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The bones were all found together, the top two rounded plates were even still attached by connective tissue. Each plate is about half an inch thick, with deep texturing on the top and the six protruding spikes are each about an inch long
They were found in the shallows of Franklin lake in Silsbee Texas
The first three pictures were taken at the lake the day the bones were found, the fourth picture was taken after they were cleaned
Spotted on Aug 26, 2013
Submitted on Sep 10, 2013
18 Comments
Alligator snapper?
I knew it would be something simple that I was just overlooking, that's one of the main reasons this was bothering me so much. Thank you very much for all your help with this, couldn't have done it without you!
I'm pretty convinced that you have spiny softshell turtle parts here. If you zoom in on the picture of the link, you can see all the elements that your photos show, including the hole and spikes. I can't find another skeletonized plastron, but given the demographics, which I am embarrassed I overlooked, I think we've found the culprit, despite taking the long way around:) Will keep looking for another photo though, just for confirmation.
Leaning toward soft shell turtle now. They get pretty large and have similar features. Check out this photo:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/27918948@N0...
It's pretty far inland from the gulf, definitely too far for a sea turtle to make it on its own
Just looked and Franklin Lake is quite a ways from the gulf, so that may rule out sea turtle.
I would think texturing would be quite normal. I have noticed texturing in some of the photos that ive looked at as well. How close to the Gulf was your find? Close enough for sea turtles?
And thank you Jemma, the osteology mission is actually how I found this website. I meant to add it to that mission but it slipped my mind when I added this spotting.
After you mentioned plastrons I looked them up and I think we're on the right track the scapula even match for it to be a turtle of some type. Is it normal for turtle plastrons to have texturing like these do though?
http://www.projectnoah.org/missions/8475...
you must add it to "identifying by Osteology " mission. Created by Emily M. Lots of mysteries have been solved!
I keep going back to loggerhead right now because of the shape of xiphiplastron ( lower two bones in the first picture). The top two bones that look like clavicles in the 3rd photo look like pectoral girdle bones. However, the "spikes" don't match. The spikes would be where the carapace and plastron fuse together. That little hole could just be another small missing bone.
what types of tortoise and sea turtles have you found that are close? I would like to look for myself just to see or maybe get some more ideas.
I keep thinking turtle also but that hole that it has in the middle makes me think otherwise
I've been looking at tortoise and sea turtle plastrons and have seen quite a few that have the "spikes" similar to yours, but haven't found a close enough match to call it anything yet. In still thinking something in the turtle family, but could still be way off. I'm very intrigued so will keep looking. This is fun!
I can't even think of something not in this area. I literally have no clue what this thing could be, I've been trying to figure it out since I got them and I'm not any closer to an answer.
I know what you mean. I've been racking my brain trying to think of something that would be n the area, but ........nothing:) I hope someone chimes in here with an answer!
I thought it might have been a turtle shell at first too but I have looked at the shells of nearly every turtle in this area and nothing matches. I just can't think of a turtle that would have that big of a natural hole in its shell or anything that would have spikes like that
These look like parts of a turtle shell, but I could be wrong:). Pretty cool find though.