Specimen 160263 – myFOSSIL

I found this exposed in a shale cliff face. I

Joe Domjan posted a new specimen in the group What is it? from the myFOSSIL app 1 year, 2 months ago

1 year, 2 months ago

1 year, 2 months ago

Joe Domjan has contributed specimen mFeM 160263 to myFOSSIL!
- Lynette Luff replied 1 year, 2 months ago
  
  This looks to be bone. It could be part of a rib? It is tiny.
- Joe Domjan replied 1 year, 2 months ago
  
  @lynette-luff Thank you, I have no idea about identifying fossils. Have you got any tips, even if it is to do with either bone structure appearances or identifying time periods?
- Lynette Luff replied 1 year, 2 months ago
  
  Ive learned there is a technique called the tongue test . I kid you not. Apparently this us a rite of passage for us fossil hunters. You taste the fossil. If it sticks to your tongue it is a fossil. If it diesnt
- Mason Hintermeister replied 1 year, 2 months ago
  
  @lynette-luff the tongue test is a bit of an urban myth in paleontology! While it certainly works sometimes for fossil bone specifically due to it’s porosity, there are many instances fossil bone won’t stick and many instances in which non-fossils will stick so it is very unreliable. It also is perhaps not the most hygienic thing to be doing, so I…[Read more]
- Mason Hintermeister replied 1 year, 2 months ago
  
  @joe-domjan Fossils from Whitby are from the upper triassic to early jurassic if memory serves. I have not seen many of this color from there, they tend to be jet black, though I am not an expert on fossils from the site. My first reaction was echinoid spine, though it could be a fish bit as well.
- Joe Domjan replied 1 year, 2 months ago
  
  @mason-hintermeister Echinoid spine looks very similar in comparison so could be a possibility. A shape like this makes me feel that it cannot be coincidentally shaped like a bone to be a spine however. I am not an expert, I am curious if there is any way to clarify that it is a fossil and not wood.
- Joe Domjan replied 1 year, 2 months ago
  
  @mason-hintermeister If you happen to have any speculation, what kind of “fish bit” would you distinguish this as – Could be the fish type or area of the fish?
- Mason Hintermeister replied 1 year, 2 months ago
  
  @joe-domjan In the fossil deposits, it is not unusual to find fish pectoral spines of similar shape, however I am unfamiliar with Jurassic fish so I can’t say if they have similar structures. I have some fish material from Whitby at home, nothing directly comparable. Fish bones are more or less the only type of vertebrate material of which I am…[Read more]
- Lynette Luff replied 1 year, 2 months ago
  
  Joe apologies for the tongue test thing. I am thankful to Mason for his insight, so I dont perpetuate false information. Hehe, did I fall for it or what?
- Lynette Luff replied 1 year, 2 months ago
  
  So I went back and used masonhinterw
- Lynette Luff replied 1 year, 2 months ago
  
  I looked at some images using @masonhintermeisters suggestion. Echinoid spines did not match. Check out fossil Catfish spines.
- Lauren Roberts replied 1 year, 2 months ago
  
  Maybe rib?

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