Cretaceous Fossils

[SoreBack]

Hello Folks,

These are a few things that we found that are in need of names. I think that this first one might be crocodile, it's 17mm thick.

Thanks,

Steve

[SoreBack]

Last but not least, this thing. It looks like a partial jaw but that's a guess.

Thanks Again,

Steve

[TyrannosaurusRex]

1 appears to be a partial scute from either croc or alligator

[Al Dente]

I think your first bone is turtle and not croc. My croc specimens don't have spongy bone in the osteoderms but mine are thin. Turtle bone can have a lot of spongy bone inside. Your tooth looks like a broken Ischyrhiza mira rostral tooth.

[non-remanié]

I agree with Al Dente and would say Enchodus jaw for the other piece

[Troodon]

Yes turtle and wish we had a little more of that broken tooth but I agree with Al Dente most likely Ischyrhiza rostral tooth. No comment on the jaw.

[SoreBack]

Thanks Guys,

I thought that the tooth might be sawfish but I wasn't sure if it was I. mira or a different species. I found two substantial hunks of Enchodus jaw today but a very large Squalicorax and my first large mosasaur tooth were the trip makers. I got a beat up small mosasaur tooth yesterday.

Steve

[non-remanié]

Its definitely I. mira and Enchodus. This is the most typical state of both fossils for NJ. Most Enchodus jaw pieces like this one probably go uncollected, but they are around in good quantity. The more you see over time, the more similar pieces or fragments you will find and be able to identify as such. In the upper right of the third picture is where the palatine tooth would be attached, but its so worn that you only have a general shape to guide you, along with the bone texture.

[squali]

Nice finds. Could we get a look at the large Squalicorax ?

[SoreBack]

Thanks Guys,

I usually see at least one piece of jaw with the more classic shape on every trip. I usually don't collect the jaw fragments anymore but this piece was not typical of what I usually notice. Here's the large S. pristodontus, the teeth that I find in this size class are often chipped or worse.

Steve

[Nocturne87]

Wow, those are sweet!

[Dryptosaur]

First one looks like a piece of Trionyx turtle shell.