Skull or jaw section?

bobkatfly · 11-01-2020, 06:34 PM

A week ago my granddaughter and I were walking through the woods on my lot and came across this. I think it's a skull and upper jaw but not sure. There are a few large molar teeth similar to a human still there. Anyone have any idea what it was? Fox, coyote, dog, Jimmy Hoffa? It's about 7-8 inches long.

GTO · 11-04-2020, 07:58 PM

Wonder if the Squam Science Center would be able to answer that. I'd want to know

ApS · 11-05-2020, 12:58 AM

One key feature seems to be missing from this specimen; that being the zygomatic arch.

The arch is mentioned here, below, and may point in the right direction:

http://www.science-scene.org/blog/skulls

bobkatfly · 11-05-2020, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApS

One key feature seems to be missing from this specimen; that being the zygomatic arch.

The arch is mentioned here, below, and may point in the right direction:

http://www.science-scene.org/blog/skulls

Thanks ApS and GTO. Good idea on Squam SC. I think I'll go back out and see if there are any other remaining pieces. Hopefully, the arch is still there.

8gv · 11-05-2020, 09:30 AM

A very young Winni monster.

Duh!

Jdarby · 11-06-2020, 06:41 PM

https://www.discoverwildlife.com/how...mammal-skulls/

Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

ApS · 11-06-2020, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bobkatfly

A week ago my granddaughter and I were walking through the woods on my lot and came across this. I think it's a skull and upper jaw but not sure. There are a few large molar teeth similar to a human still there. Anyone have any idea what it was? Fox, coyote, dog, Jimmy Hoffa? It's about 7-8 inches long.

1) That'd be a pretty big muskrat!

(Picture below).

2) Are you located anywhere near the Libby Museum?

bobkatfly · 11-07-2020, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApS

1) That'd be a pretty big muskrat!

(Picture below).

2) Are you located anywhere near the Libby Museum?

Actually I'm about 1 mile from the Libby. My wife had mentioned taking it there for possible identification but they're closed for the season.
As you mentioned before, it's probably important to find the arch and any other remains. The hard part will be trying to find my way back to the same area. I should have marked it. The top of the skull in the picture seems flatter than the one I have. Mine is more of a dome shape.

ApS · 11-07-2020, 08:28 PM

Not wanting to be "skunked" with this skull question, I did a casual search through Etsy.com (a shopping website) and found this offering:

Regarding the below skull—and while not wanting to—we have ALL come within inches of these terrifying jaws!

C-Bass · 11-29-2020, 09:44 AM

On the plus side, at least it wasn't a human skull. I'd put money on a coyote or wolf.

bobkatfly · 11-29-2020, 11:00 AM

I've tried to re-trace steps to find other remains but no luck. Is it possible it's a deer?

ApS · 12-01-2020, 08:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApS

Regarding the below skull—and while not wanting to—we have ALL come within inches of these terrifying jaws!

The above is the skull of a mole!

And...does the below sketch match your found skull?

bobkatfly · 12-04-2020, 11:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ApS

The above is the skull of a mole!

And...does the below sketch match your found skull?

Although I don't have the lower jaw, I agree with Hillcountry that it`s a deer. No canine teeth sockets. Appears to be just front and rear molars. Also, my mailman is a deer hunter of 20+ years and confirmed it as a deer immediately after seeing it.
I guess case closed. Now off to find a Chupacabra.

Hillcountry · 11-29-2020, 12:07 PM

Not a carnivore...most likely a deer in this area unless there is a farm with goats/sheep around.

https://egret.org/sites/default/files/skull.pdf

11-01-2020, 06:34 PM	#1
bobkatfly Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Mirror Lake/Winter Harbor Posts: 352 Thanks: 52 Thanked 53 Times in 47 Posts	Skull or jaw section? A week ago my granddaughter and I were walking through the woods on my lot and came across this. I think it's a skull and upper jaw but not sure. There are a few large molar teeth similar to a human still there. Anyone have any idea what it was? Fox, coyote, dog, Jimmy Hoffa? It's about 7-8 inches long. Attached Images __________________ Bob F Amherst till the big 66 comes (made it!) Winter Harbor/Mirror Lake till the big guy comes

11-04-2020, 07:58 PM	#2
GTO Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 1,081 Thanks: 338 Thanked 349 Times in 161 Posts	Pretty cool Wonder if the Squam Science Center would be able to answer that. I'd want to know __________________ GTO

11-05-2020, 12:58 AM	#3
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,927 Thanks: 2,190 Thanked 775 Times in 553 Posts	Difficult to Say, with Parts Missing/Broken Off... One key feature seems to be missing from this specimen; that being the zygomatic arch. The arch is mentioned here, below, and may point in the right direction: http://www.science-scene.org/blog/skulls

11-07-2020, 08:28 PM	#9
ApS Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Florida (Sebring & Keys), Wolfeboro Posts: 5,927 Thanks: 2,190 Thanked 775 Times in 553 Posts	Not a Dinosaur...Not T-Rex... Not wanting to be "skunked" with this skull question, I did a casual search through Etsy.com (a shopping website) and found this offering: Regarding the below skull—and while not wanting to—we have ALL come within inches of these terrifying jaws!

11-29-2020, 11:00 AM	#11
bobkatfly Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Mirror Lake/Winter Harbor Posts: 352 Thanks: 52 Thanked 53 Times in 47 Posts	Deer? I've tried to re-trace steps to find other remains but no luck. Is it possible it's a deer? __________________ Bob F Amherst till the big 66 comes (made it!) Winter Harbor/Mirror Lake till the big guy comes

The Following User Says Thank You to bobkatfly For This Useful Post:
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11-05-2020, 09:30 AM	#5
8gv Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2012 Posts: 2,073 Thanks: 63 Thanked 721 Times in 470 Posts	A very young Winni monster. Duh!

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11-06-2020, 06:41 PM	#6
Jdarby Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2019 Location: Long Island Posts: 170 Thanks: 137 Thanked 106 Times in 52 Posts	https://www.discoverwildlife.com/how...mammal-skulls/ Sent from my iPhone using Winnipesaukee Forum mobile app

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Top-Water (11-06-2020)

11-29-2020, 09:44 AM	#10
C-Bass Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2017 Posts: 151 Thanks: 1 Thanked 33 Times in 16 Posts	On the plus side, at least it wasn't a human skull. I'd put money on a coyote or wolf.

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Hillcountry (12-05-2020)

11-29-2020, 12:07 PM	#14
Hillcountry Senior Member Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: In the hills Posts: 2,420 Thanks: 1,677 Thanked 786 Times in 466 Posts	Not a carnivore...most likely a deer in this area unless there is a farm with goats/sheep around. https://egret.org/sites/default/files/skull.pdf