Remlab Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Ten feet from last fossil (San Mateo Formation), but looks totally unrelated. This continues into cliff. Did not have the correct tools for retrieving the rest. Will go back at a later date. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boesse Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 Probably a baleen whale rib (guessing it's about 3" across from the size of the metal supports on your table). If you happen to find something that is more complete than this (e.g. a skull or jaw), i would advise against collecting it in a similar fashion as the bone did not appear to fare well here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remlab Posted November 6, 2014 Author Share Posted November 6, 2014 Near the surface, the fossil was in pieces. The further into the cliff I dig, the more integrity it has. Probably impossible to get the rest out safely without excavating the entire 30 foot high cliff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remlab Posted November 6, 2014 Author Share Posted November 6, 2014 (edited) After doing a search on "Baleen whale vertebrae", and examining the first fossil further, I think you hit the nail on the head. The Smooth, concave, vertebral body with a relatively rough outer edge are clearly identifiable, the facets are obviously missing, and the pedicle and lamina appear to be partially crushed and HIGHLY degraded(The hole is still there, though). It also seems to be the right size for a Baleen. The rib found near it would also make sense. Thanks! I will dig a little further and see what I find. If it looks substantial, I'll call someone who actually knows what they're doing. Edited November 6, 2014 by Remlab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remlab Posted November 6, 2014 Author Share Posted November 6, 2014 Actually, upon further examination, the "hole" is not still there. It looks as if a broken facet created an "arch" in the specimen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remlab Posted November 6, 2014 Author Share Posted November 6, 2014 If it is a Baleen whale, it would be pretty cool.. http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-whale-fossil-rescued-20140801-story.html Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remlab Posted November 6, 2014 Author Share Posted November 6, 2014 (edited) Just spoke to Thomas Demere from the San Diego natural history museum. It is a Baleen. He knows this for a fact because he happened to partially excavated the same exact fossil, two years ago at the same "hidden" location. He also thinks it is complete, but too difficult and dangerous to excavate further. At least he got a good laugh out of me finding it too. What are the odds of that! Oh well.. Edited November 6, 2014 by Remlab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remlab Posted November 6, 2014 Author Share Posted November 6, 2014 Boesse That was an extraordinary guess! Amazing! Seth Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted November 6, 2014 Share Posted November 6, 2014 Boesse That was an extraordinary guess! Amazing! Seth Well, this is Bobbie's field. "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remlab Posted November 6, 2014 Author Share Posted November 6, 2014 Auspex Yeah, After that, out of curiosity, I looked at his resume. But you have to admit, it was, for all intents and purposes, the flimsiest of evidence.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boesse Posted November 7, 2014 Share Posted November 7, 2014 Great to hear! If you speak to Tom again, please tell him I say hello and Kia Ora! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Remlab Posted November 7, 2014 Author Share Posted November 7, 2014 (edited) Small world! I will Edited November 7, 2014 by Remlab Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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