jstewnews Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 This was found on the Jersey Shore - a beach on the western Atlantic. I unfortunately don't have a scale, but it measures 3 inches x 4 inches (7.6 cm x 10.2 cm). Any idea what it is? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Peace river rat Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Bear is my unexpert, opinion. Certainly not human Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jstewnews Posted May 27, 2019 Author Share Posted May 27, 2019 29 minutes ago, Peace river rat said: Bear is my unexpert, opinion. Certainly not human I was thinking that it might be a bear too... literally the only thing I know about fossils is that sometimes bear feet look like bare feet. Does it matter that it was found on the surf, rather than inland where a bear is more likely to be found? Granted, shorelines change all the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Since when do humans or bear have exoskeletons ? I can't really say more than what it's not though. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Some type of crab maybe? @Plax 1 Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted May 27, 2019 Share Posted May 27, 2019 Crab was my first thought here. Cropped and rotated: 1 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...
Plax Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 most likely crab but would like to see the other side also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hokiehunter Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 Partial horse shoe crab apron is my best guess. Nice find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hokiehunter Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 Modern horse shoe crab for reference. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 Likely not a horseshoe crab and definitely not a bear. Blue crab (Callinectes sapidus) fossils are pretty common in the Pleistocene nearshore deposits of the northeast and preserve just like this. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hokiehunter Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 My first thought was blue crab as well but the legs looked funny "too beefy" to me but scale probably has me fooled. I guess I am coming back towards blue on second look but not convinced 100%. "Crab" of some type for sure though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 I'm in for a fossil crab, or part thereof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hemipristis Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 On 5/27/2019 at 3:34 PM, jstewnews said: I was thinking that it might be a bear too... literally the only thing I know about fossils is that sometimes bear feet look like bare feet. Does it matter that it was found on the surf, rather than inland where a bear is more likely to be found? Granted, shorelines change all the time. No. Fossils get moved around all the time. What is currently under water at the Joisey Shore was once dry land during the Pleistocene '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 May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 +1 for crab. Nifty beach find 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' George Santayana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 4 hours ago, Carl said: Likely not a horseshoe crab Morphology aside, horseshoe crab shell is composed of chitin. Crab shells are composed of calcite in a chitin matrix giving them a higher preservation potential. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 1 minute ago, Rockwood said: Morphology aside, horseshoe crab shell is composed of chitin. Crab shells are composed of calcite in a chitin matrix giving them a higher preservation potential. Thanks, Rocky! Didn't know that! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted May 28, 2019 Share Posted May 28, 2019 Just now, Carl said: Thanks, Rocky! Didn't know that! Suspected it, but just got through checking it myself. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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