Naturens Mangfold Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 The attached photos show a vertebra, probably from a dinosaur (theropod according to a very experienced collector, but no reference given) or crocodile from the Kem Kem beds in Morocco. The bone is 9,5 cm long and 9,0 cm tall. Any help to identify it to family, genus or species will be most appreciated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Welcome to TFF! I think it is a dino (from what I have learned from @Troodon) 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...
Troodon Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Welcome to the forum. Nice photos but can you take a picture of the ventral (bottom) side of the vertebra. Nice specimen. On the surface looks crocodilian but like to see the photo of the bottom. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naturens Mangfold Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 Here's some additional photos of ventral and dorsal side as will as close-up of the neural canal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 Thank you. First let me say, what others that frequent this forum already know is that identification of isolated bones even teeth from this fauna is very difficult. Other than Spinosaurids not much has been has been published and what is usually consists of very incomplete specimens or just isolated bones. I'm leaning away from this being a theropod vertebra more toward crocodilian but it's a guess on my part because I have nothing to compare against. Two features that jump out which concern me the most against it being theropod are the following. This is a proximal-mid caudal vertebra and you do not see them that long on larger theropods. They are usually more boxed shaped except for avian dinosaurs. Second, neural spines on theropod usually do not not have webs that's more typical of croc's, see photo. I would love to hear other opinions because the Kem Kem is always full of surprises and there is a lot of learning to be gained. It's a very nice vertebra and great collector item. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ynot Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 11 minutes ago, Troodon said: 'm leaning away from this being a theropod vertebra more toward crocodilian Guess I have more to learn! 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...
LordTrilobite Posted March 16, 2017 Share Posted March 16, 2017 I don't know enough about the different animals. but I agree with Troodon that this looks like a caudal vert. Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naturens Mangfold Posted March 16, 2017 Author Share Posted March 16, 2017 Thank you very much Troodon for your reflections and opinion. Let's hope that future research will reveal that this piece is from a completely new taxon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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