Vertebrates
Browse our Q&A about birds, eggs, nests, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals of the Central Coast and Channel Islands.
- Anthropology
- Rocks & Fossils
- Invertebrates
- Vertebrates
- Botany
- Astronomy
- Fungi
- General
- Recently Asked
Can you identify this bone?
I found this bone on the Arroyo Burro beach west of the stairs. Can you tell me what animal it is from? My son thinks that it may be a dolphin jaw bone.
Curator Response
Hi David,
Thanks for including the ruler for scale in your image. Your son has the right idea; this looks like the lower right mandible of a Common Dolphin.
It would be a good idea to return this to the beach. Under the Marine Mammal Protection Act (MMPA) of 1972, possession of marine mammal parts is sharply restricted. NOAA Fisheries has helpful resources explaining the MMPA and the specific restrictions surrounding protected species parts.
Stay curious,
Curator of Vertebrate Zoology Krista Fahy, Ph.D.
