caldigger Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Got this on a hunt today. Mid. Miocene, Round Mountain Silt Member, Temblor Formation. California. It is 5cm long, 3.5cm wide, 2cm thick. I am presuming whale, but don't really know. It seems strange to me in that the channels that would carry nerves or blood vessels are going perpendicular to the way it would set in the spinal column. One of the channel openings looks to be partially fused off which may have pinched nerves or blocked off blood supply. Any thoughts as to where on the critter it belonged and if indeed it is whale or not? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilsonwheels Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Could it be something like a caudal vertebra or a disk from a small odontoceti ? I remember a biology class years ago where we looked at some different verts and there was a caudal from a Bottlenose Dolphin that looked similar. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daves64 Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 That title is a loaded question.. 2 Accomplishing the impossible means only that the boss will add it to your regular duties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Natalie81 Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 I'm not sure but maybe a intervertebral disc? Natalie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 11 minutes ago, Natalie81 said: I'm not sure but maybe a intervertebral disc? Natalie Mammals do have nerves passing through them. One of mine has been surgically altered to reestablish the condition. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Amateur Paleontologist Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 From the title, I was expecting a very existential post... -Christian Opalised fossils are the best: a wonderful mix between paleontology and mineralogy! Q. Where do dinosaurs study? A. At Khaan Academy!... My ResearchGate profile Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Cool find. It looks to be small enough that I wonder if it is in the size range of pinnipeds as well as small cetaceans? Totally out of my depth here (not new for me). I'm hoping that @Boesse might have something authoritative to add. Cheers. -Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miocene_Mason Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 I have a few like this from MD I think, I called it caudal. 1 “...whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved.” ~ Charles Darwin Happy hunting, Mason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boesse Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 @WhodamanHD is correct - this is a caudal vertebra. This one is from a small dolphin. These rectangular vertebrae are the terminal caudals from inside the caudal fluke where the vertebrae rapidly transition from being oval, tall, and narrow to being square-shaped and eventually low and rectangular like this as the fluke flattens out. 10 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
caldigger Posted February 18, 2019 Author Share Posted February 18, 2019 Thanks Bobby and to everyone else that gave their input! But just to be fair, @fossilsonwheels got the label as to caudal first. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 Nice. I learned a little today. Thanks, Bobby! Cheers. -Ken Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Miocene_Mason Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 2 hours ago, caldigger said: Thanks Bobby and to everyone else that gave their input! But just to be fair, @fossilsonwheels got the label as to caudal first. In fact he did. Kudos on the ID @fossilsonwheels! “...whilst this planet has gone cycling on according to the fixed law of gravity, from so simple a beginning endless forms most beautiful and most wonderful have been and are being evolved.” ~ Charles Darwin Happy hunting, Mason Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossilsonwheels Posted February 18, 2019 Share Posted February 18, 2019 4 hours ago, caldigger said: Thanks Bobby and to everyone else that gave their input! But just to be fair, @fossilsonwheels got the label as to caudal first. Thank you. Call it a lucky guess lol Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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