Rockchopper Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Found this strange looking object near the tail of a Green River Priscacera that I'm working on. Curious as to what it might be. It almost appears attached to the fish. Any thoughts? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Maybe a hyperostotic fish bone ? Hard to say, but it does look attached to one of the vertebra or spines. Looking forward to others input. Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sseth Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 It appears to me to be a coprolite laying on top of the fish. _____________________________________ Seth www.fossilshack.com www.americanfossil.com www.fishdig.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ptychodus04 Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 It could simply be a random bone fragment that settled on the fish. Regards, Kris Global Paleo Services, LLC https://globalpaleoservices.com http://instagram.com/globalpaleoservices http://instagram.com/kris.howe Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Ancient Department of Fish and Game release program tag? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
minnbuckeye Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 My amateur eyes notice a spot on the tail dorsal to what you are asking about that makes one think this tail has been injured. There is a divergence of the tail rays as one approaches the base of the tail. At this spot, a lighter material also exists. So if this fish was almost eaten then the object you describe could be a result of the same event. As I say, I have no expertise in suggesting this. Good luck with your search of an answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockchopper Posted October 20, 2015 Author Share Posted October 20, 2015 It's not a coprolite - it's flat and shiny like a flat piece of bone - but has a "tendril" extending from it. Though I do like the suggestion of an ancient Fish & Game release tag! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 I agree... it is not a coprolite. Coprolites form the Green River are not black and shiny. I think the pachyostotic bone is the best guess. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockchopper Posted October 20, 2015 Author Share Posted October 20, 2015 Ok jpc. - had to look that one up! So if I interpret it right, it's a non-pathological condition in vertebrates where bones become thicker. Which begs the question - which bone was it that became that way? Still like the suggestion of a Game & Fish tag. I've got to admit that prepping these fish is a lot of fun - and educational. Who would have thought I'd learn a new word today! Thanks jpc! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Priscacara don't have a well developed hypural. Do you suppose the gene for it somehow got turned on slightly out of place ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knoonan Posted October 20, 2015 Share Posted October 20, 2015 Tilly bone? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amphipod Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Maybe the fish had a sort of bone tumor? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilshale Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 (edited) My guess would be fish scale (drifted in from somewhere else) Thomas Edited October 21, 2015 by oilshale Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes (Confucius, 551 BC - 479 BC). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Could it be a predatory beetle? The "tendril" that Rockchopper referred to in post #7 looks like an insect leg to Me. Tony Darwin said: " Man sprang from monkeys." Will Rogers said: " Some of them didn't spring far enough." My Fossil collection - My Mineral collection My favorite thread on TFF. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bone2stone Posted October 21, 2015 Share Posted October 21, 2015 Ancient Department of Fish and Game release program tag? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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