Fossilized or Petrified Snake Head?

[Phenomenaljem]

Hello all, I came across this and several other interesting rocks while working on my tribal reservation in Northern California. I believe that this is a fossilized or petrified snake head. But, as I went to look up fossil snake heads, I came across many sites that say soft tissue fossils are very rare, and was told by some folks on Reddit that this is not a snake head. Gave me no more info than no, that’s not a fossilized snake head, but couldn’t/wouldnt say what it might be. Thought I’d ask here. Could this be a fossilized snake head? 

 

 

[Randyw]

First welcome to the forum! Secondly I’m sorry to say The other places were correct. It’s not a fossilized or petrified snake head. Theres no bilateral simetry no bones no teeth and they are correct. Soft tissue doesn’t really fossilize like that. It is a cool looking rock though and I would have picked it up for my look a like drawer too.  Its simply a case of pareidolia 

[bockryan]

Unfortunately not - the best way to tell is to do a Google search and look at fossil snakes, only the bones fossilize (and even then very rarely). It's a cool looking rock but not a fossil. 

[Fin Lover]

Here is an example of a fossilized snake skull:

 

Note that you can clearly see the bone.  The surrounding material is just matrix...no soft tissue.

[Fossildude19]

Suggestively shaped rock. 

[rocket]

funny stone, I can understand why you think it´s a snake-skull

but, as mentioned, a nice but natural shaped rock 

[Phenomenaljem]

Yeah, I just don’t agree with this not being a snake head. Ive examined it under my microscope and their nostrils, eye sockets, scales. You can even see sorta what color it was when it was alive. A deep dark jade green to sort of sea foam green. You can see the ridges over its eyes from its skull. Iono,  Maybe an eel head? I can see its teeth, it just died in a way where its bottom lip curled up over most of the teeth. I see holes where it’s teeth fit into its skull too. Here are more lighting oriented photos to see better the details. 
 

Because you haven’t seen anything fossilized or petrified like this before does not mean that it is not possible, I would think.
 

What would be the next step in identifying this with a professional? Or would it even be worth the time? If this is a soft tissue fossil wouldnt someone at a university be interested in understanding the processes which fossilized this guy? 
 

thank you all for looking 
 

Edited May 18 by Phenomenaljem

[Ludwigia]

32 minutes ago, Phenomenaljem said:

What would be the next step in identifying this with a professional?

 

Simple. Contact your nearest Natural History Museum or University geology department, make an appointment with the resident paleontologist and take it along to show him or her. Good luck, but don't get your hopes up.

[lacyjo811]

Looks like a snake to me too . Take it to the natural science and History museum. 

 

[Fossildude19]

As nothing further can be learned from this topic, it is now locked.

 

Looking like a fossil snake head, and BEING an actual fossil snake head are two different things. Pareidolia  is real.  I can see a slight resemblance to a snake head, but that is all it is - a very vague resemblance. No scales, no eyes. no bones.

 

We remain unconvinced of the biologic origin of this stone.

OP remains convinced of her find.  She should take it to a local Natural History Musuem, or University and have it looked at by a Paleontologist. 
I'm sure the Paleontologist will come to the same conclusion we have - that it is a oddly shaped rock.