Harry Pristis Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 In acknowledgement of the return of 'Fruitbat' from hiatus, I'd like to challenge him and other vertebrate collectors to make a moderately difficult identification. This is a species that is found in North Florida in the Late Miocene. Different species or related genera are found in Texas and in the Bone Valley of Florida (Southcentral). There are not a lot of specimens in circulation. It's uncertain whether there are any close relatives surviving today. This animal has no common name like "cow" or "pig." A guess based on size will not win the Golden Kudo. This will take just a little research. Notice the crenulations on the enamel. Compare the robustness of the teeth to those of a white tail deer. These animals were about the size of the common camels at the time, Palaeolama and Hemiauchenia, but this jaw is NOT from a camel. Here's the mystery jaw: Here's a set of deer jaws: Here's a camel jaw: http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bone digger Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 Parahippus leonensis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJB Posted February 11, 2009 Share Posted February 11, 2009 This is a piece of cake. Thats Jawboneites toothchewis. Where can I pick up my prize? Ha!!! Ok, just kidding, I dont have a clue what that is. Just messin around and having fun at Pristis's expense. Sorry RB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share Posted February 12, 2009 Parahippus leonensis I should have said up front that this mystery jaw belongs to the Order ARTIODACTYLA. Horses, of course, belong to the Order PERISSODACTYLA. For comparison, here is an image of a Parahippus mandible. There, I hope I haven't given it away. http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
makoken Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 I don't khow the scientific name right off hand, but how about a Llama? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnJ Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 one of the Antilocaprids.........Tetrameryx or Stockoceros? The human mind has the ability to believe anything is true. - JJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bone digger Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 Dromomerycidae Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracer Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 prosynthetoceras Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share Posted February 12, 2009 Dromomerycidae Bingo! I'll settle for Family Dromomerycidae! A Golden Kudo to 'bone digger'! Here is the taxonomy from Hulbert (2001): Superfamily CERVOIDEA Family PALAEOMERYCIDAE Subfamily DROMOMERYCINAE Pediomeryx hamiltoni This jaw was excavated on private property in Alachua County, Florida. The age of the jaw is Late Miocene (Late Clarendonian). The species was erected by Dave Webb in 1983. The taxonomy of the Cervoidea has undergone some changes in recent decades When this species first came to light circa 1980, it was thought to represent Yumaceras, another genus. I think of all these species as a large "deer/antelope complex." But that's just me. All of the dromomerycines, indeed, all of the palaeomerycids were extinct in Florida by the end of the Miocene. Only one cervoid survives here today -- the white tail deer. I would like to know your deductive process in coming uo with an answer -- it might help other collectors. http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bone digger Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I WON! I WON! I WON! Sheer luck really! I came up with the 1st answer using google, searching for Florida miocene fossils, narrowing it down with teeth that looked right. Then when you gave us the Artiodactyla clue I searched that and came up with this site http://www.brown.edu/Departments/EEB/Janis...et_al._2004.pdf There isn't even any pictures of teeth in the paper but the drawing of the skull looked the right size and, well, I had to get my answer in before the buzzer went! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracer Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 well, then i give you the special picture award special picture award Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bone digger Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 there, I put my golden kudo on display for all to see Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bone digger Posted February 12, 2009 Share Posted February 12, 2009 well, then i give you the special picture awardspecial picture award I bet a pimped out Alpakah would be great for carrying all your gear in the field, unless they spit like Llamas Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Harry Pristis Posted February 12, 2009 Author Share Posted February 12, 2009 WOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOO!!!!! I WON! I WON! I WON! Sheer luck really! I came up with the 1st answer using google, searching for Florida miocene fossils, narrowing it down with teeth that looked right. Then when you gave us the Artiodactyla clue I searched that and came up with this site http://www.brown.edu/Departments/EEB/Janis...et_al._2004.pdf There isn't even any pictures of teeth in the paper but the drawing of the skull looked the right size and, well, I had to get my answer in before the buzzer went! Well, good work! There's a wealth of information available, you just need the key words in a search engine. http://pristis.wix.com/the-demijohn-page What seest thou else In the dark backward and abysm of time? ---Shakespeare, The Tempest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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