Deer Or Llama Jaw &tooth

[Shellseeker]

A mandible m3 which would seem larger than the normal m3 deer teeth I find and slightly smaller than the m3 llama/camel teeth I find. Are there differentiators between deer and llama molars?

By the way because the weather is cooperating -- certain sections of the Peace River are OPEN FOR HUNTING!!!

[fossilized6s]

Cool find Jack! Im not sure what it's from.

Can we get some chewing surface shots.

[jcbshark]

Nice find Jack, I too have been keeping an eye on the water levels. Maybe we'll have an early end to the rainy season

[Shellseeker]

Early end OR maybe just a break in the afternoon storms or hurricane. Make hay while the sun shines!

Occusal photo,

See figure 6 Deer and figure 8 Llama in this link

http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu/natsci/vertpaleo/resources/fossil_id/art_id.htm

The tooth "seems" mor ellama like because of small circular tower.. at the end of the tooth in my photo

[calhounensis]

Definitely llama

[Shellseeker]

Definitely llama

Thanks -- the fossilization is odd and I know that there have been few llamas in SW Florida lately. Here is another photo: I returned to the same spot and found another piece of the mandible -- see the break in this photo. There may be more --- I'll be looking!!!

Here is a VERY interesting 2003 University of Florida research paper: See Figure #6 on page 23 -- it compares the height x width x length of 5 different fossil llamas, most/all? once existing in Florida.

purl.fcla.edu/fcla/etd/UFE0000965

For comparison my tooth is 11mm wide, 22 mm max crown height, 30 mm length. I thought it was Paleollama mirifica but that animal's m3 was much smaller. So this might be Hemiauchenia macrocephala OR the "new" llama species found in Florida and discussed in the research paper.

Interesting fossils trigger a search and learning process for me. Exciting! SS

[jpevahouse]

Looks like a paleolama. The top enamel surface pattern is best to use for identification. The enamel ridges vary between deer, bison and llama.

[Shellseeker]

Looks like a paleolama. The top enamel surface pattern is best to use for identification. The enamel ridges vary between deer, bison and llama.

Good call -- I sent the photos to Richard Hulbert, UFMNH Research Lab Director. He also believes it is Palaeolama mirifica based on V-shaped (rather than U-shaped) crests and lack of cement around the crown.

I am donating this one because it may have some research value.

[Plantguy]

Congrats Jack! very neat find. Regards, Chris