Unknown fossil with teeth from a Victoria beach

  • Thread starter figjam616
  • Start date
28 replies · 12K views · last reply
figjam616
Messages
10
Reaction score
0
Hello everyone!
The fossil was found on a beach in Victoria, Australia.
I have no idea what it is or how old, so if someone has an idea, let's hear it.
It "looks" like jaw/teeth. Also the teeth "look" carnivorous.
Cheers!

...trying to upload pics, but none of the icons work...
 

Discussion

While editing post go to advanced mode, look for Managing attachments buttons below edit box.
 
Thanks for the help, but i click on 'edit' post i don't see any option for 'advanced mode'
 
Are you trying to attach a picture, as in upload it to the PF server, or link to a picture hosted elsewhere? The Icon that looks like a picture frame that says "insert image" is only for linking to a picture. To attach an image, you must scroll down to "Additional options", under "attach files", select "manage attachments", then follow instructions.

If you can't find the "Go Advanced" button next to the "Save" button, then just start a new thread and follow my instructions for the picture option you need.
 
The problem was none of the icons/buttons/fonts settings would do anything when clicked on.
However the problem has righted itself, so the website or my pc was having s*** fit at the time.
 
figjam616 said:
The problem was none of the icons/buttons/fonts settings would do anything when clicked on.
However the problem has righted itself, so the website or my pc was having s*** fit at the time.
So, will you be posting pictures?
 
Ok here we go...
 
Attachments
  • Photo of a fossilised jaw fragment with several rows of worn, yellow-brown teeth set in pale bone, resting on a light blue cloth.
    P10104671.jpg
    44.3 KB · Views: 669
  • Photo of a fossilised mammal jawbone with molar teeth in two rows on a grey cloth background, viewed from above.
    P1010465.jpg
    37.2 KB · Views: 681
  • Photo of a fossilised jaw fragment with two rows of conical teeth, the upper and lower jaws separated, resting on a grey cloth.
    P1010462.jpg
    36 KB · Views: 662
another to judge the size
 
Attachments
  • Fossil jaw fragment with several molar-like teeth in sockets, lying on a light blue cloth beside a white ballpoint pen for scale.
    P1010468.jpg
    45.7 KB · Views: 716
Teeth! Did I guess correctly?

Seriously, nice set, where did you find them? I'm guessing you chipped the rock out between them?
 
Evo said:
Teeth! Did I guess correctly?

Seriously, nice set, where did you find them? I'm guessing you chipped the rock out between them?

You sure did, well I'm pretty sure it is...
Nope haven't done anything to it. Found washed up on the beach, as is, In Venus Bay, Victoria, Australia.
Any clue on what it is?
 
No idea what it could be, but shape of teeth and their placement is always a very characteristic feature - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dentition#Dental_formula


[armchair analysis]
I hope Andre's expert will tell us more - the way I see it incisors are not present (most likely destroyed), then there are fangs - and then each half of the jaw looks different, even if they should be identical. Could be this particular specimen ignored his dentist for too long. I have a feeling molars looks wide, as if they were used for chewing and grinding, predators molars are more narrow as they are used as scissors. So it was either herbivore or omnivore. That's mostly speculation, but I would love to know how close/far I was :smile:
[/armchair analysis]
 
So my expert, http://www.sciencemag.org/content/290/5499/2062 is not familiar with this species, which means that several 10,000s Pleistocene mammal species can be considered eliminated. He thinks that it could be from a local mammal species from the Australian fauna and he urges to consult a local paleonthologist. It could be interesting.
 
Interesting...
Does he have an idea as to how old it might be? I've got no idea how long it takes to 'make' a fossil :rolleyes:
 
In the first photograph the structures which resemble teeth look very much like belemnites which are fossilised squid type creatures.
 
Meanwhile I have forwarded the pix to the senior fellow of the paleontologic section of the Australian museum.

http://tinypic.com/r/96ap6p/7
http://tinypic.com/r/2mwxm5l/7
http://tinypic.com/r/33yhkpu/7
http://tinypic.com/r/wi0yt1/7

(entered the links for easy access to all)

figjam616 said:
Interesting...
Does he have an idea as to how old it might be? I've got no idea how long it takes to 'make' a fossil :rolleyes:

Well, is this fossil partly or completely mineralized (petrified)? You can judge that by weight, bones are very light. It looks like it is petrified, but it's hard to judge from those pix.

If it's still bone, it's easy to carbon date. If it is mineralized it's not datable anymore. You can only estimate a minimum time required to mineralize, which is likely dependent on a lot of factors. Fossil bones in Northern Siberia can still be bones after more than 60,000 years, the maximum extend of carbon dating. However bones of a 40-50,000 year old fauna in the North Sea, can be partly mineralized. Bones in Florida seem to mineralize in 10,000 years, so that latter could be a reasonable guess for the minimum age, but it also means that it could be millions of years.
 
Last edited:
Andre said:
Well, is this fossil partly or completely mineralized (petrified)? You can judge that by weight, bones are very light. It looks like it is petrified, but it's hard to judge from those pix.

definitely feels heavier than what normal bones of that size should, thanks for helping me out with this!

couple more closer pics
 
Attachments
  • Photo of a weathered, pale tan fossilized jaw fragment with several conical teeth visible along its upper and lower edges, resting on a blue cloth.
    P1010472.jpg
    36.9 KB · Views: 628
  • Close-up photo of a fossilized jaw fragment on a grey cloth, showing a row of orange-brown tooth roots set in grey-tan bone with a rough, weathered surface.
    P1010471.jpg
    48.7 KB · Views: 595
  • Close-up photo of a brown, weathered fossil resting on a grey cloth, showing a rounded bone-like end with pitted surface and a row of ridged, tooth-like structures along one side.
    P1010470.jpg
    34 KB · Views: 578
some more...
 
Attachments
  • Close-up photo of a pale tan, weathered rock fragment held between fingers, with several rounded, tooth-like sockets or cavities set into its surface.
    P1010474.jpg
    42.5 KB · Views: 552
  • Close-up photo of a weathered tan fossil bone with a broken end showing porous interior and a row of tooth-like sockets or crowns along the edge on a grey cloth background.
    P1010473.jpg
    38.9 KB · Views: 597
Nice find - it might be the skull of something similar to a tapir.
 
Andre said:
Meanwhile I have forwarded the pix to the senior fellow of the paleontologic section of the Australian museum.


Andre, have you heard anything back yet?
Cheers
 
I have also stumbled across something that, in my mind, seems like an exciting find. As I looked down, I could see a clear shape of a large head and mouth. At the base of the head appeared to be a hollowed out area where a neck would have been. I found this after a heavy rain. I would grateful for someone to take a look at the attached photos and let me know if I'm out of my mind - which may very well be likely. The close up pic is of the mouth and what I would imagine are fossilized teeth.

Thanks for any reply.

Jerry

If you have trouble with the attachments, the pics can be viewed at the link below as well.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/20848952@N02/sets/72157631134267906/
 
Attachments
  • Wide view of a rocky, eroded sandstone surface with scattered gravel; a pale, orange-stained rounded mass with a crusty, weathered texture sits in the center-left.
    headandneck1.jpg
    110.8 KB · Views: 591
  • Photo of a pale, weathered rock surface with an orange-yellow rim and fine cracked texture, set among grey sandstone boulders and gravel.
    headandneck2.jpg
    104.8 KB · Views: 595
  • Close-up of weathered rock with a rounded, dark brown nodule and a smaller cobble beside it, set against ochre-coloured sandstone-like rock with a dusty, layered surface.
    cumouth.jpg
    113.8 KB · Views: 578
Hi mcjerry, interesting find. It would help if you said where you found this.
 
Hi mcjerry

Take a magnet and check that brown area. Looks like metal to me.

NQ :-)
 
I was hiking near the San Fernando mountain range just outside of Los Angeles, California, US. I would guess maybe 500 to 600 feet above sea level. The region is a desert, remarkably dry, but a heavy rain had fallen a day or so before I discovered this. Thanks so much for taking a look. I'm interested in hearing your thoughts.
 
mcjerry said:
I was hiking near the San Fernando mountain range just outside of Los Angeles, California, US. I would guess maybe 500 to 600 feet above sea level. The region is a desert, remarkably dry, but a heavy rain had fallen a day or so before I discovered this. Thanks so much for taking a look. I'm interested in hearing your thoughts.
Wow, very interesting. I have recently unearthed some fossils from much earlier than what yours would be and they had that weird orange coloring. Other fossils in nearby rocks were the expected white. I'm not sure what happened, I will probably contact the local university.

I suggest that you contact the paleontolgy department at a nearby university. Looks like a crocodile, doesn't it?
 
Thanks for the comment. I will send the pics to a local university. So glad you see the same details of the croc. I'll post an update if I get any information.
 
Sorry I don't think it is a croc, and those are not teeth. The structure looks as
if it is coated in a thick layer of iron, as in a concretion.
 

Similar threads

Is this object found on the beach a fossil?
  • heartless
  • · Replies 8 ·
  • Biology and Medical
Replies
8