Deformed Bones From Calvert Cliffs

[putt510]

Does anyone have any deformed bones from calvert cliffs. I have found a vert with a deformity but have no idea what may have caused it.

[Troodon]

I have not seen any pathology on bones from Calvert Cliffs but if you post the image of yours you may get feedback on what caused it.

[Metopocetus]

There are many different causes for deformities in cetacean (whale and dolphin) vertebrae. The most common is arthrhitis.

If you can post a picture of the fossil that would be very helpful in identifying the deformity and possible cause.

[siteseer]

Here's a link to a paper on paleopathologies of whale bones from the west coast. You might find a match to the bone condition of your vert.

http://www.nhm.org/site/sites/default/files/pdf/contrib_science/SS-41.pdf

Does anyone have any deformed bones from calvert cliffs. I have found a vert with a deformity but have no idea what may have caused it.

Edited December 29, 2014 by siteseer

[putt510]

Hey guys, I finally took some pics of the bones. The bone was found in calvert formation.

[putt510]

Here are the rest of the pics. You can see that the extra bone is attached to the vert.

[Metopocetus]

Looks like arthrhitis. Here is a paper that describes the condition in more detail.

http://www.repository.naturalis.nl/document/43550

[non-remanié]

very cool specimen!

[Triceratops]

An interesting find with a story

[smokeriderdon]

Yep, looks a lot like my knee. Arthritis.

[Al Dente]

You might be looking at matrix attached to the bone. On your first photo in post #5 it looks like sand grains in the attached piece and the last photo in post #6 looks like a gastropod impression near the top. You can determine if it is matrix by looking at it under magnification. I would look for sand grains which would indicate matrix instead of bone.

[Boesse]

I actually have to agree with Al Dente on this. I strongly suspect that's a well-cemented sandstone nodule on the side that just happens to be the same color as the bone, and I'm unable to see any bony-looking texture or tissue aside from the normal part of the vertebra.

[RichW9090]

It looks to me to possibly be an example of the deep-sea diving syndrome which has been described for various marine animals, where something akin to the bends causes defects in the vertebral discs and adjacent centra; some bone deposition and attempts at remodeling followed. You'd have to get the bone to a good paleopathologist familiar with the syndrome. I know that there were a couple of papers a few years back. Maybe Howell Thomas was one of those who documented it?

Bobby, can you help out here?

Edit: I see Bobby replied while I was composing. Never mind!

Edited January 1, 2015 by RichW9090

[putt510]

It looks to me to possibly be an example of the deep-sea diving syndrome which has been described for various marine animals, where something akin to the bends causes defects in the vertebral discs and adjacent centra; some bone deposition and attempts at remodeling followed. You'd have to get the bone to a good paleopathologist familiar with the syndrome. I know that there were a couple of papers a few years back. Maybe Howell Thomas was one of those who documented it?

Bobby, can you help out here?

Edit: I see Bobby replied while I was composing. Never mind!

Where is Bobby in here?