fossil_lover_2277 Posted November 22, 2021 Share Posted November 22, 2021 (edited) So, I found these 5 bones, and firstly, I need to know if they are cetacean or not. If not cetacean, then they are likely crocodilian, mosasaur, or I guess possibly turtle. They come from North Carolina, either from marine Cretaceous Black Creek group deposits, or there is a chance they could be marine Pliocene (hence why I would like to either confirm or rule out cetacean if possible). The area they come from is mostly Cretaceous, but I have found a few Pliocene shark teeth there, and stratigraphic maps show nearby Pliocene stratum, so I’m not totally sure (the area is in Cretaceous stratum on the map, but Pliocene is close by). These bones have distinct shapes so I think they may be IDable...but on my own I’m lost. Thank you for any help you can provide!!!!! Bone 1 (pretty sure it’s a rib): Bone 2: Bone 3: Bone 4 (I think this one is a rib too): Bone 5: Edited November 22, 2021 by fossil_lover_2277 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossil_lover_2277 Posted November 22, 2021 Author Share Posted November 22, 2021 (edited) I think this is a tough question, don’t know of too many places cetaceans might mix with ancient marine reptiles either...you all have helped me before with similar IDs, any thoughts?@pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon @JohnJ @Boesse Edited November 22, 2021 by fossil_lover_2277 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boesse Posted November 23, 2021 Share Posted November 23, 2021 Too incomplete to identify past fragments of baleen whale bone that could be either bits of mandible, rib, humerus, radius, ulna, and a couple possible others 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossil_lover_2277 Posted November 23, 2021 Author Share Posted November 23, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, Boesse said: Too incomplete to identify past fragments of baleen whale bone that could be either bits of mandible, rib, humerus, radius, ulna, and a couple possible others Thanks! So what gave them away as being whale? Just curious as to differences between cetacean vs reptile bone. Is part of the difference the amount of cancellous bone present? Edited November 23, 2021 by fossil_lover_2277 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boesse Posted November 24, 2021 Share Posted November 24, 2021 Whale bone is considerably porous, but lots of mammals are - in this case it's the size and length of the bony pores that indicate it's from a large marine mammal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fossil_lover_2277 Posted November 24, 2021 Author Share Posted November 24, 2021 40 minutes ago, Boesse said: Whale bone is considerably porous, but lots of mammals are - in this case it's the size and length of the bony pores that indicate it's from a large marine mammal. I see, thank you so much for the help, learned something new! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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