rauhaus Posted April 24, 2018 Share Posted April 24, 2018 Hello! I found a mysterious fossil bone while looking for shark teeth in NE Mississippi this past weekend. I believe it is from the Eutaw Formation which is Late Cretaceous. This bone appears to be complete, although maybe a bit creek-worn. It is as hard as a chert creek rock with visible minerals present in the pores. Size is 2.75" long, by 2" wide, and around 1.5" thick (including the arches on the other side). I have not studied vertebrates, and have no idea how to technically describe bones, but it looks like the largest surface is a ball (like a ball/socket) and there are two areas on either side that look like contact points. If you turn it over, it is almost heart-shaped with another ball-type surface at the bottom of the "heart shape" and two concave areas on the sides (lots of mineral "stripes" in this area). At the top of the heart shape, there is a dovetail-shaped notch. I am more than happy to take additional photos if requested! I've scoured Google and can't find much to go by, but I am guessing that it is probably some kind of marine reptile or less likely, a dino that had washed out to sea. I know it is a stretch to be able to identify one lonely little bone, but I would love to know anything I can about it, no matter how general. Thanks everyone!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
indominus rex Posted April 24, 2018 Share Posted April 24, 2018 It reminds me of a vertebra that's worn a bit. But I'm not sure. Life started in the ocean. And so did my interest in fossils. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
smt126 Posted April 24, 2018 Share Posted April 24, 2018 I too think it looks like some heavily eroded vertebrae Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted April 24, 2018 Share Posted April 24, 2018 +1 for heavily eroded vert.. The centrum like shape, and the way the angles in the texture converge being the indications. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rauhaus Posted April 24, 2018 Author Share Posted April 24, 2018 Thanks everyone! I have collected mosasaur vertebrae there before, and while I'm not disagreeing with anyone here, I wanted to post another couple of shots showing the sides - what I had referred to as the "sockets." It seems to have a different type of bony material attached there. I've wet it down so that it has more contrast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted April 24, 2018 Share Posted April 24, 2018 It's a nice find, but I too think it's a very worn vertebra. Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rauhaus Posted April 25, 2018 Author Share Posted April 25, 2018 Thanks everyone! I'm trying to picture this being a vertebra :-) I originally thought it would have been some kind of astragalus type bone or something. I know some vertebrae have convex/concave surfaces (like mosasaur verts), but that is the only part I can picture in my head by looking at it. Are you thinking the end with the dovetail-like groove is part of what was a foramen? And the facets on the sides, are those contact points with other vertebral processes or muscle scars or do you think it is just broken that way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DevonianDigger Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 It's incredibly cool-looking. I too am leaning vertebra on this one. But still, really really cool looking one! Jay A. Wollin Lead Fossil Educator - Penn Dixie Fossil Park and Nature Reserve Hamburg, New York, USA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rauhaus Posted April 27, 2018 Author Share Posted April 27, 2018 I really appreciate everyone's help on this! I am looking at different intercentra of atlas vertebrae.. would you say I'm on the right track? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JarrodB Posted April 27, 2018 Share Posted April 27, 2018 A worn mosasaur vert. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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