paddle bone

Hi

Thanks for the id, i think most of the holes on the outside are ligament/tendon attachments as you say. but there are quite a lot of marks on either face of the bone.

Nice specimens. The 'predation' marks are interesting.

Thanks Mr.Polly. I was interested in your recent finds at Lyme Regis. They look like dorsals. Nice preservation and as you say there must have been more attached. Also that fish is a great find with the fins visible top and bottom. Did you get an ID on it?

Here is a bit more of that beast (sadly there was no head):

Neil

The close ups would be great.

Would be interested in seeing the single bones too. Is there any Kimmeridge Clay in that location too or just Oxford Clay?

Paul

Hey, Paul. That really is a beauty!  I've been digging around at Lyme every opportunity I get, but I've still not found anything comparable to that!  Is it mid-jurassic?

Mr P.

That's an interesting find Paul, the detail is superb
What size is it please and where did you find it?

Hi Paul

Its from the Callovian bituminous shales so you are right it is a similar strata to the burning cliff of Kimmeridge, the shales of Kilve etc. I've seen the CT scans showing that the foramina are connected but this is the first time that I have seen a physical demonstration of same. One suggestion is that oil was pumped into the center of the vertebrae to maintain the balance of the neck along its length. The neck had 44 vertebrae and was as long as the rest of the animal. One wonders what chemicals may be preserved?

Paul




Edited by Bill G - 07 Feb 2010 at 1:07pm

Paul, again, great finds and very interesting stuff. I like the idea that they used hydraulics to maintain the balance of the neck. Do other (short-necked) marine reptiles have similar foramina? I've never noticed anything like that on the ichthyosaur vertebrae that I have.

Cheers,

Mr P.