This week I’m back onto skulls for the mystery object – it’s been a while! Any idea what this handsome fellow from the Dead Zoo might be?
I’m sure that this won’t pose too much of a challenge for the more seasoned bone geeks among you, so why not try to keep the answers cryptic, so everyone can have a go at working it out. Have fun!
A marine king of the animals, named after a polar explorer who also has an extinct manatee named after him
I agree with Wouter van Gestel. Truely out of this world. This puss looks like it’s had a hard life
their west coast cousin raises the crest up high
Not that it helps with identification (on which I find what I think is the suggestion of previous posts plausible), but look at the (upper) incisors. 1 and 2 are are about the same size (and look like the incisors of assorted Carnivorans), but 3 is huge: as if it was trying to be an auxiliary caniniform in front of the real canines!
… and the post-canines are reduced: doesn’t chew its food much, I suppose.
… all, it seems to me, plausible developments for the lifestyle of the beasties Wouter et al are (I think) suggesting.
A member of the galactic royalty from the kingdom of Neptune?
his feline royal highness from the sea?
Well, I got as far as carnivora. All the rest was from Wouter.