Whale - indet.
Matrix free caudal vertebra from a species of whale. A host of whales lived in the Pliocene oceans. The apex predator at that time would have been the giant extinct shark, Megalodon. On the flank of the bone there is a roughly triangular depressed area of bone. This may have been made by a shark attack. If the whale carcass floated onto the shore then this may be from the tooth of an Alligator. On the top surface are two round 'drilled' holes. These presumably are due to the action of Piddocks ( burrowing Bivalves). Interesting specimen.
Pliocene, Bone Valley Phosphates.
Polk County, Florida, USA.
Vertebra : 7 x 6 x 5.8 cm.
