DylanS Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 Hey everyone! Kinda new here but I found this bone which I believe to be a mammal humerus of some kind but it seems that no matter what I look up I can't find a match. I may be totally off with thinking that this is even a humerus but I don't have enough comparative material to determine. Also I know both the ends are missing but I can't tell if this is from a juvenile with non-fused epiphysis' or if they just weathered away. Most of the material we find in this river dates back to the Holocene Epoch however this one seems to be well-mineralized and displays signs of age and patina. Also the overall shape just feels different to me but I am definitely not an expert at this. Any help is gladly appreciated! #1 #2 #3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DylanS Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 Also is it possible that this could be a bone from an extremely young possibly even embryonic animal??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
izak_ Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 (edited) Welcome to TFF! Sorry, I am not familiar with your location :3 Good luck Edited January 27, 2015 by izak_ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichW9090 Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 (edited) My first impression, without looking at any comp material, is a juvenile (neonate) beaver humerus. Edited January 27, 2015 by RichW9090 The plural of "anecdote" is not "evidence". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DylanS Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 That was one of my guesses but I compared it to a Modern Beaver (Castor canadensis) humerus and it is quite different specifically larger and wider. I have been having slight suspicions all along that I have been hesitant to voice. I found a picture of a Giant Beaver (Castoroides ohioensis) humerus from the Earlham College specimen. Is it possible that this is a humerus from an extremely young Castoroides? My friend has found Castoroides material at this location before as well. Modern Beaver (Castor canadensis) humerus: Giant Beaver (Castoroides ohioensis) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DylanS Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 For side by side comparison: Not sure how much infant and adult post-cranial elements can differ but I can tell that mine lacks a few of the finer details of the Giant Beaver specimen but then again it has been tumbled around in the river for a while. Still not sure on this one, again any input is gladly appreciated ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichW9090 Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 The unknown is at best neonatal, and is exactly what I'd expect. The deltopectoral crest develops with age, and the shaft becomes longer relative to width. Also remember that the distal ephiphysis is missing, which would increase the width somewhat. I'm still going with newborn beaver kit. The plural of "anecdote" is not "evidence". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DylanS Posted January 27, 2015 Author Share Posted January 27, 2015 Okay so just a neonatal modern beaver humerus then??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichW9090 Posted January 27, 2015 Share Posted January 27, 2015 (edited) That's my best guess. I've never seen any neonatal Castoroides material, but I'd think it would be somewhat larger than the unknown. Edited January 27, 2015 by RichW9090 The plural of "anecdote" is not "evidence". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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