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Legit Dimetrodon claw?


mburkett

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I’m definitely no expert on Dimetrodon or Triassic fossils, but Dimetrodon was one of my favorite critters as a kid and still think they’re pretty cool as a big kid. I found a nice claw that’s advertised as Dimetrodon and wanted to make sure it’s actually from that animal. The seller says this claw was found in Northern Texas in the Texas Red Beds formation. It’s 5/8” long.

 

What do you folks think?

 

 

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It looks like it could be one...it has a similar morphology to claws labelled as Dimetrodon from other sellers, though that doesn't always mean it is from Dimetrodon only that some sellers label it as such.

 

The only information about Dimetrodon claws i can find is from this paper https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233610252_The_morphology_of_the_terminal_phalanges_in_Permo-Carboniferous_synapsids_An_evolutionary_perspective

 

From what i can tell.... Dimetrodon's claws are somewhat curved and pointed at the tip.

 

Here is a picture of the Dimetrodon claw from the paper that you can compare with.

 

IMG_20180901_191021.thumb.jpg.70836d5b93585352576025d9b2e606f3.jpg

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Excellent paper on these claws.   Looks pretty close and could be but let me get picky we need the right answer.  The concern I have just using the information provided from the paper is that the bulbous flexor tubercle is not as prominent.  The profile is also a bit off, narrower.   It could simply be that the back end of the claw is missing and that the tip is worn or animal to animal variation.  The one in the paper is 48 mm which is substantially larger than yours so juvie claws might be different.  The paper states that irrespective of position all the claws are similar so it's not a positional variation. 

 

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I thought the dorsal view was very interesting much fatter, rectangular in shape that what I see on dino claws.  If you can get a straight in dorsal photo of the claw could give you a quick answer.  I would also try to get one of the back end just to see if it's missing.

Screenshot_2018-09-01-02-45-08.jpg.90535975e61bcd7dde18beaf4d3b81e7.jpg

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Thank you talon22 for that link and Troodon for the pics and info!  I’ll ask the seller for more pics, specifically the dorsal view to look for striations, pitting near the tip, and the thickness.  Appreciated!

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