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Project Noah Nature School
jaw bone? can anyone help ID this assumed sea mammal? I understand there are no indigenous mammals on New Zealand. This bone was found on the beach at Karekare
According to my copy of "Tracks, Scats, and other Traces", that is the jawbone of an introduced European rabbit.
Well, being indigenous is one thing. It doesn't mean that a rodent stowaway or two didn't escape off of a ship and infiltrate an environment. Let me compare it to some jaw bones in a book I have to see if at the very least we can rule out a few species.
Thanks Emily. Unfortunately it is the only picture I took. But I was intrigued enough to take it since I read there were no indigenous land mammals in all of New Zealand.
At first glance it looks like a rodent, but it could also be a small marsupial. If you could add a few additional photos It might be easier for some of us to ID! Cool find!
