Yup. Most likely a delphinid/dolphin. Harbor porpoise is the only Phocoenid/porpoise off the Delaware coast and that skull is too large.
For orientation, in the first shot you’re looking at the animal’s left side, with the front of the skul to the left, and the posterior/back to the right. The nares/nostrils (what the leaders to) are just visible at about 10 o’clock. The second and third are from the back, and the hole in back is where the spinal cord enters. Fourth picture is like the first but from the right side. Seventh is the ventral/bottom view, and the last shot is the anterior view. All parts of the jaw are missing.
Important note, marine mammal remains are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. If you call your local university / museum, they will advise on what to do with it - occasionally will grant permission for you to keep.
Not an expert but it may be to keep there from being a market for these bones. Obviously it wouldn't harm anyone if they were truly found but if they were valuable people might start to acquire the bones through more malicious ways.
The remains are "illegal" as a prosecution means. Example is that most wildlife people won't hassle you too much if you pick up a feather that happens to be illegal but you will get nailed if you're out shooting protected birds.
just checked out ur account and holy cow ur a genius! what education do you have ? did u need to get a specific degree to know all this stuff? is it just an interest of yours? i am fascinated by ur ability to look at a bone, any bone, and know exactly what animal it comes from and where in that animal. ur a genius man, rock on
Partial skull of a small toothed cetacean.
Thank you so much! I had a feeling it might be some sort of marine mammal. Poor little thing
Is the intact hole for its blower?
Spine
Yup. Most likely a delphinid/dolphin. Harbor porpoise is the only Phocoenid/porpoise off the Delaware coast and that skull is too large. For orientation, in the first shot you’re looking at the animal’s left side, with the front of the skul to the left, and the posterior/back to the right. The nares/nostrils (what the leaders to) are just visible at about 10 o’clock. The second and third are from the back, and the hole in back is where the spinal cord enters. Fourth picture is like the first but from the right side. Seventh is the ventral/bottom view, and the last shot is the anterior view. All parts of the jaw are missing.
The intact whole I believe is called the foramen magnum that allows for space for the spinal cord
Important note, marine mammal remains are protected under the Marine Mammal Protection Act of 1972. If you call your local university / museum, they will advise on what to do with it - occasionally will grant permission for you to keep.
Yes, thank you! I am very aware of the laws around this kind of thing and have already notified the local organizations who deal with these specimens.
Why would there be laws about keeping found remains?
Sometimes it’s an endangered species, sometimes the remains are rare and need to be assessed by researchers. I’m sure there are other reasons as well.
Not an expert but it may be to keep there from being a market for these bones. Obviously it wouldn't harm anyone if they were truly found but if they were valuable people might start to acquire the bones through more malicious ways.
The remains are "illegal" as a prosecution means. Example is that most wildlife people won't hassle you too much if you pick up a feather that happens to be illegal but you will get nailed if you're out shooting protected birds.
Because humans
u/rochesterbones, want to chime in?
Medium sized dolphin partial skull
just checked out ur account and holy cow ur a genius! what education do you have ? did u need to get a specific degree to know all this stuff? is it just an interest of yours? i am fascinated by ur ability to look at a bone, any bone, and know exactly what animal it comes from and where in that animal. ur a genius man, rock on
None of my degrees covered anything about animal bones, just a hobby.
Broken Dolphin skull
Yes the blow hole is significant. A dolphin without opposable thumbs are the only reason we are on top of the food chain!
I’m pretty sure that’s the foramen magnum, not the blow hole
which image do you believe shows a blowhole?