Whale vertebra

[Alioftheuniverse]

Hello! I’m hoping to find more information about this beautiful bone I believe to be whale. I’m pretty sure it’s humpback whale based off of a Google search. Found it out off billings gate on cape cod on low tide. It was at once an island but over time it’s sunk into the bay and is only visible during low tide. I’ve been trying to clean it off, but it was completely covered in algae and sea moss. And even had a sea worm burrowing inside.  Is there a way to find out how old it is? 

[Fossildude19]

I'm not sure you can ID individual vertebra down to genus or species level.   

I may be wrong about that - some of our members are extremely knowledgeable about such things.

[Jaybot]

@Fin Lover@Shellseeker 

 

 

Just my take; it doesn't seem fossil no matter what whale it is.

I would start by searching what whales have been spotted off of the cape cod area.

[Shellseeker]

I do not have good answers..  Having looked at a lot of whale verts, I find that there is very few distinctive features that would allow distinguishing between species of whales.

I believe I read or heard a comment from Bobby Boessenecker that he could distinguish between a Baleen vs tooth whale vertebra.  I can not,  

I do recognize LARGE vertebra , from Humpback or Blue whales are different in size form from their smaller relatives.

 

As was recommended,  look to identify the species of whale that exist in the North Atlantic and the size of those whales.  You may be able to make an educated guess on which species your Vertebra belongs 

[Coco]

@Boesse

 

Coco

[Doctor Mud]

Like others have said. Verts are not usually enough to ID. You might be able to narrow down based on size. E.g. some smaller cetaceans, dolphins etc.

 

age: you can tell recent vs fossilised. Is there any cartilage still on the bone and does it smell when doing a hot needle test. I think it’s the collagen in the bone that gives it that distinctive smell if it hadn’t been leached and or mineralised. 

 

Apart from that. Radiocarbon dating, but that’s expensive and can be complicated for marine animals. There is an old carbon effect.