I posted this in the "What Did I Find" forum also but thought I'd repost it here. I know it is a bovine metatarsal for sure, but is it Bison bison or Bos taurus (cow)? Found on a Southern Minnesota river gravel bar. 10 1/4" in length. It is partially mineralized by its weight (I have many others tarsals to compare it to).
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Bison bison Metatarsal?
Collapse
X
-
I think you'll need a Forensic Biologist to tell the difference. Maybe someone here can tell the difference, they are very similar. KimKnowledge is about how and where to find more Knowledge. Snyder County Pa.
- Likes 1
-
I don’t know how long it takes for such a bone to mineralize, but I’d expect a bison bone would have more time, since they are native to North America, whereas cows would not have arrived earlier than 16th century in America, and later than that in Mn. So, if you’re saying it’s fossilized, hard to see how it could be a cow.Last edited by CMD; 09-13-2022, 08:12 AM.Rhode Island
Comment
-
Originally posted by CMD View PostI don’t know how long it takes for such a bone to mineralize, but I’d expect a bison bone would have more time, since they are native to North America, whereas cows would not have arrived earlier than 16th century in America, and later than that in Mn. So, if you’re saying it’s fossilized, hard to see how it could be a cow.
Comment
-
Neat find. I would be sure it’s Bison. It is possible to tell the difference. Your bone is rather stout for Bos but the key diagnostics for Bison visible in your pictures are the poorly developed dorsal groove (#4 in the drawing below) and the prominent swelling adjacent to the distal condyles (#5 in the drawing):
There’s a further diagnostic (not visible in your pictures) relating to the neck between the articulation facets at the proximal end:
[Pictures from Harry Pristis on the Fossil Forum]I keep six honest serving-men (they taught me all I knew); Their names are What and Why and When and How and Where and Who.
- Likes 4
Comment
Comment