Very strange fossil.. No ideas here

[Jaybot]

Like the title states… we are stumped. Found on the Kaw River as well. Thank you in advance, all suggestions appreciated!

Edited October 11, 2023 by Jaybot
Mistake

[minnbuckeye]

I will guess Drum mouth plate.

[Shellseeker]

Very interesting fossil.  Thanks for sharing

[digit]

1 hour ago, minnbuckeye said:

I will guess Drum mouth plate.

Ding ding ding!

 

And a nice example of a drum pharyngeal plate:

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=drum+mouth+plate&tbm=isch

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

[Jaybot]

2 hours ago, minnbuckeye said:

I will guess Drum mouth plate.

 

55 minutes ago, digit said:

Ding ding ding!

 

And a nice example of a drum pharyngeal plate:

 

https://www.google.com/search?q=drum+mouth+plate&tbm=isch

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

Thank you so much!  Makes sense looking at it now that I know what it is.  You guys are the best.  Have a great evening everyone 

[Carl]

I agree that it is a fish jaw with crushing teeth but I'm not certain it's a drum. Drum teeth are smooth and these have radial ridges. But I have no leads beyond that. Very interesting!

[digit]

1 hour ago, Carl said:

I agree that it is a fish jaw with crushing teeth but I'm not certain it's a drum. Drum teeth are smooth and these have radial ridges.

Keep in mind that the radial striations you are seeing on the two teeth poking out are on the root side of the tooth not the occlusal surface.

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

[Carl]

On 10/12/2023 at 11:02 AM, digit said:

Keep in mind that the radial striations you are seeing on the two teeth poking out are on the root side of the tooth not the occlusal surface.

 

 

Cheers.

 

-Ken

That's a pretty good point. But they look enamelized to me, no? And drumfish tooth roots don't look like that either.

[Al Dente]

On 10/12/2023 at 8:09 AM, Carl said:

I agree that it is a fish jaw with crushing teeth but I'm not certain it's a drum. Drum teeth are smooth and these have radial ridges. But I have no leads beyond that. Very interesting!

 

I think freshly erupted teeth have these striations. Here are the tooth plates of the freshwater drum and I think I can make out the same ridges on a few of the teeth. Photo from here-https://collections-zoology.fieldmuseum.org/catalogue/701485

 

 

Edited October 17, 2023 by Al Dente

[Al Dente]

Here's a better example of the radial striations. -https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/9136184

 

 

[Carl]

On 10/17/2023 at 8:57 AM, Al Dente said:

Here's a better example of the radial striations. -https://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/9136184

 

 

Aha! Fantastic - thanks for that!