Help On ID for Misc. Lance Formation Fossils

[Jurassicbro238]

Hello! As I've gone through what I've collected this past summer, I'm finding really interesting things that I took home with me.  These come from Niobrara County in Wyoming. I've taken pics of various angles of the fossils. Scale bar has inches (top) and cm (bottom). I'm not completely sure what some of these pieces are so any ideas or suggestions would be helpful. Thanks in advance!

 

Set 1: Vertebral Process

Is it possible to ID a process this broken up? I'm thinking it's Edmonto but really holding out for Triceratops      

 

Set 2: Triangular bone

A friend suggested it might be a Triceratops epoccipital so I wanted to see what you all think

 

Set 3: Skull fragments?

There's a lot of blood vessels that would've run through these bones. I'm thinking they might be Triceratops frill (haha can you tell I want some Trike material?) Any thoughts or should I leave the ID at unknown? Either way, they look really interesting.  

 

Set 4: Scute?

I don't see an identifiable pattern on it but that line running through it makes me think turtle scute.

Set 5: Unknown

I'm not sure what these are. They both have a really interesting textures running on the surface and they are very thin.

Set 6: Jaw piece?

Finally, this neat piece that I found on an ant hill. Looks like a jaw piece to me but not holding my breath.

[fossilhunter21]

Looks like you found some neat fossils! I don't know much about fossils from the Lance, but I have to agree with tortoise scute for #4.

 

@Troodon, and, @jpc might be able to help.

 

Cheers and Shalom,

 

-Micah

 

 

[Troodon]

1..I would lean more towards an Edmontosaurus on your spine fragment .   Added photos of one.  You use Triceratops throughout your post just an fyi there are multiple Ceratopsian in the Lance and its very difficult or impossible to distinguish between them especially with bone fragments or teeth.

Edmonto

Ceratopsian

 

2. I do not believe it's a Ceratopsian epoccipital.  Could be a skull element.

 

3.  My inclination on the two is that they may be parts of a ceratopsian.   ungual especially the one on the right.  Left might be frill.

 

.

 

4 turtle but not scute

5 I've seen them and just cannot grab a name

6 Tooth? jpc might know

[Jurassicbro238]

1 hour ago, Troodon said:

You use Triceratops throughout your post just an fyi there are multiple Ceratopsian in the Lance and its very difficult or impossible to distinguish between them especially with bone fragments or teeth

 

Doh! You're right I completely forgot about Torosaurus. 

 

What are you thinking for #4 if it's not a scute?

 

Thanks again @Troodon and @fossilhunter21

[Troodon]

Not just Torosaurus

from my faunal list:

 

Croc's have osteoderms (scutes) not turtle.  Probably part of plastron.

[fossilhunter21]

Hi, @Troodon. 

 

Are you saying that turtles don't have scutes? I have always heard that turtles and tortoises have scutes.

 

Cheers and Shalom 

 

-Micah 

[Troodon]

They are osteoderms not scutes.   The ones in the HC/Lance may have small spurs on their legs but I not a turtle expert like jp

[fossilhunter21]

Hi, @Troodon. 

 

I can't believe I am just now learning this...

 

I just did some quick research, and found out that scutes rarely ever fossilize. Instead what we are seeing is actually the bone that would be under the scute? Interesting. 

 

Cheers and Shalom,

 

-Micah

Edited March 6, 2023 by fossilhunter21

[jpc]

Scutes are the keratinous covering on both turtle shells and croc skin.  The bones below them are osteoderms.  I am guilty of often using the word scute when I mean osteoderm.  On turtle shells, the scutes do not correspond one to one with the osteoderms, which are fused to ribs and verts on the carapace.  That line on your piece of turtle shell is where the scutes meet on the shell.  I agree with troodon that #1 is more duck-billy.   #6 looks like a gar scale.  Most gar scales are diamond shaped with one plate of enamel, but there are many other shapes, many with various enamel patterns.  #5 might be fragments of soft shelled turtle shells.  Tough to say for sure.  I agree with troodon's other IDs. 

[Jurassicbro238]

57 minutes ago, jpc said:

 #6 looks like a gar scale.  Most gar scales are diamond shaped with one plate of enamel, but there are many other shapes, many with various enamel patterns. 

Wow, really? I've seen the basic diamond shape and "serrated" ones. Wasn't aware there were other varieties. Do you have any of these other patterned ones that match mine?