SE Texas - Ear bone or something else?

[johnnyvaldez7.jv]

I found this bone yesterday here in SE Texas on a river gravel bank. It's not mineralized, but I've found mammoth material that isn't either. The size is 2.75 inches x 2.75 inches. Height about 1.5 inches.  I haven't seen anything like this and I'm wondering if it might be an ear bone of a large mammal, or maybe part of a smaller leg bone I've never seen from a knee or wrist of a large mammal. Turtle and alligator material are still odd finds for me in appearance and this is no different if it's those.  Any thoughts appreciated. 

@Shellseeker @Boesse @CDiggs

[johnnyvaldez7.jv]

Now I'm thinking it might be a patella and possibly from a cow. 

(Knee cap)

[Shellseeker]

Not an earbone. Possibly carpal or tarsal or astragalus from a Large mammal, I am thinking mammoth or eremotherium size.At an appointment. Will check for possibles when i get home

[Shellseeker]

Beginning to think Rhino...

Do you have Rhino in Texas?

https://www.sci.news/paleontology/texas-serengeti-07099.html

 

Here is a similar sized bone from @digit

 

[johnnyvaldez7.jv]

@Shellseeker Yes we had them here on the Gulf Coast 

 

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-paleontology/article/abs/miocene-rhinoceroses-from-the-texas-gulf-coastal-plain/31B59298131983C5FB44FF8AFCC2B273

[Shellseeker]

45 minutes ago, johnnyvaldez7.jv said:

@Shellseeker Yes we had them here on the Gulf Coast 

 

https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-paleontology/article/abs/miocene-rhinoceroses-from-the-texas-gulf-coastal-plain/31B59298131983C5FB44FF8AFCC2B273

Seems like the east coast of Texas and the west coast of Florida share Miocene Rhino species..

 

To me, those flat surfaces top and bottom screams foot bone like carpals,  and the sizes seem compatable with a mammal like rhino... Ken may be able to help since he has handled a lot of Rhino bones at Montbrook..  

A Navicular is similar but many differences...

 

 

[garyc]

Maybe a sloth carpal? 

[Shellseeker]

13 minutes ago, garyc said:

Maybe a sloth carpal? 

Certainly that the other possibility... similar size carpals... but which carpal ..

[CDiggs]

On 8/19/2024 at 8:34 AM, johnnyvaldez7.jv said:

 

I've been obsessing over this one for a while, especially because wrist/carpal, ankle/tarsal bones are so tough and I was in total agreement with the other comments. I've gradually argued myself around to your second idea though Johnny, I agree this is a patella. I can't say to what, I know that some patella can be identified but I'm rubbish with them, I could be convinced of anything from cow to ground sloth at this point but I do think you've got the element correct.

[Shellseeker]

A photo from this thread.. I see some similarities:

https://www.thefossilforum.com/topic/73769-patella/

[johnnyvaldez7.jv]

@CDiggs @Shellseeker I was looking for sloth vertebra and came across this patella for Megalonyx. I think I see similarities... especially the side view.