fish/reptile jaw section?

[Fossil'n'Roll]

I bought this a few years ago at a local show. It was mixed in with a bunch of small Otodus and sand tiger shark teeth. I don't remember if the vendor said where they came from and I didn't write it down, but I think Morocco is likely.

[Macrophyseter]

Hi FossilnRoll! That jaw is not from a shark as the teeth are clearly round and conical, and the jaw itself looks more like bone material than cartilage. My best guess is the Permian synapsid Ophiacodon, based on the shape of the teeth matching other jaws. Another thing is that Ophiacodon fossils are very commonly sold as small, partial jaws, which some of the expensive ones (above 60 dollars) seldom more than an inch. Which means that that probably isn't from Morocco either, as Ophiacodon doesn't exist there; its probably from Texas, where Ophiacodon partials are most commonly found. Nice jaw btw!

[Fossil'n'Roll]

Thank you! Just did a quick search and Ophiacodon does seem like a good match. Very cool find for (I think) 50 cents!

[Miocene_Mason]

I think macrophyseter is right, definitely a good find for cheap.

[Al Dente]

This is a part of a bony fish jaw. My guess is it is from Morocco and could be Brychaetus.

[Macrophyseter]

I dont think so. Brychaetus dont have teeth that specific shape, they usually have more bend in their teeth. Plus, if it was Btychaetus, then the teeth would be much more crowded. 

[Al Dente]

51 minutes ago, Macrophyseter said:

I dont think so. Brychaetus dont have teeth that specific shape, they usually have more bend in their teeth. Plus, if it was Btychaetus, then the teeth would be much more crowded. 

These are definitely fish teeth, not synapsid. These teeth have acrodin caps. They aren't too crowded to be Brychaetus.

[Macrophyseter]

I dont see the type of acrodin caps on the brychaetus, it still looks more like ophiacodon terth, as their jaws still have those shaped caps. Plus, remember that he got this from a fossil show. You dont see Brychaetus jaws in the market, whereas Ophiacodon jaws are commonly sold.

[sixgill pete]

I agree with Al Dente that these are indeed fish teeth. I can plainly see the acrodin caps on them. Searching online for examples of Ophiacodon teeth and jaw sections, I see similarity but not a match.

[Fossil'n'Roll]

Hmm... looking closer Ophiacodon teeth don't seem to have those conical tips (the acrodin caps?), but Brychaetus teeth do. Looking at pictures on Google, though, they seem to be longer/narrower and more curved than what I have. These (below) do look very similar to what I have, though.

https://vmnhpaleontology.files.wordpress.com/2011/07/2011-07-15c.jpg

http://les-mondes-disparus.over-blog.com/article-35134746.html

Also, Morocco would make more sense than Texas since it was in a box with Otodus, sand tiger shark, and (apparently) eagle ray teeth. The color does seem to match Moroccan phosphates which would have those other teeth.

[siteseer]

12 hours ago, Macrophyseter said:

I dont see the type of acrodin caps on the brychaetus, it still looks more like ophiacodon terth, as their jaws still have those shaped caps. Plus, remember that he got this from a fossil show. You dont see Brychaetus jaws in the market, whereas Ophiacodon jaws are commonly sold.

 

I've been to gem-mineral-fossil shows from San Jose to Tampa.  You see Moroccan stuff at all of them.  I have seen some of that Permian stuff at shows before but less often.  That's the kind of thing a more experienced dealer would have and know about.

 

Few specimens that small are labeled but you will see small shark teeth and fish teeth for sale in those little Moroccan matchboxes and small specimens like sea snake vertebrae and fish jaws in zip-locks for a couple of bucks a piece.  I didn't know the genus but that looks like a fish jaw to me as well.