ChesterCounntyPA Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 From a Monmouth County creek. The bone feels heavy and solid, although it is hollow. There is no odor when a flame is applied (I used a lighter on the end). The bone is right side up in the first 3 photos, and the last picture shows the reverse side,which is much flatter. The unbroken end is knobby. Are there any other tips for testing or identifying it? The tooth also has a heavy feel to it. It has a slight edge on the outer curve, right near at the top where there is still enamel. I can also feel an slight edge or ridge on the inside of the curve, although off to the side a bit. The flash in the pictures 1-3 and 5 make it look lighter in color than it is. Thanks!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 It looks like a Whale tooth to me. Im not sure about the bone frag. ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 The bone appears to be a distal radius . . . perhaps a very-worn example from a horse. The tooth is reptilian . . . perhaps from a mosasaur or a crocodilian. http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilized6s Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Now that Harry suggested Reptile i do have to agree given the round shape and cavity of the root. ~Charlie~ "There are those that look at things the way they are, and ask why.....i dream of things that never were, and ask why not?" ~RFK ->Get your Mosasaur print ->How to spot a fake Trilobite ->How to identify a CONCRETION from a DINOSAUR EGG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichW9090 Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 Distal radius it is, Harry - but I'm thinking deer. The plural of "anecdote" is not "evidence". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpevahouse Posted October 22, 2014 Share Posted October 22, 2014 The partial radius (lower front leg bone) is from a deer and much like other modern examples I've found at Big Brook. The discoloration doesn't mean much for determining age. Everything that ends up in Monmouth County streams will be discolored from the rich organic and mineral content of the mud and water. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChesterCounntyPA Posted October 23, 2014 Author Share Posted October 23, 2014 Wow, thanks for sharing your knowledge! Your explanations are really helpful. So, a partial lower front deer leg bone of undetermined (but not ancient) age. The color is not indicative of advanced age, nor is passing the burn test. Thanks also for greatly narrowing down the tooth possibilities as reptilian. The base definitely looks more round than oval to me, for whatever that's worth!! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plax Posted October 27, 2014 Share Posted October 27, 2014 a dead deer bone can be colored like this after time in the brook but it does look mineralized to me. Looking a certain way isn't necessarily a definite thing though of course. A dead deer bone stinks when you burn it and usually has a dull tap when tapped on ones teeth compared to a mineralized bone. Yes, a Pleistocene bone could be just bone and probably a fairly modern bone could be mineralized. This being said I wouldn't discard this as modern trash. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eboe101 Posted October 28, 2014 Share Posted October 28, 2014 Nice finds! Def a croc tooth. I have a few from the area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChesterCounntyPA Posted November 2, 2014 Author Share Posted November 2, 2014 Thanks again Plax, Rich and jpevahouse. The "tooth tap" (I'm that curious) seems higher pitched rather than pure "thunk," but I have no comparators. And, eboe, Harry and "fossilized6s, any thoughts on what type of croc? The tooth is a decent size, about an inch long. Are you thinking largish Thoracosaurus or maybe....Deinosuchus? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plax Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 if the hole at the base of the tooth is roundish and has concentric rings I 'd say croc. If elliptical it could be Mosasaur (but not certainly) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyquest Posted November 3, 2014 Share Posted November 3, 2014 (edited) The tooth looks like mosasaur. the croc teeth I've found were more hollow. ....and smaller... Edited November 4, 2014 by jonnyquest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChesterCounntyPA Posted November 4, 2014 Author Share Posted November 4, 2014 Thanks! Here are more pictures. The inside is indented, with a small center hole, about 1/8" deep at the most. It looks solid beyond that point. The tooth is heavy. There seems to be a ring around the inside edge but I can't discern other distinctive rings. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonnyquest Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 is there any carinae? crocs lack this feature here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 is there any carinae? crocs lack this feature here. What do you mean when you say that crocodilian teeth lack carinae here? Do you mean in New York? . . . On this forum? Where's the here of your assertion? I ask because here in Florida, crocodilian teeth display carinae . . . even the recent 'gators have teeth with carinae. See the 'gator carina in the first image. http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ChesterCounntyPA Posted November 6, 2014 Author Share Posted November 6, 2014 There are (non-serrated) carinae, one is plainly visible on the back of the tooth (photos 1 and 2) and there is one that is less prominent on the side (picture 3, with arrow). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 (edited) I think this may be a mosasaur tooth, but that's a middling confidence guess. Edited November 7, 2014 by Harry Pristis http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plax Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 looks like a mosasaur tooth to me but wouldn't bet the house Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jeffrey P Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 It looks very much like a mosasaur tooth I found in NJ last December. Nice find, whatever it is. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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