old bones Posted January 12, 2016 Author Share Posted January 12, 2016 This might be a tooth from a very young crocodile or alligator. I find similar ones in the Cretaceous. oldbonestooth.jpg Here is a close up of modern crocodile teeth that have a somewhat similar shape. Very young modern alligator teeth are similar. croc.JPG Excellent! Thank you Eric. I have also found similarly sized and shaped teeth in my S.D. Cretaceous matrix... I just never made the connection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted January 13, 2016 Share Posted January 13, 2016 I'd lean toward gator as well. I've found some tiny gator teeth in micro-matrix before (but probably about twice the size of the one you've pictured). The first impulse when finding tiny pointed teeth like this in micro-matrix, that are obviously not shark teeth, is to assume fish teeth--of which there are a variety of shapes commonly found. The conical root end and general "bullet shaped" form with what appear to be two worn ridges or "seams" running from the tip down to the root on opposite sides are all features that I find in the larger gator teeth that are frequent finds in the Peace River. Croc teeth have more than two ridges running along the tooth (and tend to be slimmer and less robust) and so can usually be easily distinguished from gators. It's always fun when you find tiny teeth of a creature you know can get so much larger--like some Tiger Shark and Hemipristis (Snaggletooth) teeth only a few millimeters across. Tiny can be cool too--but of course I'm preaching to the choir here. Cheers. -Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old bones Posted January 14, 2016 Author Share Posted January 14, 2016 I'd lean toward gator as well. I've found some tiny gator teeth in micro-matrix before (but probably about twice the size of the one you've pictured). The first impulse when finding tiny pointed teeth like this in micro-matrix, that are obviously not shark teeth, is to assume fish teeth--of which there are a variety of shapes commonly found. The conical root end and general "bullet shaped" form with what appear to be two worn ridges or "seams" running from the tip down to the root on opposite sides are all features that I find in the larger gator teeth that are frequent finds in the Peace River. Croc teeth have more than two ridges running along the tooth (and tend to be slimmer and less robust) and so can usually be easily distinguished from gators. It's always fun when you find tiny teeth of a creature you know can get so much larger--like some Tiger Shark and Hemipristis (Snaggletooth) teeth only a few millimeters across. Tiny can be cool too--but of course I'm preaching to the choir here. Cheers. -Ken Thanks, Ken. And yes, I do think about the size of the creatures that these tiny teeth belonged to... so many baby sharks shedding their first teeth for instance. I think it's funny how I find the miniature forms of the mature size teeth that you River hunters find. Tiny is way cool. Julianna Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Khyssa Posted January 14, 2016 Share Posted January 14, 2016 I now need to go back through my jar of tiny fish teeth and see if any of them could be tiny gator or croc teeth! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
masonboro37 Posted January 15, 2016 Share Posted January 15, 2016 I have really enjoyed your micro post! Your finds are splendid and thank you for sharing. Beautiful pictures of the micro's too! Process of identification "mistakes create wisdom". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old bones Posted January 16, 2016 Author Share Posted January 16, 2016 I now need to go back through my jar of tiny fish teeth and see if any of them could be tiny gator or croc teeth! I know what you mean... I wonder how many I have missed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old bones Posted January 16, 2016 Author Share Posted January 16, 2016 I have really enjoyed your micro post! Your finds are splendid and thank you for sharing. Beautiful pictures of the micro's too! Thanks, Libby I am sure enjoying exploring this tiny world of fossils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shazuren Posted January 26, 2016 Share Posted January 26, 2016 Beautiful photos and presentation. Also some great finds! Thank you! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grimlock Posted January 27, 2016 Share Posted January 27, 2016 You have found some crazy good stuff in your matrix. Nice! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
old bones Posted February 5, 2016 Author Share Posted February 5, 2016 Beautiful photos and presentation. Also some great finds! Thank you! You have found some crazy good stuff in your matrix. Nice! Thank you both for having a look. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frightmares Posted February 7, 2016 Share Posted February 7, 2016 Awesome finds. I've been going through some Peace River matrix, as well. Good stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Goatlady Posted February 9, 2016 Share Posted February 9, 2016 Thanks for posting these wonderful pictures. You've really opened my mind about what's out there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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