cava.zachary Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 Hi all, I have some teeth from a recent fossil hunting trip in north Florida and was hoping some of you with more experience might be able to help with identification. A couple look like they are from a mammalian herbivore of some kind (ungulate?), another appears to be from a carnivore, perhaps a canid? It looks like part is broken off and I wonder if it might have once had a second root. I have a small shark tooth, which looks similar to photos of lemon shark teeth. Finally, several crocodilian teeth. I don't know if there is a way to distinguish Alligator mississippiensis teeth from other extinct relatives, but I do notice most of these teeth have a distinct ridge, if that is a diagnostic feature. I appreciate the help! P.S. What do you all like to use for displaying small fossils like these? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shellseeker Posted January 9, 2022 Share Posted January 9, 2022 (edited) 1st - look up lower left jaw of Paleaolama Mirifica. You have crenulations on this camel/llama tooth. 2nd. Predator. about 50% of a carnassial. Accurate measurements in millemeters. Length of chewing surface is most important. 3rd is a Mako shark. I am probably wrong on Mako. Others may tell you which one. 4th are all Alligator.. Crocodile is very rare find in Florida. Much thinner tooth with verticle striations. NICE Finds, Edited January 9, 2022 by Shellseeker 1 1 The White Queen ".... in her youth she could believe "six impossible things before breakfast" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cava.zachary Posted January 9, 2022 Author Share Posted January 9, 2022 Thank you @Shellseeker! To clarify, the first 2 images are one tooth, and images 3-4 are a second tooth. Think they are both camel/llama? Regarding the partial carnassial, it measures 11mm for the chewing surface. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 1. Deer 2. (need an occlusal view) 3. canid upper carnassial (P4), coyote size. 4. mako lower 5. gator teeth above 6. fish tooth below 1 1 http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted January 10, 2022 Share Posted January 10, 2022 23 hours ago, cava.zachary said: Finally, several crocodilian teeth. I don't know if there is a way to distinguish Alligator mississippiensis teeth from other extinct relatives, but I do notice most of these teeth have a distinct ridge, if that is a diagnostic feature. I appreciate the help! Gator teeth have a distinctive pair of carina (ridges) running from the tip down opposite sides of the tooth. To me they always look like they were formed in a 2-part mold. We have a few other crocodilians that have multiple carina (ridges) and much more narrow teeth which is more closely related to gharials. They are much less common fossil finds. See image 5D in the second link below: https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-vertebrate-fossils/species/thecachampsa-americana/ https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/florida-vertebrate-fossils/species/alligator-olseni/ There have been several chrono-species in Florida throughout the Miocene to Plio/Pleistocene but the teeth are very conservative and not at all diagnostic. Alligator sp. would be an appropriate label for your finds. Cheers. -Ken 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cava.zachary Posted January 11, 2022 Author Share Posted January 11, 2022 Thank you @Harry Pristis, attaching occlusal view of tooth #2 here. And wow, didn't realize there was a fish tooth in there. How can you tell it's from a fish? Any idea what kind of fish? Including some better images of that tooth as well. @digit thanks for the info -- the carina definitely remind me of the flash from a mold too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 Another deer tooth, I think. Definitely, a fish tooth based on the root attachment and the slenderness of the blade. 1 http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hemipristis Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 I believe the shark tooth to be a sand tiger, Carcharias sp 1 1 'Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.' George Santayana Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
digit Posted January 11, 2022 Share Posted January 11, 2022 12 hours ago, hemipristis said: I believe the shark tooth to be a sand tiger, Carcharias sp Possibly, a lateral--definitely not an anterior which has very U-shaped roots. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carcharias_taurus_teeth.jpg 14 hours ago, cava.zachary said: And wow, didn't realize there was a fish tooth in there. How can you tell it's from a fish? Any idea what kind of fish? Including some better images of that tooth as well. Possibly the Bowfin, Amia calva, we find these at a number of sites in Florida. It's a beautiful (yet scary) fish that's been around for millions of years (and still swims our waters). https://u.osu.edu/biomuseum/2015/09/21/fish-face/olympus-digital-camera-5/ Cheers. -Ken 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cava.zachary Posted January 11, 2022 Author Share Posted January 11, 2022 6 hours ago, digit said: Possibly the Bowfin, Amia calva, we find these at a number of sites in Florida. It's a beautiful (yet scary) fish that's been around for millions of years (and still swims our waters). Ah yes, those are cool fish. I would occasionally get them in my traps when I was doing turtle research in the area years ago. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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