Crazyhen Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 Hi, is the specimen shown in the photos a fossil vertebral bone of a dinosaur or whale? The fossil is from Madagascar. Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 Based on the length/centrum diameter ratio I would guess whale. I'm not an expert on either though so I'm waiting to see if the theory holds myself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 Need to know the locality and age of where this was found before we can attempt to address your question. Sauropods are common in their Jurassic and Cretaceous fauna. Also what size is your vertebra. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted November 27, 2017 Share Posted November 27, 2017 This old post I read may be of some help : Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyhen Posted November 28, 2017 Author Share Posted November 28, 2017 19 hours ago, Troodon said: Need to know the locality and age of where this was found before we can attempt to address your question. Sauropods are common in their Jurassic and Cretaceous fauna. Also what size is your vertebra. I don't know the exact locality where this fossil was originated. I only know it is from Madagascar. The bone is 30x25cm and weighs 21kg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted November 28, 2017 Share Posted November 28, 2017 Can you take a picture of the sides of the vertebra might be able to see something to help diagnose it.. It looks dinosaurian but without a locality or provenance we no idea if it's of Jurassic, Cretaceous or other age and Madagascar has a pretty diverse fauna. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyhen Posted December 1, 2017 Author Share Posted December 1, 2017 On 2017/11/28 at 6:37 PM, Troodon said: Can you take a picture of the sides of the vertebra might be able to see something to help diagnose it.. It looks dinosaurian but without a locality or provenance we no idea if it's of Jurassic, Cretaceous or other age and Madagascar has a pretty diverse fauna. More pictures of the vertebrae. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted December 1, 2017 Share Posted December 1, 2017 Looks dinosaurian and there are features that it could be sauropod. Without an age or locality cannot say much more. Lots of sauropod in Madagascar 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LordTrilobite Posted December 1, 2017 Share Posted December 1, 2017 I agree, those hollows are reminiscent of Sauropod. Olof Moleman AKA Lord Trilobite Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazyhen Posted December 1, 2017 Author Share Posted December 1, 2017 40 minutes ago, Troodon said: Looks dinosaurian and there are features that it could be sauropod. Without an age or locality cannot say much more. Lots of sauropod in Madagascar May I ask what are these features? The bone is really heavy, it’s 21kg. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Troodon Posted December 1, 2017 Share Posted December 1, 2017 Weight has nothing to with identification thats dependent on the type of matrix it was mineralized in. The hollow depression in the sides of the centrum are called pleurocels which are found in sauropods. They help reduce the weight to the dinosaur without reducing strength. Other type of dinosaurs have them but coupled with the size of the centrum leans me to sauropod. 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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