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Wildlife Spotting

Photo by alliemill
Published on Project Noah
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27.8003, -97.3956

Field Notes

Description:

Vertebrae, ribs, and long bone (femur?) from an unidentified mammal. Ribs are 9.5" - 11" long, 1.75" wide at the longest point. Longest vertebra is 6.75" long, 2.5" wide; widest vertebra is 3.5" wide and 4.5" long. Long bone is 8.25" long, 3.5" wide at the joint, 1.25" wide at the narrowest point on the shaft.

Habitat:

Sand dunes on North Padre Island, Texas, south of Corpus Christi; undeveloped barrier island habitat. Ocean side of dunes; savannah on other side.

Notes:

I found these scattered (clearly scavenged) over maybe 50 yards both up in the dunes and down at their base. I tried my hardest to find a skull, since that of course makes this easier, but whatever got at this carcass apparently made off with it! I thought it might be a wild pig, but the femur (?) doesn't seem to have enough curvature for that. Would love some ideas; I'm usually pretty good at this but these have me stumped!

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (2)

Possibly a horse? Seems small for a one, but feral horses tend to be smaller on islands.
Hi Alliemill, is there anyway you could take one more picture with the bones and the back of your hand for reference on size? I know you provided sizing above but that would help me help you as I am a visual thinker! :) Cool find and interesting habitat you found it in!
Photographed
PublishedJuly 1, 2012

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