I received this when my dad passed. My parents found it in the 80s on a beach. Is it a whale vertebrae? Can anyone identify what kind?

Posted by Letsotmessthisup@reddit | whales | View on Reddit | 34 comments

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white_dolomite@reddit

Does is leave an oily residue on your hands? Is there a smell to the bone?

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DesiPrideGym23@reddit

I'm curious to know why you asked this question?

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white_dolomite@reddit

When i was a kid i went to an old whaling station museum and i remember the bones having a very distinct smell and the guide said not to touch them as they will make your hands stink from the oils…

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DesiPrideGym23@reddit

Ooh interesting!

Am I wrong to assume that the oil is present only in the bones of freshly deceased whales and the bone that OP has is very old and probably won't have the oil?

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EmberOnTheSea@reddit

No, they can leak oil for a very long time.

https://www.wpri.com/news/street-stories/blue-whale-skeleton-at-new-bedford-museum-still-leaking-oil/

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DesiPrideGym23@reddit

Shhh, don't let the Americans know about the oil. /s

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ArtHefty542@reddit

It’s certainly a whale vertebrae but difficult to be sure which species. Do you know where it was found as that would help narrow down the options.

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BigJeffyStyle@reddit

I ran a half marathon on the Ave. so pretty, like running through Jurassic park

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Hmm, in that case grey, humpback or maybe sperm whale are possibilities. Some vertebrae from humpbacks are that almost hexagonal shape but the spinal canal seems very wide. I’m wondering if it’s actually fossilised rather than from a modern whale which is pretty cool if it was!

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Freedomnnature@reddit

Wow. That's interesting. Knowing the area Euricka, Id guess a humpback.

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Diddly_eyed_Dipshite@reddit

For sure whale, at a guess I'd lean towards baleen whale but probably smaller/calf, as above more info would he better

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Letsotmessthisup@reddit (OP)

My mom says they found it on the beach in Eureka California

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TereziBot@reddit

Just for your information, if this was collected post 1972 owning this is actually a felony. Marine mammal protection act.

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pussmykissy@reddit

Luckily for OP, they found it in 1971, what luck!

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Letsotmessthisup@reddit (OP)

Good to know. Thanks.

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