What kind of skull is this? - Page 3

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What kind of skull is this? (Page 3 of 3)

Posted: 3/25/2004 6:36:55 PM EDT

[#1]

I collect skulls and I agree it is fish. Fish skulls don't stay completely together like mammals (except for the lower jaw) and I think that is why it will be difficult to identify until it is shown to an expert.

As a sidenote, I was hunting with my brother a few years before I went to med school. He shot two snowshoe hares and while I was preparing them, I found parasitic worms about 3/4 of an inch long in the joint capsules of the ankles. I collected them in formalin solution and years later showed them to my parasitology professor who sent them on to the University of Pennsylvania Vet School. A graduate student there identified them and they were apparently common in wild rabbits. You will find it very satisfying when you finally get your answer.

Posted: 3/25/2004 7:11:18 PM EDT

[#2]

Quoted:

Quoted:
SO let me get this straight, for the first time I can remember, the ARFCOM army has been stumped? Very impressive. I have seen stranger requests answered in under 2 minutes.

FUnny,
CH

View Quote

I have to agree with Cape...

I believe this is the first time in history that a question has not been answered here at AR15.com...

That in itself is more puzzling than the subject of discussion.

View Quote

I have to agree.

If the damn thing had teeth, I'd suggest a Sculpin, of some sort...

I dare say, someone at NOAA should be able to help out...

Fer petes sake don't we have any NOAA people here??? Everybody else is!!! [snoopy]

Posted: 3/25/2004 8:20:46 PM EDT

[#3]

It looks like it could be a Gulf Sturgeon skull or possibly some type of large Eel from the great depths of the ocean.

Posted: 3/25/2004 8:28:53 PM EDT

[#4]

I still think it's from a turtle...
That would explain the "Beak" type nose and no teeth.

Posted: 3/25/2004 8:35:48 PM EDT

[#5]

Here you go fellas...Get busy...

[url]http://www.azdrybones.com/contents.htm[/url]

Don't bother emailing them, I already did, and included the three pics in question...

Will update if I receive a reply...

Posted: 3/25/2004 9:56:23 PM EDT

[#6]

did anyone say cuttlefish?

http://www.tonmo.com/articles/basiccuttlefish.php

http://is.dal.ca/~ceph/TCP/index.html

scroll down to see cuttlefish bone...

http://www.mcdonaldwildlife.com/WildlifeArt_of/Bonesx.html

http://artisans.ombra.net/corsi/cuttlebone.htm

Posted: 3/25/2004 9:59:02 PM EDT

[#7]

Quoted:
did anyone say cuttlefish?

View Quote

Cuttlefish are SWEET!

I laughed my ass off the first time I saw BIG cuttlefish when I was diving in Australia. They've got to be one of the funniest looking animals in the world!

But do they have bony skulls/skeletons? I thought they were mostly cartiligenous (sp?)

Posted: 3/25/2004 10:00:28 PM EDT

[#8]

they do have bones..check out my dopey links - I still can't do it right in this BB...oh well, I hope I win the prize

here is another link

http://www.windspeed.net.au/~jenny/cuttlefish/cuttlebones.html

Posted: 3/25/2004 11:00:40 PM EDT

[#9]

Cuttlefish bones are very common on beaches here but look nothing like the skull.

They are quite small and can be used for calcium for dogs or something.

My family is asian so we eat it. We like fishing and sometimes when we go deep sea fishing with my dad's friends, they all freak out when they catch one and throw it back in. The last one I remember we caught (6 years ago?) was brown and the circles on its skin kept changing colour rapidly. Then it squirted a heap of ink on the side of the boat. Was really cool. They are tasty

Posted: 3/26/2004 3:38:28 AM EDT

[#10]

Quoted:
I still think it's from a turtle...
That would explain the "Beak" type nose and no teeth.

View Quote

Definitely not a sea turtle.

[img]http://www.boneclones.com/images/BC_064_Loggerhead.jpg[/img]

Posted: 3/26/2004 7:32:31 AM EDT

[#11]

I can tell you that it is not a squid or a cuttlefish. Neither have a skull, at least not like that.

It is probably so weather worn and broken that nobody will be able to identify it. It may be some animal that is either very common or very rare but unless you find someone who actually has seen that skull before and knows what it is I don't think you will ever be able to guess, skulls look so different from real heads anyway it is nearly impossible to tell.

Please post better pics though.

Posted: 3/26/2004 9:31:23 AM EDT

[#12]

Bump for the 3500+ views and still no answer!

CH

Posted: 3/27/2004 3:47:54 AM EDT

[#13]

I HAVE AN ANSWER !!!
Just got a reply to an email I sent asking for help identifying it...

Here's the direct quote, copy-n-pasted:

[size=3][b]It is a marine ( salt water) catfish skull. Probably one of the Siluriformes. Fish aren't my thing, but they are common on beaches because this part of the skull is very durable.

Hope this helps.

Richard White
Arizona Drybones

and

International Wildlife Museum
Tucson, Arizona [/b][/size=3]

Posted: 3/28/2004 5:02:12 AM EDT

[#14]

WELL ???

Anyone have any other info ?

I had no luck finding a decent pic of an Ocean Catfish.
The guy I quoted above seems pretty certain that's what it came from...

Posted: 3/28/2004 5:16:53 AM EDT

[#15]

Tag.

Posted: 3/28/2004 8:14:20 PM EDT

[#16]

[image]http://wildlifeskulls.com/Merchant2/graphics/00000001/Catfish.jpg[/image]
[url=http://www.wildlifeskulls.com/Merchant2/merchant.mv?Screen=PROD&Store_Code=WSOT&Product_Code=catfish&Category_Code=PSS]catfish skull web page[/url]

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - What kind of skull is this? (Page 3 of 3)

General » General Discussion

Win a FREE Membership!

Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!

You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.

Warning

Confirm Action

About AR15.COM

Stay Connected

Newsletter

Contact Us