Metopocetus Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 Found this odd little bone at Calvert Cliffs. It is only 3/4" (0.75") long. Definitely fossil and doesn't appear to be fish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miocene_Mason Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 Are you sure that's not a piece of gastropod shell... The internal spiral it looks like “...whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved.” ~ Charles Darwin Happy hunting, Mason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 I agree - looks like a broken gastropod. 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...
ynot Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 I would like to see a picture of the broken surface area. 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...
Fossildude19 Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 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...
ynot Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 It just looks like a bad match to Me. The shell cross section shows a central section that is straight through with a continuous spiral . The object in question is off centered and branched more than spiraled. It also does not have a texture that I would expect to see in a shell. 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...
Metopocetus Posted July 23, 2017 Author Share Posted July 23, 2017 It's definitely bone. I'll see if I can get some pictures of the broken edges. The edge on the bottom is a finished edge. The two tips that branch off are missing a little bit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 I also think bone. Cant think what it might be from. Maybe a skull element from a fish? The texture doesn't seem quite right for fish. I also thought maybe bird could be a candidate. @Auspex? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted July 23, 2017 Share Posted July 23, 2017 I think it might be an avian quadrate. "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...
Monica Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 Hi there! I realize that Calvert Cliffs is known for its fossilized shark teeth and other marine fossils, but your specimen reminds me of a chunk of antler - is that even possible?! Happy hunting! Monica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 Avian coracoideum? because of the twisted linea intermuscularis caudalis ? edit: don't have a whole lot of faith in that assessment,BTW Are there any straws nearby? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 42 minutes ago, doushantuo said: Avian coracoideum? because of the twisted linea intermuscularis caudalis ? edit: don't have a whole lot of faith in that assessment,BTW Are there any straws nearby? For a straw man ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 1 hour ago, Monica said: Hi there! I realize that Calvert Cliffs is known for its fossilized shark teeth and other marine fossils, but your specimen reminds me of a chunk of antler - is that even possible?! Happy hunting! Monica Monica, At 3/4 of an inch (1.905 cm) That isn't likely. I had the same thought, initially, before seeing the size. 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...
Auspex Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 Here are a few different avian quadrate bones, showing the species variability within the basic functional form. Note that the "twistiness" of the main beam is often a notable feature. "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...
Monica Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 41 minutes ago, Fossildude19 said: Monica, At 3/4 of an inch (1.905 cm) That isn't likely. I had the same thought, initially, before seeing the size. Oops - I didn't notice the size given in the first post Thanks for bringing that to my attention! Monica Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
doushantuo Posted July 24, 2017 Share Posted July 24, 2017 Auspex,see your point there. The overal habitus is better displayed in the pic you posted. edit: QUESTION for AUSPEX :is that an Emu quadrate? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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