I was walking on the beach in New Jersey (U.S.), at about 40 degrees longitude, and found this bone. It's not a fish. The long process in the front is interesting. It is likely a C2 vertebra. I looked on the web, but could not find anything aquatic that it might match. Certainly not a dolphin. It is 2 inches long (50 mm), and 2.5 inches high and wide (64 mm). I guess it need not be aquatic, and New York City (20 miles North of here) used to dump garbage in the ocean. It looks old. Can you help me identify it?
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7$\begingroup$ Looks very much like an axis (C2) vertebra. The give away is the odontoid process (aka "dens") clearly visible on the bottom of each photo. Spinous process looks uniquely shaped (keel like) which might help your search. Size sounds too large for dog/cat, but who knows. Definitely not human. $\endgroup$– theforestecologist ♦Commented May 28, 2018 at 18:41
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3$\begingroup$ www.boneid.net provides a great searchable database of identified bones $\endgroup$– theforestecologist ♦Commented May 28, 2018 at 18:53
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$\begingroup$ I found a picture with various cow vertebrae here: chichesterinc.com/Images2012/1172-40-V1-Lg.jpg Not sure your's is there. $\endgroup$– bliCommented May 29, 2018 at 15:14
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$\begingroup$ Still disappointed that I can't figure out what this is. Is it pretty difficult to identify a single vertebra? $\endgroup$– Karl KjerCommented Jun 19, 2018 at 15:05
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$\begingroup$ By the size you said and using the bonid site mentioned, it can looks also like a wild boar C2. But do you have wild boar in NJ? $\endgroup$– рüффпCommented Oct 19, 2021 at 21:25
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1 Answer
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Looks like Lumbar Vertebrae or Sacral Vertebrae of a Cow like @Brian Hanson Said above.
Studying closely in laboratory can elaborate more secrets about the bones.
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1$\begingroup$ This is not a lumbar or sacral vertebra. It doesn't even look like it's from a cow: boneid.net/product/lateral-view-cattle-c2-vertebrae $\endgroup$– kmmCommented May 29, 2018 at 18:06