Mammal vertebra found on NJ beach

[Absilon]

This vertebra was found on a NJ beach.  It measures about 2.75 by 2.5 inches in size.  It appears to be a bone and not a fossil.  Just curious what it is from.

Thank you in advance. 

[Fossildude19]

Could be dolphin or seal.

@Boesse

[Joseph Fossil]

3 hours ago, Absilon said:

This vertebra was found on a NJ beach.  It measures about 2.75 by 2.5 inches in size.  It appears to be a bone and not a fossil.  Just curious what it is from.

Thank you in advance. 

 

@Absilon Even if this vertebra is not a fossil, it's still an impressive find! Congrats!!

[Joseph Fossil]

@Absilon I've been checking and it looks to definitely be some sort of Cetacean vertebra. 

https://insider.si.edu/2015/05/new-study-may-help-free-whales-from-fishing-rope/

 

https://www.savecoastalwildlife.org/whales-of-the-jersey-shore

 

 

I really really hate saying this, there's a chance it could be a North Atlantic Right Whale (Eubalanena glacialis).

http://pierce.wesleyancollege.edu/faculty/brhoades/woc/mammals/whale.html

 

With they're populations in such step decline today due previously to the whaling industry and now to Human induced Climate Change, vessel strikes, and entanglement in fishing equipment, I really hope I'm wrong with this guess!

[Joseph Fossil]

@Absilon Could also be a Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus).

https://bioone.org/journals/mammal-study/volume-45/issue-2/ms2019-0044/A-Fin-Whale-from-the-Holocene-Quaternary-of-Osaka-City/10.3106/ms2019-0044.short

 

I really hope that the animal (what ever species it is) died from natural causes and not something Anthropogenic related (not sure how likely this is). It's still an impressive find that you should be proud of though.

[Mahnmut]

Hello together and welcome to the forum Absilon.

I do not think this is a right whale or fin whale vertebra. Though it is true that even the big whales do have some smaller vertebrae at the rear end, your find is clearly none of those, because it has got a relatively big spinal canal, while the small caudal vertebrae have none. And for a more anterior vertebra of a fin-or right whale its simply not big enough by very far.

Could be a small cetacean or big pinniped, as Fossildude 19 said.

Best Regards,

J

[Joseph Fossil]

@Mahnmut Good point! The shapes definitely match those of Right Whales and Baleen Whales, but not the size. Still very likely a Cetacean vertebrae.

[Joseph Fossil]

@Absilon Dolphin would be my current best guess.

 

https://www.savecoastalwildlife.org/dolphins-of-the-jersey-shore

 

There are 9 species of Dolphin and Porpoise off the Coast of New Jersey. It could potentially belong to one of those.