Jdeutsch Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 Was on the Peace River Florida- am sorting the findings had several flat pieces I think are mostly turtle scutes-but I'm not sure about a couple, and wouldn't mind more specific information on any image 1 shows the top of 8 scutes/flat pieces except it shows the underside of specimen 3. Image two is the reverse of specimen 3 I can make higher resolution or other views as needed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peat Burns Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 #6 appears to be a giant armadillo (Holmesina) scute. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 I think allot of those are soft shell turtle bits. 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...
FossilDudeCO Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 I can confirm #1, 3, 5, 7, and 8 are all turtle for sure. #1 and 8 do appear to be soft shell pieces. The rest I am unsure of the species. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cris Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 All of them are turtle except for #6 which, as Peat Burns pointed out, is Holmesina. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted February 18, 2017 Share Posted February 18, 2017 I'll pile on though you've already got correct answers above. The odd man out is the very distinctive #6 which is indeed Holmesina. The orange peel texture and the slight raised keel down the middle of the osteoderm make this an easy and definite ID once you've seen a bunch of them. Also, as noted above #1 & #8 have the wavy rippled surface indicative of the soft-shell turtle (Apalone sp. [likely A. ferox]). The other assorted turtle bits may be pond slider turtles (Trachemys) but I haven't seen enough pieces to be able to distinguish those from musk turtles or other genera likely found in the Peace River. You can tell that #2 & #4 are from the edge of the shell with their pointy edges. The symmetrical shape and the bony keel running down the center of #3 & #5 show these to be neural osteoderms that run down the centerline of the turtle where the vertebral column joins the carapace. Turtle is a pretty common find in the Peace and I usually collect nicer looking pieces but only keep a few specimens that show interesting shapes or are from interesting positions like the nuchal (proneural) or the pygal or subrapygal (the pieces directly behind the head or at the tail end of the shell along the midline. I also like pieces of the soft-shell that show the pointed rib ends extending from the edge of the plate. Congrats on the Holmesina as they are much less common than turtle bits in the Peace. Cheers. -Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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