chg057 Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 (edited) Hello TFF, I recently was able to glue this specimen together after its discovery this past fall. I need help with identification. It was found in the Niobrara in Logan Co, Kansas. After asking a tooth expert, he hypothesized that it is a Hesperornis. I've done a little research myself and I am not convinced of his conclusion. Of the Hesperornis pictures I've seen online, it appears that the top jaw lacks teeth at this part of the jaw, whereas my specimen is full of teeth. Additionally, there are two rows of distinctly different teeth on both the lower and upper jaw. One set is larger, more spaced teeth approximately 3mm apart and up to 4mm wide at the base. The larger teeth have all broken slightly and look like little volcanoes protruding from the jaw. The second row of teeth in the same jaw contains much finer and closely spaced teeth - about 0.5mm apart, 1-1.5mm wide, and about 2-3mm long. The two rows of teeth are slightly angled from each other - about 20 degrees or so. Any suggestions? I got a second opinion: Cimolichthyes...? What do you all think? Thanks for your help! Edited March 10, 2016 by chg057 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Looks just like the ones on Oceans of Kansas. The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chg057 Posted March 10, 2016 Author Share Posted March 10, 2016 Looks just like the ones on Oceans of Kansas. You're right! Thanks JohnJ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 certainly NOT Hesperornis. For exactly the reasons you mention. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 certainly NOT Hesperornis. For exactly the reasons you mention. "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...
KansasFossilHunter Posted March 10, 2016 Share Posted March 10, 2016 Are these the ones you asked Dr.Wilson about? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 I hope Dr. Wilson would not call this a Hesperornis. She knows her Cretaceous birds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KansasFossilHunter Posted March 11, 2016 Share Posted March 11, 2016 She absolutely does know her bird material. If this is the one that was sent to her, we decided on Cimolichthys as well. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chg057 Posted March 22, 2016 Author Share Posted March 22, 2016 Yes this is the same one sent to Dr. Wilson. Thanks for the help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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