Tampa Bay ID Help

[marfijak]

Hello,

I need some help identifying a fossil I found today. It was found at a ‘beach’ inside of Tampa Bay that has been artificially nourished with dredge material. I regularly find sharks teeth, sting ray fossils, agatized coral, etc at this location. At first I thought this was some sort of sea bean but it is definetly fossilized. It is about an inch long and 1/4 inch wide. Any ideas?

Thank you!

[marfijak]

[Brett Breakin' Rocks]

23 minutes ago, marfijak said:

It is about an inch long and 1/4 inch wide. Any ideas?

Probably a Tilly bone ... it has raised its ugly head again. Search the site and you will find them for days in all shapes and sizes ....

 

A Hyperostotic swollen fish bone. An abnormal growth.

 

Cheers,

Brett

 

Edit: Here is another ...

 

 

[Bronzviking]

I was just looking in my book and Brett answered. It looks like a Fish Ballast or bladder bones. These bones grow off the vertebrae, their true purpose is unknown. (also referred to as "Tilly Bones").

[marfijak]

Thank you both for your quick responses. I have found a number of tilly bones around visible vertebrae but none like this! Very cool. I’m pretty sure I’ve even looked at the first thread you posted here in the past and just didn’t connect the dots. Have a great night!

[doushantuo]

actually,Max Koestler was the first to recognize (the causes of)hyperostosis in fish

(Zeitschr.f. Wiss.Zool.,1882,v 37,to be precise)

approx.transl: "On the thickening of bone in bony fishes"

 

[abyssunder]

19 hours ago, marfijak said:

Any ideas?

That might be a hyperostosed fish spine base (vertebra to spine), in my thinking.

[abyssunder]

Here may be a nice resemblance.

 

comparative picture from here