Alligator Bone, Crocodile, Or Something Else?

[jshclvrt1]

I found this fossil in river gravel in south east texas. my father said it looks like alligator or crocodile. Anyone here know the difference. The pores on the side remind me more of bone rather than coral. It is 3" long. I couldn't find any images on google with pits that looked similar so I feel I might be heading down the wrong path.

[jshclvrt1]

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[Al Dente]

The large holes makes me think it is a piece of mammoth or mastodon skull.

[Al Dente]

Here's a picture I took of a partial mastodon skull in our local museum showing the large holes.

[sseth]

It appears to be a section of skull material as noted above.

[jshclvrt1]

That makes sense. The bottom is smooth so I guess that is the outside of the skull and the nodules are in the inside. ah ha. Thanks I had it upside down.

[jpc]

I might have to agree... the texture we can see on the last photo is more mammalian than croc... to me.

[caterpillar]

Yes, no croc

[jshclvrt1]

that's cool. sounds pretty unanimous thanks for the help. I kind of want to knock those pebbles out of it. looks like they wont need much force to pry out. what do y'all do as collectors?

[Harry Pristis]

Usually, I remove the gravel bits; but, occasionally, I will leave in place some reminder of the matrix from which the fossil was recovered. I think of it as an "atmospheric" piece -- a reminder that all the associated collection pieces were grubbed from the earth.