Vertebra found at Waiake beach Auckland

[NZT]

Hi Everyone

 

My son picked this up at Waiake beach Auckland. I know nothing about animal anatomy (Humans Included  ). Could someone help us identify this vertebra? It was found on Waiake beach Auckland and there was some recent cliff slides in the area.

 

Thank you very much everyone.

[FossilDudeCO]

I am going to say it looks cetacean to me (whale)

lets wait for a more informed opinion though

 

it is a very nice vert!

 

Some more views may help with a positive identification as well!

[NZT]

Thank you very much for the reply and the compliment :). Why do you think it's so dark (Almost Black).

Here's another pic with some scaling in Centimeters.

[ynot]

Cetacean verts tend to be flat on both ends, this one looks concave/convex on the ends.

Crocodilian?

[Dave pom Allen]

1 hour ago, ynot said:

Cetacean verts tend to be flat on both ends, this one looks concave/convex on the ends.

Crocodilian?

not a Croc in auckland . possible Cetacean, i dont think i looks like a cow.

 

 

[NZT]

Looking at Images of cow vertebrae online and it does seem to look like a cow vertebrae. 

[Boesse]

It's a pinniped thoracic vertebra, most likely NZ fur seal (Arctocephalus forsteri) given the relatively small size (also, waaay too small for a cow). For comparison, here's some barnacle-encrusted sea lion vertebrae from the Pleistocene of Oregon I've published on:

[NZT]

Hi Boesse. Thank you very much for the info. That's allot more exiting than a cow vertebrae :).