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Vertebra identification request


RockSand

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Found what may be a vertebra, sticking partially out of the ground on private property near Phoenix, Arizona in Maricopa County. The soil is hard-packed coarse sand/silt/gravel with areas of clay. A landscaper added a top dressing of decomposed granite and river rocks - a typical desert landscape design around here. The specimen likely was transported to the site in the river rock. Luck me! Other fossils found in the landscape material lead me to believe it came from a healthy and diverse marine environment with turtles, fish, shark, crocodilia, lizards, skate, snakes and mammals. The entire area was once an inland sea.

 

The specimen is approximately 6.5 cm length x 5 cm width x 2 cm height.  (Lateral measurement varies from 1.5 cm to 2.5 cm.) The vertebral body is 5 cm length x 4 cm height. Let me know what you think.

 

The "tooth" on the distal side measures 2 cm.

Distal view with embedded tooth.jpg

Proximal view with quarter.jpg

Proximal side up with rulers.jpg

Ventral view.jpg

Right lateral view with ruler for length and bright light.jpg

Left lateral view proximal side up.jpg

Dorsal view with ruler without bright light.jpg

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