Miocene mystery bone

[I_gotta_rock]

Found at Matoaka beach, Calvert County, MD. Miocene era. Mostly marine fossils, but I don't think this one is because it's hollow. Found a peccary bone in the same region, though.

Sorry it's a bit soft. It's getting late and I'm trying to label things for a display this week. Fortunately, the other 100 or so fossils already have names and data!

Edited July 31, 2016 by I_gotta_rock

[caldigger]

If it's hollow, it may be avian (bird). Lets see what others have to say.

[Rockwood]

Standing by also, but my guess is terrestrial mammal.

[I_gotta_rock]

Some others on the FB forum are saying mammal as well. One says peccary by the size, which would be really bizarre considering (1) the mammal bones you find out there are all whales and dolphins and (2) this would be the second peccary bone we've found but they were several miles and several year apart in roughly the same formation! Maybe the thing ran afoul of a giant alligator and got torn apart, but still, what are the odds?

[I_gotta_rock]

So, here's an off-the-wall question: Most theories about large terrestrial animals ending up in the ocean is bloat and float. Could this just as easily - or even more easily- run afoul of a giant crocodilian?

[CraigHyatt]

So, here's an off-the-wall question: Most theories about large terrestrial animals ending up in the ocean is bloat and float. Could this just as easily - or even more easily- run afoul of a giant crocodilian?

Funny you'd mention that. I've often thought the same about the marine upper Cretaceous areas I search. It seems entirely possible for the hard bits of a terrestrial animal or even terrestrial plant matter to be found in such areas. I can especially see this happening for shallow inland seas. My takeaway is, essentially, finding a terrestrial specimen doesn't *guarantee* a terrestrial environment. Not sure about the converse. I suppose a bird could drop a fish far inland or something like that. Or maybe a tsunami.

[Rockwood]

Flooding would have to be a significant source of dis articulated terrestrial bones.

[I_gotta_rock]

Though about that one, too!

[caldigger]

Peccary teeth have been found in the deposits of Round Mountain Silt which was an inland sea and most of the fossils found are very much similar to Calvert Cliffs. Shark teeth, Marine mammals, fish, etc. But every once in a while, terrestrial animal parts are found as well. I personally have found a peccary tooth and a gopher skull and bird bones from there. So it is very possible to find terrestrial bones in your deposits.

Peccary tooth I found

Just a couple of the bird bones (I have several more) from the bone bed.

[siteseer]

From what I've seen when you find a land mammal fossil at Calvert Cliffs, it is most often a peccary. I've seen a few peccary teeth ( I have one) and heard of others. I've heard of horse teeth.

Some others on the FB forum are saying mammal as well. One says peccary by the size, which would be really bizarre considering (1) the mammal bones you find out there are all whales and dolphins and (2) this would be the second peccary bone we've found but they were several miles and several year apart in roughly the same formation! Maybe the thing ran afoul of a giant alligator and got torn apart, but still, what are the odds?

[Troodon]

The Calvert Museum always a nice visit and here is a link to their site showing the types of mammal found on the cliffs.

http://www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/334/Vertebrate-Fossils

[Harry Pristis]

This appears to be the distal portion of a humerus, but I don't know which animal produced it. It does not appear to be crocodilian.

We can eliminate from consideration some mammal taxa, since the bone is without an entepicondylar foramen (EECF). The EECF is a canal occurs near the distal end of the humeri of many mammal taxa. In life, the EECF is traversed by the median nerve and the brachial artery.

The EECF is present in didelphids (opossums) and in shrews and moles! (Micro-fossil collectors take note.)

The EECF is present in felids; in viverrids (all Old World); in amphicyonids (bear-dogs); in mustelids (weasels and skunks); and in procyonids (raccoons).

The EECF is absent in hyaenids, bears, and canids*.

An EECF is absent on the humeri of perissodactyls (horses, tapirs, et al.)

It is absent on the humeri of artiodactyls (antelopes, camels, et al.)

It is absent in lagomorphs (rabbits and related taxa).

*The bone is not from a canid since it lacks a supertrochlear foramen.

I hope you'll let us know when you have an ID.

Edited July 31, 2016 by Harry Pristis

[mako-mama]

That resembles a seal femur. I cant go further than that. Maybe others can be more help?

[Harry Pristis]

This bone looks nothing like a seal femur. And, it doesn't resemble a seal humerus either.

[I_gotta_rock]

So, I heard from the Assistant Curator at the Calvert Marine Museum, which has quite a collection of local stuff. He says that his first thought was deer, but if it really is fossilized then most likely peccary.

[tmaier]

And, it doesn't resemble a seal humerus either.

Yeah, I determine what's humerus around here...

[CraigHyatt]

Yeah, I determine what's humerus around here...

BAM!

That's humerus!

Case closed.

[doushantuo]

the humerus is not a funny bone

[Rockwood]

So, I heard from the Assistant Curator at the Calvert Marine Museum, which has quite a collection of local stuff. He says that his first thought was deer, but if it really is fossilized then most likely peccary.

That is a common problem at that site. Many of the bones aren't clearly mineralized fossils, but seem old enough to not really be thought of as modern.

[I_gotta_rock]

We tried burning it when we found it because we were sure it was a modern deer bone.

[CraigHyatt]

We tried burning it when we found it because we were sure it was a modern deer bone.

Nice! That's I call doe diligence. ;-)

[MarcusFossils]

Maybe Pelagornis ?

https://vmnhpaleontology.wordpress.com/2011/03/15/in-which-i-misidentify-another-specimen/

and

http://www.senckenberg.de/files/content/forschung/abteilung/terrzool/ornithologie/pelagornis_chile.pdf

Edited August 1, 2016 by MarcusFossils

[doushantuo]

Might be the place to post this:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/229367338_Early_bone_diagenesis_in_temperate_environments_Part_I_Surface_features_and_histology

And i DON 'T know where part two is

Her RG page is a treasure trove,BTW.

Lots on bone taphonomy,also from an archaeological/forensic viewpoint

Edited August 1, 2016 by doushantuo

[I_gotta_rock]

They are not my best photos, but since this has created such a discussion, I posted them in my gallery for future refrence.

[mako-mama]

This bone looks nothing like a seal femur. And, it doesn't resemble a seal humerus either.

I stand corrected Now I know it's time to quit late night surfing and get these darn cataracts removed.