenodon?

[jdp]

I'm thinking extrascapular but could be mistaken.

 

[Bringing Fossils to Life]

Thank you! Is this based on other related fish or the pictures in the paper? Is this what you mean?

Figure annotated from Problems in Fish-to-Tetrapod Transition: Genetic Expeditions Into Old Specimens

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/326420946_Problems_in_Fish-to-Tetrapod_Transition_Genetic_Expeditions_Into_Old_Specimens

Edited February 18, 2023 by Bringing Fossils to Life

[Paul1719]

Hi, sorry for being so late on this. My guess is a megalichthys scale or possibly a plate although I would expect it to be flatter. I have been fooled by eroded plates and bone many times. At red hill they are one of the most common fossils and if the cosmine delaminates during transport it does reveal a network of pores and canals. What you describe of the impression sounds exactly like a Turrisaspis plate but I can't see it? 

[Bringing Fossils to Life]

The impression is smooth and has small round tubercles, indicating holes in the bone.