This week I have another perplexing mystery object for you, that I’ve found harder to identify than expected:
I’ve compared it to several specimens in a similar size range and it hasn’t matched any of them well enough to make a confident attempt at identification. Whatever it is, I don’t have a skeleton of anything comparable in the stores at the Horniman, and it’s a chunky critter with much more robust hind limbs than a Eurasian Badger Meles meles.
Any suggestions on what this might be from would be greatly appreciated!
Zygoma 
V……… The hind limb has ‘poorly developed fifth digit’ and the animal is stocky.
V……. U……
Funnily enough, Wombat popped into my head as a possibility as a I was writing the post, so I’m glad you suggested it too! Need to check against a comparative specimen, but images online make me think that the ungal size and shape isn’t quite right and the calcaneus seems too elongate in this specimen.
Definitely worth a second look though!
No idea, but is that elongated patella a diagnostic?
Good question…
what are they?
Reblogged this on themonkseal.
It’s not a wombat. Too stocky and the greater trochanter is too high . I don’t know what it is but I’m fairly certain it isn’t North American . It would seem to be a plantigrade walking,raccoon -wolverine sized animal but heavier . Longer heavier legs than a North American Badger. By the shape of the head of the femur – something with need for a lot of mobility to the back legs. Something heavy and slow moving . All those bones look extra heavy duty. Even that calcaneus is extra thick. Good one whatever it is . .
One of the large rodents like a capybara, perhaps?