jhw Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 These came from a departed friends collection of oddities that I'm working my way through. Obviously modern, but also quite old. (everything Gary had was old!) No provenance, sorry, but should be an easy i.d. for any of you bone experts. Thank you for any info. you can provide. JW Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave pom Allen Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 the large one looks like a seal but i could be way off no idea of the small one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhw Posted October 8, 2014 Author Share Posted October 8, 2014 i'm thinking the smaller one might be antelope of some sort? But also just guessing. I'm confident someone here will know. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tmaier Posted October 8, 2014 Share Posted October 8, 2014 I Know... Oh poor Yorick, I knew him well... :D :D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members ddrahn Posted October 9, 2014 New Members Share Posted October 9, 2014 I'm thinking that the larger one may be a portion of a dolphin skull. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
njfossilhunter Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 (edited) The larger skull .....my first impression was a deformed baby dolphin that was born or died soon after birth because I don't see any nasel openings. Maybe the two opening on the back underside are the nasel openings if so then this creature died at birth. Edited October 9, 2014 by njfossilhunter TonyThe Brooks Are Like A Box Of Chocolates,,,, You Never Know What You'll Find. I Told You I Don't Have Alzheimer's.....I Have Sometimers. Some Times I Remember And Some Times I Forget.... I Mostly Forget. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RichW9090 Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 The larger one appears to be part of a skull of a California Sea Lion, and the smaller one appears to be a deer skull. Again, to Bobby for the marine mammal. The plural of "anecdote" is not "evidence". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
New Members ddrahn Posted October 9, 2014 New Members Share Posted October 9, 2014 I think you're right about the sea lion. I was totally ignoring the sagital crest. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Boesse Posted October 9, 2014 Share Posted October 9, 2014 (edited) Larger one is probably an adult male California sea lion Zalophus californianus, although I can't be certain without seeing the skull in lateral view. You don't see any "nasal openings" because the rostrum has fallen off - see the attached photo of a disarticulated juvenile NZ fur seal Arctocephalus forsteri. I'm actually collecting some data on this style of disarticulation as there are several examples of "faceless" fur seal skulls in the fossil record. As for the other skull, the most likely option is a deer - it has the artiodactyl "look" to it. EDIT: It's got antler bases, so it's an Odocoileus for sure. Edited October 9, 2014 by Boesse 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jhw Posted October 9, 2014 Author Share Posted October 9, 2014 Sea lion and deer sounds like a good match to me. My Buddy Gary, and his parents were lifelong Malibu Canyon and beach combing residents in CA. Thanks for your help and comments! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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