Distinguishing between Musk Ox and Bison

[DylanS]

I found this large humerus several years ago on a gravel bar on the Kansas river. Everything was pretty picked over that day but I noticed a small bit of bone protruding from the gravel and sand. I dug this up and thought it to be just from a large elderly (arthritic? growth on distal end) Bison antiquus however now I am not so sure.  I took photos with the humerus next to a humerus from an American Bison and it just seems to be on a different level. It is quite heavy and mineralized and is just shy of 20 lbs.  I know during the pleistocene the woodland musk ox Bootherium bombifrons has been found in the same deposits throughout the midwest from Mississippi to Alaska so I was wondering if anyone knows any tips on distinguishing B. antiquus from Bootherium? Skulls and cervical vertebrae are no problem but they are the only elements of Bootherium I have ever seen or held. Any help distinguishing post cranial elements of these two would be much appreciated - thanks!

 

[dbrake40]

@DylanS Did you ever determine the species for this bone? Its cray big but yet does look bovine. I can across you post because of a similar find which was posted on facebook. I'll post a link. What was the overall length of you find?

 

https://www.facebook.com/groups/boneandfossilid/posts/4128660783914327/

Edited July 18, 2021 by dbrake40