Elmo Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 I found this at Flag Ponds yesterday and I’m trying to figure out if it’s just a weird bone frag, or if it’s an identifiable fossil. It has some holes that seem to have been bored through it before it fossilized. It kinda resembles ear bones that I’ve seen in pics online. I’m not saying it is an ear bone, just saying that I can’t find anything else that resembles it. Any help would be greatly appreciated. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fin Lover Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 Might be part of a periotic, but I haven't found enough to be good at IDing them, so we'll see what others say. 1 1 3 Fin Lover Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tidgy's Dad Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 I think maybe a dolphin periotic? 1 1 Life's Good! Tortoise Friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 (edited) Definitely a petrosal or periotic. Great find! I’ve found many, but never learnt the art and science of IDing them. my gut feeling is that this isn’t a dolphin and I wonder if it’s actually a petrosal from a terrestrial mammal? Or pinniped (seal) That’s just an impression though as it looks different to the odontocete periotics I’ve seen. Edited May 8 by Doctor Mud 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 I’ve asked a local cetacean specialist to take a look. I’ll let you know what he says 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doctor Mud Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 Heard back from a New Zealand cetacean paleontologist. He said: "This is definitely a mysticete. I don’t quite have the right views to be sure, but it might be some sort of cetotheriid" So a mysticete periotic which is a baleen whale. Great find 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Elmo Posted May 8 Author Share Posted May 8 4 hours ago, Doctor Mud said: Heard back from a New Zealand cetacean paleontologist. He said: "This is definitely a mysticete. I don’t quite have the right views to be sure, but it might be some sort of cetotheriid" So a mysticete periotic which is a baleen whale. Great find Thank you very much and please tell your specialist I said thank you to him! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brandy Cole Posted May 8 Share Posted May 8 @Doctor Mud Thanks to you and the specialist for taking the time to make the ID! 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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