MarcoSr Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 I found this palate looking through matrix from the Paleocene Aquia Formation (zone 4) of Virginia. It looks reptile to me. Any ideas on an id? The specimen is 5mm by 2mm. Marco Sr. "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost1066 Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 That is just cool. Wish we had things like that here. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichW9090 Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 Interesting; it appears from the photograph that the side of the fossil covered in little denticle-like nodules is the palatal side, and not the dorsal side of the rostrum, which to me suggests it is some sort of fish. Some of the deticles have a central cupped depression, which also suggests fish. If the osteoderms were on the dorsal side, I'd suggest possibly squamate (lizard). The plural of "anecdote" is not "evidence". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Hamilton Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 That's a cool find Marco! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted September 22, 2013 Author Share Posted September 22, 2013 Interesting; it appears from the photograph that the side of the fossil covered in little denticle-like nodules is the palatal side, and not the dorsal side of the rostrum, which to me suggests it is some sort of fish. Some of the deticles have a central cupped depression, which also suggests fish. If the osteoderms were on the dorsal side, I'd suggest possibly squamate (lizard). Rich I really wasn't sure whether this was fish or reptile. It doesn't resemble anything that I have found in the formation before. Marco Sr. "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 It might be the vomer from a bony fish. I have similar from the Cretaceous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted September 22, 2013 Share Posted September 22, 2013 Here is a bony fish premaxilla from Lee Creek that shows similar circular structures as your fossil. You can see a line of large circles that held the main teeth and the inner smaller circles that held tiny teeth. I'm guessing the teeth dropped out as the fish decomposed. This fossil is 1 inch long. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted September 23, 2013 Author Share Posted September 23, 2013 It might be the vomer from a bony fish. I have similar from the Cretaceous. Can you post a vomer from the Cretaceous? I have a good number of fish vomers from the Eocene but none from the Cretaceous. Marco Sr. "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted September 23, 2013 Author Share Posted September 23, 2013 Here is a bony fish premaxilla from Lee Creek that shows similar circular structures as your fossil. You can see a line of large circles that held the main teeth and the inner smaller circles that held tiny teeth. I'm guessing the teeth dropped out as the fish decomposed. This fossil is 1 inch long. premax.jpg I can definitely see the similarity with the bony fish jaw. I do have some bony fish jaws with some of the teeth but most have none of the teeth like your specimen. Marco Sr. "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Al Dente Posted September 23, 2013 Share Posted September 23, 2013 Can you post a vomer from the Cretaceous? I have a good number of fish vomers from the Eocene but none from the Cretaceous. Marco Sr. I was able to track down the specimen I was referring to . My specimen might be a pharyngeal tooth plate or could be a part of a vomer, I'm not sure. This specimen is 3 mm. wide and is from the Maastrichtian Peedee Formation. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted September 24, 2013 Author Share Posted September 24, 2013 I was able to track down the specimen I was referring to . My specimen might be a pharyngeal tooth plate or could be a part of a vomer, I'm not sure. This specimen is 3 mm. wide and is from the Maastrichtian Peedee Formation. Really nice specimen! I haven't seen any like that in the Cretaceous before. The Eocene vomers that I have look different and don't have any teeth in them. Marco Sr. "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vordigern Posted September 24, 2013 Share Posted September 24, 2013 very cool find! thanks for posting Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcoSr Posted September 28, 2013 Author Share Posted September 28, 2013 I had a small reptile expert from the USGS visit my house yesterday who was looking at a part of my collection for frog, salamander and lizard specimens. He confirmed that this jaw is not reptile but is fish. If you believe that you have any small reptile specimens from the Paleocene or Eocene of Maryland or Virginia, send me a PM and I can put you in touch with him. Marco Sr. "Any day that you can fossil hunt is a great day." My family fossil website Some Of My Shark, Ray, Fish And Other Micros My Extant Shark Jaw Collection Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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