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Oden Antarctic Expedition 08

Hi Jeff,

Is the animal skull in your journal an ancient horse?

Kristin

Thu, 03/06/2008 - 15:27

Jeff Peneston

Hi Kristin,Thanks for joining the forum with your guess about the mystery skull.
It is not a horse but let me give you a few clues before I spoil the mystery with the answer.
I think if I had included a note about the size of the skull it would have helped you see that it is shorter and wider than a horse. The fossils in that gift shop were generally collected along the NW coast of Alaska. You might also get a better idea by checking out the animals on the virtual base camps of some of the other PolarTREC teachers. Check out the project on the Bering Ecosystem Change with teacher Craig Kasemodel.
Thanks again and good luck!
Jeff

Mon, 11/17/2008 - 07:37

sre-lab

Hi Jeff, I think the dead animal in your journal is a Cow i think this because it is missing teeth, i might be wrong but its a guess! 

Mon, 11/17/2008 - 16:56

Jeff Peneston

Sorry, it is not a cow.  The skull in the photo is missing all of its teeth but you can see from the empty teeth holes that the molars are very rounded and the upper jaw includes 2 giant holes where tusks where set in the bone.  Do these clues help? Keep trying,
 Jeff Peneston

Wed, 12/03/2008 - 09:35

sre-lab

Hi Jeff. I now think that the dead animal MIGHT be a walrus. I did a little research and I think I have got it. P.S I am SRE-lab :)