araucaria1959 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Hello, this is a small dinosaur claw (length about 18 mm; scale = mm). All I know is that it's from Taouz, so I suppose it is from the Kem Kem Beds. A currently published faunal list of the Kem Kem Beds encompasses the following theropod taxa: Spinosaurus cf. aegypticus, Carcharodontosaurus saharicus, cf. Majungasaurus, Deltadromaeus agilis, Dromaeosauridae indet. Is it possible to ID the specimen? Thanks araucaria1959 claw - 1.bmp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
araucaria1959 Posted May 10, 2013 Author Share Posted May 10, 2013 A second picture of the same claw: claw-2.bmp Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regg Cato Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Seems to fall within normal range of variation for Spinosaurus, though it's not complete and missing the proximal end. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 There is very little published information on theropod material from Morocco to help ID claws. Without the proximal end of the claw it would be a guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Regg Cato Posted May 11, 2013 Share Posted May 11, 2013 http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GoRQaEjkux4/UNsCoQ1wmxI/AAAAAAAAC1w/ME7HkVFQv60/s1600/5590128002_a7d757972f.jpg Slightly less recurved than in Baryonyx, but compares favorably; also compares favorably with purported Spinosaurus claws, which are morphologically similar to Baryonyx. http://images2.bonhams.com/image?src=Images/live/2010-10/29/8200234-4-1.jpg&tmp=web300&top=0.000000&left=0.000000&right=1.000000&bottom=1.000000&dt=zoom_image Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike from North Queensland Posted May 11, 2013 Share Posted May 11, 2013 Not meaning to put a damper on things but the texture does not look like bone. Also note that I no nothing about what fossils from Kem Kem look like. Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted May 11, 2013 Share Posted May 11, 2013 I can say that with the Kem Kem claws I have in my collection it looks okay. Again, I would caution against trying to put an ID without a complete claw and it being so small. I do not think its Spino since I own both a adult and and juvenile specimen. You are looking at some small probably unidescribed theropod. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
araucaria1959 Posted May 11, 2013 Author Share Posted May 11, 2013 Thank you very much. I was surprised (and shocked) indeed when I saw my pictures enlarged because that was the first time I realized the unusual coarse-grained texture so that I considered the possibility that this could be a fake. That's the reason why I didn't downsize the pics, so that this texture remained visible. So I'm glad that Troodon says it looks okay, even if ID is impossible. araucaria1959 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike from North Queensland Posted May 11, 2013 Share Posted May 11, 2013 (edited) Good to hear its normal for the region as the coarse grain is something I have not seen in fossils before. We are all learning. Mike Edited May 11, 2013 by Mike from North Queensland Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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