mammal femur question

[naturegirl]

I have two bones, I think they are femurs. (same bone, different individuals). they are large. so... horse,cow,bison,elk bear.

My question, do all femurs have a ball on the upper end? "cause these don't. I'm wondering if animals that can stand on two legs, (bears) have different femurs that the strictly four legged,?

I want to try and ID these myself, that's why I'm not posting pics yet.

Thanks!

 

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[naturegirl]

Ok, I've answered my own rather naive question . And I have two tibias! They are just so big (to me) I thought they must be femurs. They are looking alot like bison, mainly 'cause that's the only good picture I can find to compare to, and they are very similar. could be cow? The longest one is 16"

 

[Worthy55]

Again, where is Harry when you need him. I just don't have anything to compare to sorry.

 

[naturegirl]

Well whatever it is, and I do think bison, the smaller one has cut marks up and down one side!! I looked at it again, outside light, it's been drying for several months in the china hutch,(sorry mom and Grandma), and now there are clearly what i believe to be cut marks. Just this one side, and all up and down it. see what ya think. oh, I'm stoked, I've never found anything like this!

 

[Worthy55]

That is cool , when you find fossil bones with what I call butcher marks that's sweet. I just found a larg bone fragment with butcher marks on it also. Love it! 8) 8) 8)

 

[reef12]

Look like Bison to me also.

Good find.

 

[Harry Pristis]

These bones are likely from bison, 'naturgirl'; but, I cannot make out the ends of the bones well-enough to be certain. Here is a horse tibia for comparison:

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[Harry Pristis]

Here's another view of the horse articulation:

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[naturegirl]

Thank you for the pictures of the horse bone Harry. I really like the articulation pic, cool! My two bones don't look exactly like that on the distal end. Similar, two grooves, but not shaped exactly like the horse. But they are shaped like each other. That would be fun to find two bones that actually went together from the same animal. Not likely, but fun. Thanks.