jpevahouse Posted September 23, 2014 Share Posted September 23, 2014 Last month there was discussion pertaining to an Oligiocene astragalus I bought identified by the seller as hyracodon. Regardless of the many useful opinions expressed by forum users I wanted to find a picture and definitive identification. After many fruitless internet searches finally this week I found the Leidy report describing hyracodon with accurate drawings. The astragalus I bought is definitely not hyracodon which opens another mystery?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Plax Posted September 29, 2014 Share Posted September 29, 2014 got pics of your bone that's not Hyracodon? Am about sure I can't help but thought this could use a bump also. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpevahouse Posted September 29, 2014 Author Share Posted September 29, 2014 (edited) There was discussion on a previous post pertaining to an astragalus I bought identified as hyracodon. See attached photo. The bone in question is on the right, the other astragalus is identified by the same dealer as from subhyracodon. Obviously two very different bones. My concerns were, the dealer is reputible and operates a website on White River Formation fossils. Also, I couldn't find an illustration at the time of a hyracodon astragalus for comparison which I would consider as definitive. Since I have found the Leidy illustration which clearly shows a hyracodon astragalus. I accept this as settling the issue. The bone I bought is obviously not a hyracodon astragalus. Edited September 29, 2014 by jpevahouse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddrahn Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Your astragalus is definitely from some type of artiodactyl (even-toed ungulate). Probably either an oreodont or camel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpevahouse Posted September 30, 2014 Author Share Posted September 30, 2014 (edited) After finally determining the bone was not hyracodon I wasn't disappointed. It's still an interesting fossil. However, I would like to know from which animal if possible. Since the astragalus is a very generic type size seems to be the only characteristic which might indicate a species. It's twice the size of the oreodont astagalus I own. There were many species of oreodont but most were about the same size. The larger, later oreodont species are rare and I think an unlikely candidate for this one. So, the question is: what Oligocene era animal was larger than an oreodont but smaller than a hyracodon? The camel, poebrotherium I think was about the size as an oreodont. Leaves me without any obvious candidates. Your astragalus is definitely from some type of artiodactyl (even-toed ungulate). Probably either an oreodont or camel. Edited September 30, 2014 by jpevahouse Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ddrahn Posted September 30, 2014 Share Posted September 30, 2014 Just going by size (and I haven't researched it yet) but what about an entelodont? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpevahouse Posted October 1, 2014 Author Share Posted October 1, 2014 That's a very good suggestion. I checked and the size for entelodont and daeodon are about right. Just going by size (and I haven't researched it yet) but what about an entelodont? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 For comparison: http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/gallery/image/2-artiodactyl-astragali/ 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...
jpevahouse Posted October 1, 2014 Author Share Posted October 1, 2014 My specimen is close to the size of the Miocene Hemiauchenia camel atragalus in your example. However, it is not Miocene and from the White River Formation Oligiocene. It's also more verticle/rectangular in shape. Close but not a convincing match. For comparison: http://www.thefossilforum.com/index.php?/gallery/image/2-artiodactyl-astragali/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jpc Posted October 1, 2014 Share Posted October 1, 2014 It is certainly an large artiodactyl... I would agree with the entelodont guess. Guess being an important word. Certainly not either Hyracodon or subH, as these are perissodactyls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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