The Jersey Devil Posted July 13, 2019 Share Posted July 13, 2019 (edited) Hi everyone, I have this partial fish bone from the Late Campanian of New Jersey, 72 Ma. I have never seen this type of bone structure before, but for some reason it reminds me of some type of rostrum (billfish?). It is a little over an inch at greatest dimension. Any ideas are appreciated! Edited July 14, 2019 by The Jersey Devil “You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” ― Mikhail Tal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted July 14, 2019 Share Posted July 14, 2019 7 hours ago, The Jersey Devil said: rostrum (billfish?) Protosphyraena ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jersey Devil Posted July 14, 2019 Author Share Posted July 14, 2019 6 hours ago, Rockwood said: Protosphyraena ? That would be very interesting as Protosphyraena is extremely rare here. Do you know if it or other similar-age fish have the same structure? “You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” ― Mikhail Tal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FossilNerd Posted July 14, 2019 Share Posted July 14, 2019 Tim may have an idea. @Fossildude19 The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it. -Neil deGrasse Tyson Everyone you will ever meet knows something you don't. -Bill Nye (The Science Guy) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted July 14, 2019 Share Posted July 14, 2019 21 minutes ago, FossilNerd said: Tim may have an idea. @Fossildude19 I've got nothing. I'm better with older fish, honestly. 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...
Rockwood Posted July 14, 2019 Share Posted July 14, 2019 Well, it's in @Carl 's back yard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jersey Devil Posted July 14, 2019 Author Share Posted July 14, 2019 @Carl @non-remanié Any help would be greatly appreciated. “You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” ― Mikhail Tal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hemipristis Posted July 15, 2019 Share Posted July 15, 2019 On 7/14/2019 at 4:17 PM, Rockwood said: Protosphyraena ? I found this image online: 2 '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 July 15, 2019 Share Posted July 15, 2019 Maybe. I was thinking rostrum though. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jersey Devil Posted July 15, 2019 Author Share Posted July 15, 2019 4 hours ago, hemipristis said: I found this image online: 4 hours ago, Rockwood said: Maybe. I was thinking rostrum though. Thanks guys! It definitely looks very similar. However, I am not entirely sure that Protosphyraena is the only fish that possessed that type of structure. “You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” ― Mikhail Tal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted July 15, 2019 Share Posted July 15, 2019 I'm not seeing enough there to even feel confident it's a fish. Certainly interesting and definitely looks like bone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jersey Devil Posted July 15, 2019 Author Share Posted July 15, 2019 6 hours ago, Carl said: I'm not seeing enough there to even feel confident it's a fish. Certainly interesting and definitely looks like bone. What would it be if it’s not fish? It definitely doesn’t have that reptilian/dinosaurian bone structure. “You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” ― Mikhail Tal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankh8147 Posted July 15, 2019 Share Posted July 15, 2019 I actually have a piece with a similar pattern. I thought it was turtle shell and never gave it a second thought but I could be wrong so isn't an attempt to ID, just a comparison piece. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jersey Devil Posted July 16, 2019 Author Share Posted July 16, 2019 5 hours ago, frankh8147 said: I actually have a piece with a similar pattern. I thought it was turtle shell and never gave it a second thought but I could be wrong so isn't an attempt to ID, just a comparison piece. Neat piece Frank. Could you please take some more pics of the different sides? “You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” ― Mikhail Tal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 I can imagine both pieces being from a Protostegid plastron perhaps. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankh8147 Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 9 hours ago, The Jersey Devil said: Neat piece Frank. Could you please take some more pics of the different sides? Sure! I should be able to get some more pictures this afternoon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carl Posted July 16, 2019 Share Posted July 16, 2019 17 hours ago, The Jersey Devil said: What would it be if it’s not fish? It definitely doesn’t have that reptilian/dinosaurian bone structure. I'd use caution with a piece this small. I've seen this kind of texture on turtles, as mentioned, and I've seen "what else could it be" go tragically wrong too many times to use it cavalierly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jersey Devil Posted July 16, 2019 Author Share Posted July 16, 2019 4 hours ago, Carl said: I'd use caution with a piece this small. I've seen this kind of texture on turtles, as mentioned, and I've seen "what else could it be" go tragically wrong too many times to use it cavalierly. Well, alrighty thanks for the heads up. I think it looked “fishy” when I looked at its side structure . “You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” ― Mikhail Tal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frankh8147 Posted July 18, 2019 Share Posted July 18, 2019 A day late and a dollar short but here are the other angles of mine.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rockwood Posted July 18, 2019 Share Posted July 18, 2019 Dollar short ! You kidding ? Looks like turtle texture to me. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jersey Devil Posted July 18, 2019 Author Share Posted July 18, 2019 38 minutes ago, frankh8147 said: A day late and a dollar short but here are the other angles of mine.. Yeah, that is definitely a turtle peripheral. “You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” ― Mikhail Tal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
non-remanié Posted August 2, 2019 Share Posted August 2, 2019 I lean towards Protosphyraena but that's not the only option. I believe it is bony fish. More precise locality info might help. I think Enchodus opercular bones have a similar surface pattern or texture as well. 3 ---Wie Wasser schleift den Stein, wir steigen und fallen--- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jersey Devil Posted August 2, 2019 Author Share Posted August 2, 2019 16 hours ago, non-remanié said: I lean towards Protosphyraena but that's not the only option. I believe it is bony fish. More precise locality info might help. I think Enchodus opercular bones have a similar surface pattern or texture as well. If it is Protosphyraena, would it be part of the fin like in the picture posted above? Could size rule out Enchodus? “You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” ― Mikhail Tal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Jersey Devil Posted March 3, 2020 Author Share Posted March 3, 2020 On 8/2/2019 at 12:21 AM, non-remanié said: I lean towards Protosphyraena but that's not the only option. I believe it is bony fish. More precise locality info might help. I think Enchodus opercular bones have a similar surface pattern or texture as well. I was thinking, could Pachycormiformes cover the possibilities better? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachycormiformes “You must take your opponent into a deep dark forest where 2+2=5, and the path leading out is only wide enough for one.” ― Mikhail Tal Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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