Morroccan Pterosaur, reptile or bird fossil bone? ID needed

[Jmr84]

Hi everyone,

 

This is first time I create a topic, apologies in advance if any mistakes. I am a newbie into fossils And I have been searching for a long time trying to figure it out some ID for this unidentified fossil bone.

 

I got it some time ago and I would like  to know if thanks to the knowledgeable members of the forum it was possible to get a closer ID. I know that getting species on isolated pieces is impossible,  but I would be happy to get a group, family or closer genus of the type of animal it could belong to.

 

*Could it be a pterosaur (as it has very thin walls that was my first guess)? Or some other reptile or even a bird? How to differentiate?

* Is a radius as per seller description? Or could be a metatarsal, phalanx...

 

It is from the Phosphate mines of Khouribga, which seeing the bit of matrix attached looks true. Internally is completely crystallized  with a thin bone wall around. I took some pictures of the section.

 

The only information I got from the seller is the following:

- Location: phosphate mines, Khouribga, Morocco.

- Age: Late Cretaceous 96-66 MYO

- Probably radius

- Unidentified species

 

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts! 

 

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[Mahnmut]

Hi and welcome to the forum!

I am not an expert but I think for a bone that long and hollow any kind of reptile but bird and pterosaur is improbable. Not sure if there is any dinosaur that could fit...

others will know more.

Best regards,

J

[Jmr84]

Thanks @Mahnmut for your reply and suggestion 🙌. 

 I agree with you ,  crocodile or marine reptile seems improbable as they usually have more robust bones with thicker walls in section.

So thinking as you say  in some flying animal like a pterosaur or somekind of early bird. 

 

I know some pterosaur remains has been documented from the phosphate mines of Khouribga, but not sure about early bird remains from this area? or even small dino that could fit.

 

Thanks!😀

 

[pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon]

All I can say is that this definitely isn't marine reptile or crocodile. But that you already knew

 

@LordTrilobite @msantix

Edited April 11 by pachy-pleuro-whatnot-odon