Help me identify this
Posted by Lonely_Director933@reddit | whales | View on Reddit | 14 comments
So when I was a wee young lad my family moved to the Florida Keys and this vertebrae from a whale was in our house when we moved in and I’ve always been fascinated by it but nobody has ever tried to figure out details about it. Can someone help me identify what species of whale this came from? And is there any logical way to guesstimate where it came from/how old it may be?
Jumpy-Performance-17@reddit
Hello, I am currently in a skeletal articulation course studying under the bone man, Lee Post. We are currently reconstructing a skeleton of a young female beluga whale.
On of Lee’s dreams for his articulation guides, and published papers are to contain measurement references so folks can self determine what bones they may have or found. Our class is currently 3D imaging the bones and skeleton to provide free online reference, as well as 2D image catalog with accompanying measurements.
This bone you have here appears to be a lumbar vertebra. Definitely cetacean, but hard to tell the size in the perspective of the images.
If you provide some measurements I can share them in my class and maybe we can identify for you :)
https://www.theboneman.com
Lonely_Director933@reddit (OP)
Should I send the photos to the email on the site?
Jumpy-Performance-17@reddit
These are great! I will share in class and get back to you :)
Lonely_Director933@reddit (OP)
You’re fantastic thank you!
Lonely_Director933@reddit (OP)
Lonely_Director933@reddit (OP)
Lonely_Director933@reddit (OP)
Lonely_Director933@reddit (OP)
Lonely_Director933@reddit (OP)
Lonely_Director933@reddit (OP)
Absolutely!
cmj3@reddit
From the approximate size of it, If it's one of the larger lumbar vertebrae, I'd guess it would have came from a whale between 7-10 m long. Based off whales that tend to show up near FL, I'd guess it was a one of the larger toothed whales? Like a killer whale or sperm whale?
lifeisgood2525@reddit
That's easy... it's a boner!
dreadpiraterobertsdd@reddit
Looks like a washed up whale vertebrae
random_sunshine@reddit
Looks like its piece from the spine