One of the things I get asked to identify a lot in my job are bits of bone that people have found on the beach. I’ve decided to give you an idea of what that’s often like, with this small section from a skull as this week’s mystery object:
I hope you have some fun figuring out what this bone belongs to – I usually find it to be quite a rewarding experience.
As ever you can pop your thoughts in the comments box below. Enjoy!
Zygoma 
Was this big flat fishy caught accompanying a spaceman on an odyssey in 2001-but….?
I dunno, I get the impression that the premaxillae are too symmetrical to be that kind of fish. All I got though is predatory teleost of some sort
Very nice clue – and spot on!
Hi Paolo
Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka)?
Hi Jamie!
The salmon have surprisingly short premaxillae compared to this. In the breeding males they get very curly, but not much longer.
Looks like I was far too quick to comment. After a bit of checking it looks like you might be right Chris.
Hope so (toothy grin!)
Looks like a premaxilla of a Cod to me
I think you may be mistaking a rising part of the pterygoid in the background as a process on the upper rear section of the premaxilla. Which does make it look much more cod-like. But there is no process!
Can we have a hint regarding the location of capture?
It’s from the Atlantic, off the coast of Ireland.
Hippoglossus hippoglossus premaxilla?
😉