Whale ear bone with stirrup??

[sharko69]

Went to Ernst quarries last week and found this whale ear bone. When I cleaned out the matrix this small bone popped out. My thoughts are that it might be a whale stirrup bone from the ear. If that is the case, what are the odds it is associated to the earbone found in the same matrix?

[ynot]

@Boesse should know.

[Boesse]

Yes indeed it is! That periotic is from the sperm whale Aulophyseter morricei.

[sharko69]

47 minutes ago, Boesse said:

Yes indeed it is! That periotic is from the sperm whale Aulophyseter morricei.

Sorry, so the small bone is a stirrup?

[Boesse]

Yes.

[sharko69]

Thank you so much for the information. Is there any possibility that they are associated bones and if so is it common to find them together? 

6 minutes ago, Boesse said:

Yes.

 

[Boesse]

If they were found in close proximity (a cm or so) they are probably associated. Often the stapes is found stuck into the periotic still.

[sharko69]

5 hours ago, Boesse said:

If they were found in close proximity (a cm or so) they are probably associated. Often the stapes is found stuck into the periotic still.

Thank you for the information. It was less than that. Very cool.