hemipristis Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 hi all, I got these as part of a collection. The ID card simply said "bird bone" from the Rancho LaBrea Fm, McKittrick. Honestly, birds are not my forte, but I'm trying, given all the bird material that I have collected from Lee Creek. But I digress... I could use some help with the ID of 4 bones. The two here are long limb bones, approximately 3.5in to 4in in length. As for an ID, that's all I can guess. Help! thanks! 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' George Santayana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 @Auspex @Boesse @jpc Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 Are there 4 pictured, or two? Also, please give actual measurements. "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SailingAlongToo Posted April 15, 2019 Share Posted April 15, 2019 @MarcoSr Don't know much about history Don't know much biology Don't know much about science books......... Sam Cooke - (What A) Wonderful World Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
siteseer Posted April 17, 2019 Share Posted April 17, 2019 A friend has a collection of McKittrick bones and sometimes I help him sort through it and clean specimens. He hopes for eagle and condor material but a lot of it is smaller stuff which is poorly documented other than as entries in a faunal list. It appears no one has studied the small birds of the tar pits in any detail but a bird specialist like Auspex can help as long as he has accurate measurements. Somewhere, there is a Ph.D dissertation or Master's Thesis from the 30's, I think, about McKittrick. I can't find it now but you might poke around the web and track it down - can't recall the author at the moment. The Lee Creek volume that covers birds might help but you find a lot of marine birds there. McKittrick was, as it is now, an inland area with freshwater at the time. it's just drier today than then. https://repository.si.edu/handle/10088/2006 You might also inquire on the progress of this project which should be done by now. https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/about/ucmpnews/14_09/tarpit14_09.php Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hemipristis Posted April 18, 2019 Author Share Posted April 18, 2019 8 hours ago, siteseer said: A friend has a collection of McKittrick bones and sometimes I help him sort through it and clean specimens. He hopes for eagle and condor material but a lot of it is smaller stuff which is poorly documented other than as entries in a faunal list. It appears no one has studied the small birds of the tar pits in any detail but a bird specialist like Auspex can help as long as he has accurate measurements. Somewhere, there is a Ph.D dissertation or Master's Thesis from the 30's, I think, about McKittrick. I can't find it now but you might poke around the web and track it down - can't recall the author at the moment. The Lee Creek volume that covers birds might help but you find a lot of marine birds there. McKittrick was, as it is now, an inland area with freshwater at the time. it's just drier today than then. https://repository.si.edu/handle/10088/2006 You might also inquire on the progress of this project which should be done by now. https://ucmp.berkeley.edu/about/ucmpnews/14_09/tarpit14_09.php many thanks! 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' George Santayana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hemipristis Posted April 20, 2019 Author Share Posted April 20, 2019 On 4/16/2019 at 1:57 AM, Auspex said: Are there 4 pictured, or two? Also, please give actual measurements. Here ya go, Scale in cm. Here are the three longbones. there are 3 photos: a full shot, and of both ends. This is side one 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' George Santayana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hemipristis Posted April 20, 2019 Author Share Posted April 20, 2019 On 4/16/2019 at 1:57 AM, Auspex said: Are there 4 pictured, or two? Also, please give actual measurements. Side 2 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' George Santayana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hemipristis Posted April 20, 2019 Author Share Posted April 20, 2019 On 4/16/2019 at 1:57 AM, Auspex said: Are there 4 pictured, or two? Also, please give actual measurements. Last bone, in matrix 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' George Santayana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 I have no idea on the genus/species, but the fatter of the three free bones is a bird humerus,and the one in matrix is a bird leg bone...tarsometatrsus. The two skinnier bones look like toe bones. Based on their length I am going to guess some wading bird. Nice stuff. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Auspex Posted April 25, 2019 Share Posted April 25, 2019 On 4/21/2019 at 10:07 PM, jpc said: The two skinnier bones look like toe bones These are tibiotarsi, and the ID key consists of 36 yes/no questions (such as "Shallow sulci posterior to both internal and external condylar ridges"). The key, correctly used with the bones in hand, can lead you to the Family. Maybe. I think the Tarsometatarsus (last one, in matrix) may be a raptor. what is its exact length? The humerus looks a lot like Barn Owl. Without having them in hand, the above is meant to be a good starting point for further research. 1 "There has been an alarming increase in the number of things I know nothing about." - Ashleigh Ellwood Brilliant “Try to learn something about everything and everything about something.” - Thomas Henry Huxley >Paleontology is an evolving science. >May your wonders never cease! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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