HoppeHunting Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 I'm secretly hoping this is what I think it is. I was sure it was a crocodile tooth (my first one!) but I'm less certain of that after a few members mentioned it resembled a detached crown of a porpoise tooth. The matter was discussed but never concluded, so I'd like to see what others have to say. Aside from the pictures, here's what I can provide as help with the ID: The tooth was found at Brownies Beach (Calvert Formation) It is slightly under half an inch in height There appears to be two cutting edges on opposite sides of the tooth While not obvious, it seems to have some vertical ridges It is completely hollow and very light As always, help is much appreciated. Sorry that I couldn't get excellent pictures of this one. It was a bit harder to photograph than most other things. Thanks in advance! The Hunt for the Hemipristine continues! ~Hoppe hunting!~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted March 13, 2018 Share Posted March 13, 2018 Im not a tooth guy, but that does not look like Odontocete? RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailingAlongToo Posted March 14, 2018 Share Posted March 14, 2018 @Boesse @MarcoSr Don't know much about history Don't know much biology Don't know much about science books......... Sam Cooke - (What A) Wonderful World Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoppeHunting Posted March 14, 2018 Author Share Posted March 14, 2018 4 hours ago, RJB said: Im not a tooth guy, but that does not look like Odontocete? RB I agree. Although I see how one could think it may be just the top part with enamel just without the large root. This was suggested by multiple people on my trip report where I found this tooth and claimed it was a croc. My opinion as of now is still that it's a Thecachampsa (Miocene croc) tooth. However, I'm no expert, and that's why I created this thread. Hopefully those who were tagged will have some insight. The Hunt for the Hemipristine continues! ~Hoppe hunting!~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plax Posted March 14, 2018 Share Posted March 14, 2018 glad to see this post. Am hoping one of our experts will tell us a rule of thumb for separating crocodilian from cetacean teeth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 Looks croc to me especially with the two cutting edges. Other than sperm whale teeth, all the cetacean teeth that I see from the Miocene of MD/VA are solid crowned and solid rooted not hollow crowned like this tooth. Note this croc tooth has the root missing. Croc teeth missing the root are shed teeth. The erupting tooth underneath breaks up the above tooth's root typically and the tooth is shed typically as a crown and root pieces. If you find a rooted croc tooth, which is very uncommon,that tooth came from a croc which died and had the rooted tooth in its jaw when it died. Marco Sr. "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted March 15, 2018 Share Posted March 15, 2018 11 minutes ago, MarcoSr said: Looks croc to me especially with the two cutting edges. Other than sperm whale teeth, all the cetacean teeth that I see from the Miocene of MD/VA are solid crowned and solid rooted not hollow crowned like this tooth. Note this croc tooth has the root missing. Croc teeth missing the root are shed teeth. The erupting tooth underneath breaks up the above tooth's root typically and the tooth is shed typically as a crown and root pieces. If you find a rooted croc tooth, which is very uncommon,that tooth came from a croc which died and had the rooted tooth in its jaw when it died. Marco Sr. I agree that this tooth is likely croc. I am not aware of any cetacean teeth with cutting edges or hollow roots as MarcoSr stated. Great find. Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HoppeHunting Posted March 15, 2018 Author Share Posted March 15, 2018 @MarcoSr and @sixgill pete Thank you so much! Very informative. Looks like I finally got my hands on a croc tooth! The Hunt for the Hemipristine continues! ~Hoppe hunting!~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 On 3/15/2018 at 1:12 AM, HoppeHunting said: @MarcoSr and @sixgill pete Thank you so much! Very informative. Looks like I finally got my hands on a croc tooth! Congrats! Nice tooth, too. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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