Comments on: Mystery Bones

By: SOCALcryptid

SOCALcryptid — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 23:40:18 +0000

I’m going with a Ibex or Oryx skull. I think it is of the Goat family. I agree with those above saying the teeth are Pharyngeal.

By: CryptoGoji

CryptoGoji — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 13:33:39 +0000

The first pic is either that of a goat or sheep, just because of the shortness of the skull and the fact that it has a place for horns, as they look different than deer skulls. The second is definitely that of a carp. Mean teeth if you’ve ever unhooked one from a fishing trip.

By: Saint Vitus

Saint Vitus — Tue, 12 Feb 2008 15:36:14 +0000

I looked at the skull site and it does look more like a sheep or goat skull than the deer skulls that were illustrated. They didn’t have a whitetail deer skull though, just the european species. The “teeth” are probably pharyngeal bones from a fish, as some people have mentioned. They are definitely not reptile teeth, I’m pretty sure of that.

By: swnoel

swnoel — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 20:54:31 +0000

The more I think about it , I believe it is a sheep not a goat skull

http://www.skullsite.co.uk/Sheep/sheep.htm

By: things-in-the-woods

things-in-the-woods — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:25:40 +0000

thanks for the education guys. I had no idea fish had teeth in their throats- you learn something here everyday!

By: whiteriverfisherman

whiteriverfisherman — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 18:12:13 +0000

Just by looking at the photos I just can’t place the skull. If in fact it is the upper jaw the animal would have had a wide, short mouth. I personally don’t think it is a deer, goat, or sheep skull. The jaw line and basic structure just doesn’t look right.

The teeth, I have no idea, I am not even sure they are teeth.

By: Leibolmai

Leibolmai — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 17:52:32 +0000

1. I vote Sheep, its the only skull that the teeth match, and the horn connection:
http://www.skullsite.co.uk/Sheep/sheep_horned.jpg

Deer the antler connection is wrong:
http://www.skullsite.co.uk/Roe/roe.htm

Goat is harder to dismiss, but from what I read their horns start further forward on the skull then sheep, google images had lots of bad pictures though:
http://courses.washington.edu/vertebra/452/photos/mammals/mt-goat_skull_lateral.jpg

My lunch hour isn’t long enough to tackle number 2
Cheers,

Leibolmai

By: kittenz

kittenz — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 16:25:56 +0000

I think the skull is that of a deer, because the upper region appears to be cut, as though someone has cut out the top of the skull in a straight line to get the antlers. I have found several deer skull mutilated in just such a way, while out with my dogs. The nasal bones could have been chewed away by dogs or other scavengers.

As to the teeth, I don’t have a clue. My first thought was some kind of reptile, but those who have pointed out the similarities to the pharyngeal teeth are probably on the right track.

By: ETxArtist

ETxArtist — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 14:31:47 +0000

Without researching, I’m gonna go with seacow on the skull.

By: shumway10973

shumway10973 — Mon, 11 Feb 2008 06:44:22 +0000

The skull is definitely herbivore, though showing some size would be nice. I have never seen teeth like that before. Kinda weird the way they are shaped.