identification of this skeleton?

Stressica · 26-01-2014 9:13pm #1

Any guesses as to what this skeleton once belonged to?

Some kind of fish anyway,

ytpe2r5bxkn0c1 · 26-01-2014 9:18pm

Can you give some indication of size as the spine shows mammalian characteristics?

Stressica · 26-01-2014 9:22pm

Umm I'd say no more then 15cm. . I found it on the beach though.. well my dog did and it bends like a fish would (if that makes sense) Also note the fins like structures on the top of it?... Then again they could be ribs or something . .

Capercaille · 26-01-2014 10:36pm

Stressica wrote: »

Also note the fins like structures on the top of it?... Then again they could be ribs or something . .

There not ribs, they are spinous processes of thoracic vertebrae (on top). Hard to know what species from just these bones. From size could be dog,seal...

Kess73 · 27-01-2014 10:20am

My initial guess when I saw the pic and read that the section was about six inches long was that it may have been part of an otter's spine although there appear to be similarities with part of a badger's spine also if memory serves right.

The pic (and what a lovely picture it is, OP) distorts any sense of size, as pics often do, but will try to access some reference pics later on to see if the similarities are more than just in my head.

Kess73 · 27-01-2014 10:24am

Capercaille wrote: »

There not ribs, they are spinous processes of thoracic vertebrae (on top). Hard to know what species from just these bones. From size could be dog,seal...

Yep reckon the list of animals that it could have come from could be a long one alright. Have a couple of first glance hunches, but could be miles out with them.

identification of this skeleton?

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