Fossil Fish Vert

[Shellseeker]

Any fish vert is relatively rare. This one is my first complete one at any size in 4 years. I thought it might be shark; others suggested Sawfish or Billfish.

Please help me identify. The diameter is 38mm (about 1.5 inches). How large of a fish would have this vert?

EDIT START

Did some investigation on the internet.

FISHERIES RESEARCH BOARD OF CANADA - Relationship between Diameter and Fish Length and Usefulness of Marking Vertebra of Young Coho Salmon by H. T. Bilton, D. W. Jenkinson May 1974

(a) Fish length (mm Y = 36.132 + 60.877 X (total vertebra diameter, mm).

Approximation, 1.5 inch diameter Fish Vertebrae = 7.5 foot length of fish EDIT END

Thanks SS

Edited November 2, 2012 by Shellseeker

[zachj]

i think its a shark vert, fish verts look like this.

[zachj]

i could be wrong.

[Shellseeker]

i could be wrong.

Me , also. Check out this Sawfish Vert in TFF

http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php/gallery/image/22720-pristis-lathami-sawfish-vertebrae/

[Carl]

Just to be a pedant: sharks are of course fish so this is a shot of a bony fish vertebra.

i think its a shark vert, fish verts look like this.

[Harry Pristis]

For comparison:

[Shellseeker]

Harry,

I am starting to follow. Those who guessed non-shark did so because this vert is missing those large side holes similar to the Scyliorhinidae shark family. This vert certainly is different from Tarpon or other bony fishes. But it easily could be from the lamnidae shark family (no gaping holes on the sides). So maybe Mackerel or Great White sharks might apply.

This vert has a hole straight thru the middle.. Natural ? Any significance? Thanks Jack

[Harry Pristis]

Harry,

I am starting to follow. Those who guessed non-shark did so because this vert is missing those large side holes similar to the Scyliorhinidae shark family. This vert certainly is different from Tarpon or other bony fishes. But it easily could be from the lamnidae shark family (no gaping holes on the sides). So maybe Mackerel or Great White sharks might apply.

This vert has a hole straight thru the middle.. Natural ? Any significance? Thanks Jack

My guess would be that this is a lamnoid type vertebra from a medium-size shark. Note that lamnoid type vertebrae are not limited to lamnid sharks.

The center perforation is damage, not naturally occurring. The Peace River is a high-energy environment (in flood) -- intact fish vertebrae are not common.