A Fossil for Oddball

[Dan F]

Oddball, I've read some of your posts on fossils - You have made some amazing finds! I thought you might like to see this.

I was in Ecuador about 12 years ago when I was messing around in a sea cave near Atacames and noticed what looked like a bone stuck in the wall of the cave. I chipped it out with a borrowed hammer and a piece of rebar.

It's nothing spectacular, but I was pretty excited to find it. My students are always pretty impressed, but then again, they're only 9 years old!

Anything you could tell me about it would be much appreciated.

 

[CichlidAddict]

Cow bone.

 

[Dan F]

Cow bone.

That's what I thought! Maybe some "Far Side-esque" Jurassic Cow?

Seriously, though, is it from a mammal? I'm sure a few pix aren't enough to give a definitive answer, but maybe an educated guess?

The whole thing is quite soft sandstone except for the interior of the bone where the marrow used to be (I presume?), which is full of conglomerated pebbles. That leads me to believe that part of the bone must have been broken prior to being buried. Is this thing even truly fossilized? It almost seems like it is only halfway there. It must be fairly old, there was at least 50' of strata above the spot where I found it.

 

[SalmonAfrica]

It def. doesn't belong to a fish, so I can't help you beyond that...

It does look mammalian, but again I don't really do much for you because it isn't fish...

 

[FireMedic]

Dugong or porpose maybe....just a guess. -FM

 

[Gr8KarmaSF]

bump for oddball...

 

[Death Pony]

Let's go Oddball!!!!

 

[Dan F]

Oddball, we need your knowledge!

 

[balton777]

With all of our combined knowledge, do we not almost equal Oddball?

 

[groovitudedude]

With all of our combined knowledge, do we not almost equal Oddball?

Maybe about 1/2 Oddball, so just ball.