Skull Found on Atlantic Shoreline

[Latte42 6]

Can anyone identify this what type of marine life this skull is part of? I found it today along the East Coast of United States - Atlantic Ocean

Spoon in photo for scale.

The strange up raised markings on top are perplexing. Type of Eel perhaps?

It's wet from me rinsing it in sink. 

Thank you!

 

Edited October 16, 2019 by Latte42
Add another photo

[Pagurus 1,735]

I haven't looked it up yet but I think it could be the skull of a sea robin or sea raven. Wait a bit and I'm sure someone will know.

[Latte42 6]

Sure! Thank you Pagurus. 

 

[Fossildude19 14,843]

Mike is right - Sea robin skull. 

Probably modern. 

 

LINK to more images.

[sharkdoctor 679]

+1 for sea robin. They do fossilize fairly well and can sometimes be found intact. I once found one intact in the Cooper River. If this one was found on a beach, I would expect it to be modern.

[Latte42 6]

Sea Robin upper skull fragment - recently deceased.

Thank you so much! 

Really beautiful formations on this skull.

Thank you everyone!

[Latte42 6]

3 minutes ago, sharkdoctor said:

+1 for sea robin. They do fossilize fairly well and can sometimes be found intact. I once found one intact in the Cooper River. If this one was found on a beach, I would expect it to be modern.

Nice! This one is definitely modern. Looking at intact ones online now, Sharkdoctor.  Thank you!

[D.N.FossilmanLithuania 458]

looks like from Catfish

[Mark Kmiecik 1,232]

Is that a teaspoon or tablespoon or a serving spoon? It makes a big difference. Spoons are NOT  a good scale reference! A ruler in centimeters or inches is always your best bet. The less ambiguity you present the more accurate the ID can be.

[Latte42 6]

Hi Mark,

 

The helpful members identified this skull immediately. 

 

Appreciate your advice.

 

Take care,

Kim : ) 

[hemipristis 310]

Am I the only odd one that finds the color combined with the ornamentation producing a beautiful piece of natural art?

 

PS also looks like a mini dragon head

[Latte42 6]

Yes a Dragon Head! I thought that the moment I found this, and still do! Thought I was watching too much of Game of Thrones lol.

Thank you for bringing up the dragon resemblance Hemipristis. 

Also, I'm a artist - a painter. I work with watercolors and ABSOLUTELY love the natural colors that are still evident on this skull flushing out

the rich spectacular detail of the designs that would otherwise be lost when skull is completely dry or fossilized. 

Spotted Little Dog Art is the name of my art studio. Look me up! You'll see, I love DETAIL and truly would love to capture the natural

coloring and details of this modern skull portion of the beautiful Sea Robin.

Edited October 17, 2019 by Latte42
grammar

[sixgill pete 2,344]

16 hours ago, Latte42 said:

Hi Mark,

 

The helpful members identified this skull immediately. 

 

Appreciate your advice.

 

Take care,

Kim : ) 

Kim, Mark was not trying to be unhelpful with his post  he was simply stating that using a spoon for scale is not a good way to give size reference. A stated measurement or a ruler is best. Please read some of the pinned topics on how to get your item I.D.'d. And yes it does look like a modern sea robin skull. But on something that is not apparent an actual measurement can be critical. Also saying it was found on the east coast does not give a location for geological reference. The east coast is large area with a variety of different geological ages that have many different species.

[Mark Kmiecik 1,232]

19 hours ago, Latte42 said:

Hi Mark,

 

The helpful members identified this skull immediately. 

 

Appreciate your advice.

 

Take care,

Kim : ) 

Sorry. Not trying to preach. If it wasn't immediately obvious what the item was I'm sure the others would have asked for a better scale reference. Just a suggestion for future scale reference on less recognizable specimens.

 

By the way, welcome to the forum. Good bunch of very knowledgeable folks here.

 

Edit: And I just scrolled up after posting this and noticed that sixgill pete had just said this. 

[Latte42 6]

Hi Mark and MOTM (Sixgill Pete),

 

No worries at all. I wrote a short note back to Mark, and I should have elaborated.

I did mention in my original post with skull portion that I can add more photos or info if needed. In my mind, that meant a full scale and better reference as you both suggested and this site informs its members.  

I was assuming this skull would be recognizable to many on this forum (just not to me lol) when I originally posted.

I understand completely when displaying less recognizable specimens that scale and more reference are vital and will work on doing just that in my future posts.

 

Thanks for the welcome!

Edited October 17, 2019 by Latte42
added info