A Jaw Fragment

[Shellseeker]

I was hunting with a couple of TFF friends doing a ground search in an area that produces 90% marine fossils,  Megs, Makos, but no GWs, Whale /Dolphin earbones and vertebrate, ray teeth, fish verts, dugong rib bones with a few mammal bones and teeth, primarily horse. I found this jaw section:

My initial take was whale, but then too small for whale and I switched to gator. I have seen no alligator teeth and lots of whale material.

Is there anything besides size that would confirm or eliminate one or the other ?.  Thanks for comments, suggestions, IDs.

 

[Tidgy's Dad]

Maybe a species of dolphin? 

[digit]

My thought would initially go to gator (or maybe a salt-water crocodilian if it is really a virtually marine deposit). Wonder if there is enough of this mandible to allow @Harry Pristis to weigh in on a possible ID?

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

[Shellseeker]

1 hour ago, Tidgy's Dad said:

Maybe a species of dolphin? 

Beginning to seriously consider Dolphin; @Boesse

Here is a photo of a dolphin/porpoise jaw...

Mine seems slightly larger at 2.6 inches long , 1.5 inches high, .9 inches wide,  The sockets are 12x15 mm.

1 hour ago, digit said:

My thought would initially go to gator (or maybe a salt-water crocodilian if it is really a virtually marine deposit). Wonder if there is enough of this mandible to allow @Harry Pristis to weigh in on a possible ID?

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

Mine also,

Here is the last side that I did not provide a photo.  It does not"feel" gator but I ahvebeen wrong many times before.

[Harry Pristis]

Not crocodilian in my estimation.  What is the white stuff -- limestone?  If it is, it suggests that this is out of the Tampa limestone (about 25 Ma).  That would confirm it's a marine animal, and "whale" would be a reasonable guess.

[Boesse]

There is nothing in the anatomy of this specimen suggesting it is not a small toothed whale.

[Shellseeker]

Sorry for delay in response.  I returned to the location again today. Found a large dolphin earbone and a small whale/dolphin tooth.

19 hours ago, Harry Pristis said:

Not crocodilian in my estimation.  What is the white stuff -- limestone?  If it is, it suggests that this is out of the Tampa limestone (about 25 Ma).  That would confirm it's a marine animal, and "whale" would be a reasonable guess.

 Harry Yes, Limestone with layers of clay, carst, mudsand on top. Can you elaborate on the connection? Tampa Limestone would REALLY make sense at this location.  

 

I love whale... This is only my 2nd section of Whale Jaw ever found....

[Bone Daddy]

FWIW, I did find a nice fossilized croc tooth at that same site, I found it in the same clay that I found some of the shark teeth in. I didn't find any others though.