megaholic Posted March 17, 2015 Posted March 17, 2015 Just when I was going to start complaining about the high water on Saturday, this thing drops into my screen. It is in perfect condition, and it sure isn't from a deer! But what is it from? Thanks for looking. Exactly 2 inches long and 5/8 wide. "A man who asks is a fool for five minutes. A man who never asks is a fool for life".
Harry Pristis Posted March 18, 2015 Posted March 18, 2015 I think it's an ursid metapodial. http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest
RichW9090 Posted March 18, 2015 Posted March 18, 2015 Metapodial for sure, Harry - but you should check carefully - Smilodon gracilis and Tremartcos, for example, can look very similar. The plural of "anecdote" is not "evidence".
megaholic Posted March 18, 2015 Author Posted March 18, 2015 Thanks guys. Both of those posts make me smilolot. "A man who asks is a fool for five minutes. A man who never asks is a fool for life".
PrehistoricFlorida Posted March 18, 2015 Posted March 18, 2015 I would begin by comparing to tapir side metapodials. These pictures don't strike me as a carnivoran metapodial. www.PrehistoricFlorida.com
DylanS Posted March 19, 2015 Posted March 19, 2015 I agree with Nate looks like a Tapir side metapodial. Seems too stout and robust for bear or cat to me. It looks like one of the smaller metapodials that are present on their front feet but I'm not 100% sure on that.
Harry Pristis Posted March 19, 2015 Posted March 19, 2015 I don't think it belongs to a tapir, Nate. Here are some tapir metapodials: http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest
megaholic Posted March 19, 2015 Author Posted March 19, 2015 If it is a tapir, it would be from a small one. It measures about 1/2 the length of those that Harry shows. That said, I would think the lateral digits WOULD be smaller and more curved as it does demonstrate. "A man who asks is a fool for five minutes. A man who never asks is a fool for life".
PrehistoricFlorida Posted March 19, 2015 Posted March 19, 2015 Harry, Your metapodials appear to the second and fourth metapodials. I believe the bone in question to be a fifth metacarpal which is very reduced in comparison to the second and fourth metapodials. Many people don't realize that tapirs have four metacarpals. www.PrehistoricFlorida.com
Harry Pristis Posted March 19, 2015 Posted March 19, 2015 I don't have a metacarpal V in my comparison collection. Can you provide an image, Nate? . . . Anyone? Unless my old eyes are betraying me, this bone has an articular facet on both sides of the proximal end. What did MC-V articulate with that would have produced that extra facet? http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest
megaholic Posted March 27, 2015 Author Posted March 27, 2015 I finally got a hands on ID from Dr Hulbert on this one.... He thinks either capybara or giant beaver, but needs to see comparisons from the collection to say for sure. I can see now why there was considerable discussion over it. Thanks to all. "A man who asks is a fool for five minutes. A man who never asks is a fool for life".
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