-
Susan Robertson posted a new specimen in the group
What is it? from the myFOSSIL app 4 years, 7 months ago 4 years, 7 months ago4 years, 7 months agoSusan Robertson has contributed a new specimen to myFOSSIL!
Susan Robertson posted a new specimen in the group What is it? from the myFOSSIL app 4 years, 7 months ago
Susan Robertson has contributed a new specimen to myFOSSIL!
Where did you find it? This should help narrow it down. Could potentially be a cetacean mandible but it’s helpful to know where it was found and the size!
Westmoreland state park, in Virginia, 8 years ago. It’s about 2 inches width and 1/2 inch height. I was wondering if it could be a picary jaw?
@jeanette-pirlo – you think it could be a peccary jaw? I think much of the deposits at Westmoreland are marine.
I don’t think it’s peccary, but I’ll double check. Usually, in mammals with heterodont dentition (different tooth types) like a peccary would have different size alveolus (holes where teeth come out of). Since cetaceans like dolphins have homodont dentition (all the teeth are the same shape) the alveoli are pretty equal in shape and size and spacing. Similar to an alligator (alveolus would be different size diameters) I’ll look into it and provide more info
Thank you 😊
Hi Susan, So we can’t add images to the comments, so i’ve created a set of instructions for you to access the Florida Museum’s Vert Paleo database where you can look up examples of a peccary mandible vs a dolphin mandible and you can compare your specimen. See below:
1. Access the FLMNH Vertebrate Paleontology Database (open source): https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/vertpaleo-search/search
2. In the ‘Family’ box, enter Tayassuidae (note that the box will give you suggestions, use the suggestions given)
3. At the top of the page, check the box ‘Only results with images’
4. Click ‘Submit Query’
5. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and you’ll see specimens from the collections with images. If you click on the images of the first specimen that shows up (UF/TRO 408) and arrow to the third image (occlusal/grinding surface of teeth) you’ll see that the alveoli of the teeth in a Peccary are shaped very differently from your specimen.
6. do steps 2-4, but use the term ‘Schizodelphidae’ under ‘Family’.
7. Specimen number UF 115691 will show a nice maxilla and mandible of an extinct river dolphin. These images are similar to your specimen.
Feel free to play around with the database! Let me know if you have any questions.
-Jeanette