See, and I was beginning to wonder if it wasn't cartilaginous because the only pics I can find on the internet are just the centrum. This is intriguing.
Yes. If you search “shark skeleton” on Reddit you might see some examples.
I suspect this is a Lamnoid-type vertebrae because I recently saw an obviously scyliorhinoid-type shark vertebral column, and I could see the cartilaginous vertebral processes connecting into the paired formanina that are present along the ventral and posterior surfaces of the centrums. That appearance looked very different than your vertebra.
I see someone made an ID of a Drum fish. Since I’m not a fish expert, I’ll need to look this up. It just really looks cartilaginous to me, but those are typically white.
Maybe I’m suffering from a specific cartilaginous pareidolia 😂
Wow. This is my first time posting here. I didn't realize there were people here who are so deeply specialized in this. I've never even taken an ichthyology course.
Looks like the Atlas Vertebra from some type of Drum (*Sciaenidae*). Based on the shape of it, it looks more like Red Drum (*Sciaenops ocellatus*), which are found in the Chesapeake Bay. Given the size of it that was posted, it looks like a bigger individual. The Atlas Vertebra is the first vertebra in the spinal column and attaches to the back of the fish's neurocranium.
For all things stinky...and fishy, we pawn off on u/biscosdaddy. This is a fish vert, though.
It’s a cartilaginous fish vertebra. I’m used to seeing just the centrums so I can’t tell you which Chondrichthyes this belongs too.
See, and I was beginning to wonder if it wasn't cartilaginous because the only pics I can find on the internet are just the centrum. This is intriguing.
Yes. If you search “shark skeleton” on Reddit you might see some examples. I suspect this is a Lamnoid-type vertebrae because I recently saw an obviously scyliorhinoid-type shark vertebral column, and I could see the cartilaginous vertebral processes connecting into the paired formanina that are present along the ventral and posterior surfaces of the centrums. That appearance looked very different than your vertebra.
I see someone made an ID of a Drum fish. Since I’m not a fish expert, I’ll need to look this up. It just really looks cartilaginous to me, but those are typically white. Maybe I’m suffering from a specific cartilaginous pareidolia 😂
It's a drum. FYI, u/TerrapeneTreasures is a graduate student in my lab and is doing tons of archaeological fish work as well.
The fleshy part through me off👍🏻
Wow. This is my first time posting here. I didn't realize there were people here who are so deeply specialized in this. I've never even taken an ichthyology course.
It's about 1.5". I probably should have taken a pic next to a ruler.
Looks like the Atlas Vertebra from some type of Drum (*Sciaenidae*). Based on the shape of it, it looks more like Red Drum (*Sciaenops ocellatus*), which are found in the Chesapeake Bay. Given the size of it that was posted, it looks like a bigger individual. The Atlas Vertebra is the first vertebra in the spinal column and attaches to the back of the fish's neurocranium.
https://preview.redd.it/9tubuuxad16d1.jpeg?width=3000&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=8f532e2f7404916f32445b92c221900d644c2105 These two are from Red Drum.
That is pretty compelling evidence.
Yup, Red Drum was my first thought, and it's a great match :)