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Hi there @joseph-dumont, @smoran might be able to help you narrow down this ID even further!

Thank you @mackenzie-ross-2, @smoran would you be able to help in identifying this astragalus? It looks like an astraglus from a Smilidon, but I’m just guessing. Measurements length from the head to back = 51.3 mm, width near back of astragalus = 39.9 mm, height = 31.9 mm. Any help in ID this item would be greatly appreciated and thank you for your time.

What a great specimen @joseph-dumont! It’s not screaming Smilodon to me, but it does bear some resemblance to Panthera. Let me get a second opinion and I’ll update you as soon as I hear. Great find!

Thanks @smoran!

@joseph-dumont I finally received a response from our Collections Manager at the Florida Museum. He says he thinks it’s too big to be Panthera onca (as I had suggested to him), but could be from a small bear. To my knowledge the only ursid known from the Peace is Tremarctos floridanus and even those are exceedingly rare (we only have three specimens from the Peace in our collections at the FLMNH, and all are dental records). Check out this publication for a figure of an astragalus from a different species of Tremarctos, but I think you’ll be able to see the similarity (https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/joa.13065). Hope that helps!

@smoran Thank you and everyone at Florida Museum for the time and effort in helping identifying this astragalus and the publication to read. This will provide a great starting point in learning more about astraglus from bears. Collecting fossils is fun, but ID’ing them, provides a much richer learning experience. The FLMNH is welcome to have this specimen if needed.

I completely agree @joseph-dumont! Thanks so much for generously offering to donate the specimen! I’ll reach out to the Collections Manager and see if he thinks the specimen has high enough research value that it would benefit the collection. In the meantime, could you update the data associated with the specimen to indicate the updated ID (and add any additional information you might have)? This specimen is certainly research quality, and I will mark it as such when the data are updated. Again, amazing find!!

@smoran data has been updated to the best of my knowledge – Thanks!

This is great! Thanks @joseph-dumont! Dr. Hulbert responded that the specimen would add scientifically to the Florida Museum collection and, if you are willing, a donation would be much appreciated. I’ll figure out a way to send you the donation form. (Does this link work?: http://www.myfossil.org/files/file/accession-form/) Thanks so much!

@smoran Donation form filled out and located at http://www.myfossil.org/files/folder/donation-form/ – not sure if other settings required for link to work. Let me know what the best way to get the fossil to FLMNH, FedEx, USPS, or wait until the next time I’ll driving near the FLMNH. I could contact Dr. Hulbert if you like me to arrange the delivery. Thanks!

Thanks @joseph-dumont! The form shows up great for me. I’m not sure there is any real preference of how to get the specimen to the FLMNH. I’ll get in touch with Dr. Hulbert and let you know.

Here’s what Dr. Hulbert says:

I think they are all equally safe.

If Fed-Ex or UPS, will need to use the street number address of Dickinson Hall: 1659 Museum Road;
IF USPS, then should use the university PO Box system: PO Box 7800

Everything else is the same:

Richard Hulbert
Street Address or PO Box
Florida Museum of Natural History
Gainesville, FL 32611

Thanks again for your generosity @joseph-dumont!!

Hi @smoran – just heard back from Dr. Hulbert and he ID’ed this astragalus as belonging to Smilodon fatalis (UF# 258410) – would you be able to unlock this specimen so I could update the information. Thank you for all your help!

Hi @mackenzie-ross-2 , would you be able to unlock this specimen# 71758 so I could update the information. I heard back from Dr. Hulbert and he ID’ed this astragalus as belonging to Smilodon fatalis (UF# 258410). Thank you for all your help!

Hi @mackenzie-ross-2 , @smoran , would you be able to unlock this specimen# 71758 so I could update the information. I heard back from Dr. Hulbert and he ID’ed this astragalus as belonging to Smilodon fatalis (UF# 258410). Thank you!

So sorry about that @joseph-dumont! I’m not completely sure how to unlock the specimen so that it can be updated. Would it be okay if I made the change to S. fatalis for you?

@smoran Yes that would be great and could also add the museum reference number UF# 258410 – Thank you for your help.

I think it should be good to go now @joseph-dumont! I added the UF reference specimen to the notes. If I understand correctly, that specimen was just as a reference to ID this one, right? Again, sorry for the delay in getting this fixed!

@smoran Looks great!