<div class="field field--name-field-common-name field--type-string field--label-hidden field__item">Domestic Cat

+ vote

Comments (39)

From above "The head was about 12 1/2 cm across"

Thanks Emily! I really appreciate you looking into it!

From the skull experts: Skulls Unlimited International: "It appears to be a common domestic cat, Cat for sure, but could be a bobcat. Without size it's hard to tell.."

AnnalisaD

I'm guessing mountain lion http://www.carolina.com/showVideo.do?imgcode=/local/products/detail/246212_ske.jpg

Actually, a friend of mine does. She does it as a hobby. I'll definitely take pics when its done.

Oh you have beetles! Good for you! Do share the final product!

That's what it's looking like. Beetles should be done cleaning it soon.

If I had to make a guess, it would be a feline skull...

I will pass this along to the skull experts I know and get back to you! This is a tough one!

HemaShah

http://www.sdnhm.org/research/birds/nwcanids.html

@Cindy: Well maybe if an expert happens by :-) The 5th photo suggests the underlying skull is almost spherical. That's why I didn't go for a canine...This latest skull, of a pit bull no less, is anything but rounded...But again, see comment just above :-)

mredria

The scissor bite in the back really made me thing of a dog. http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_zY5jXjY3R14/S9eq1LBruyI/AAAAAAAACKI/ZyJDvt4jzNw/s1600/PitBullSkull.jpg

Thank you all for your feedback and comments! I don't know if we'll ever know for sure but I've sure learned a lot about local mammals and identification through teeth and skull shape :)

HemaShah

Looks like a dog

Leuba Ridgway

...also there appear to be regular markings on the skin (could be decomposition) # 2 and #5 - very interesting.

Mark Ridgway

I vote bobcat ! http://www.boneclones.com/images/bc-146e-lg.jpg

Leuba Ridgway

a bobcat or cougar, perhaps? but not sure if either has so much fur along the lower jaw

MeKay

Looking at the new image I believe it might be a dog. That nose looks like a dog and the teeth would be consistent with that as well. Hard to tell what breed though, if it is a dog.

I didn't think so at first (yesterday) but with the perspective of photo #2, and the teeth of photo #3, maybe!

Bobcat? http://www.varminter.com/forums/topic/9821-bbjs-finished-bobcat-skull/

OK, I added an image (third one) that shows the front of the teeth.

Wow, I had no idea we had so many. Thank you! I'll start diving now. Worst case, I'll hop the fence tomorrow and take more pics!

Well it's a carnivore with those canines :-) Don't know if this helps: http://www.sdnhm.org/research/birds/sdmamm.html

We have pretty boring land mammals here :) There's weasel, opossum, ringtail, skunk, bobcat, coyote, rabbit, gopher, squirrel, mice, rats, and deer. I may have missed something though.

MeKay

I'm thinking badger too or possibly a young bear given how clean the teeth look. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_badger - this link show skull diagrams.

wolverine http://www.boneclones.com/BC-090.htm

wolverine, fisher, marten?

That would be so cool if we had badger!

The shape matches but what do you think about the teeth? http://www.educationalbiofacts.com/educational-skulls-real-bone.html

textless

I'm kind of thinking skunk too... The fur is pretty dark, and there's a clump of longer, lighter fur in the final photo.

Fur color doesn't indicate it but Badger? http://www.boneroom.com/bone/images_animalbone/mammal%20skulls/badger_large.jpg

It's possible but the fur color?

KarenL

Skunk?

Ya it's really messing with me :) The head was about 12 1/2 cm across which seems a bit big for a cat but maybe right for a small dog. But the head shape?

textless

How big was it? The teeth don't look right for a cat and the shape of the head is odd... Interesting!