This week I have a difficult mystery object for you to have a go at identifying. It was found in a crate of stray teeth and bones that recently came to light and I’m afraid it’s not in the best condition. Any idea what this incomplete run of teeth may have come from?
Click for a bigger image
As usual you can put your comments, questions and suggestions below and I’ll do my best to respond as quickly as possible. Good luck!
New World monkey?
Nope, but that was a very good opening shot!
And it was my best one. Stumped now (no pun intended). So, what is the dental formula? It looks like 2-1-3-3. And they seem to be quite undifferentiated, so an omnivore?
Don’t get me wrong, you are very close, but there is something a bit unusual about the specimen that will affect some of the things you have taken into consideration… Deliberately obscure? I do my best 😉
Ah, perhaps that 2nd (3rd) tooth is split, making it 2-1-2-3?
Indeed – and you know what that means…
One of a gazillion species. There are too many OWMs. But I suspect female or juvenile and quite large.
Perhaps from Indonesia/Malaysia?
Check the shape of the teeth on the right – they’re very distinctive (not for species though). I’ll give you a location for free – it’s an African species.
Juvenile P.t. or P.p?
Well, you’re part way there. They’re not from a Chimpanzee though.
Tapir?
Interesting idea – I never thought much about tapir teeth… but no.
In my super expert opinion (I am a tad determined to get at least 1 Friday mystery object right!) an elephant or mammoth or something big with meter long teeth! Am I right? … About the big animal thing? 🙂 x Linda
The scale is in centimetres I’m afraid!
Staying with the Old World vibe but forgetting the monkey part…
Hominid fossil? Don’t like the way the incisor looks to be tapered though.
They’re not fossilised…
Haha, Lesson number 1.
Much bigger than macaque, which is the only monkey I have.
They are indeed – especially when you look closely at the roots and what they tell you…
My mum’s roots tell her when her hair needs done.
A funky ancestor?
Apologies to all – the answer will be late again this week as I have a pressing deadline! I expect it will be posted on Sunday or Monday. Sorry all!
A toothy specimen– and the mystery of the dog that did not bark?
Teeth without roots?
To me the molar seems somewhat devoid of roots? But there is some monkey business afoot. Being but a former MD I am tempted to suggest decidous teeth from some ape/monkey. The teeth to be lost loses its roots by skilful desorption and one day they just drop out. Like some of us do in the end.
I collected some decidous teeth from a loved pet dog — my very loose suggestion is that this collection might come from a pet monkey, losing its first dentition.
But, but, but …….?
Somewhat too late I realize that there are three molars — and not three views of the same molar. I gnash my own teeth in shame–
But all the same: August 26th, 12:44 p.m: “what the roots tell you”–
I wait in anticipation……….