Fossils from the family farm, with a question

[IAMZIM]

After being in our family for over 75 years , my uncle sold the family farm. I knew it was coming, so this spring I ran out to get my last fossil hunt on the farm in! Didn't do too bad...found what I thought was some cool stuff. I know some of these are scutes, don't have any idea on an ID for the bone. My question is this, is there any way to tell the difference between turtle scutes and crocodile scutes?the darker scutes on the right were found when I was a little kid. Could they be from a crocodile? And the smaller ones I found this spring on the left turtle?

 

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[Perico]

Looks like turtles scutes to me. If I could have some clear pictures it also looks like you may have some shark vertebrae.

 

[IAMZIM]

Looks like turtles scutes to me. If I could have some clear pictures it also looks like you may have some shark vertebrae.

How does one tell the difference just out of curiosity? Is there any tell tale signs to identify? I'd really like to learn! And when I get a chance, i'll try and get some better pics, and something for scale, I should have done that in the first place....

 

[Perico]

Found these pics on Google the ones I have are pretty beat up. These are American Alligator and this as Crocodile

 

[Perico]

What state were they found in?

 

[IAMZIM]

Northern Montana, near Birch Creek, the black colored scutes I found when I was a little kid mixed in with what I am sure are some type of dinosaur bones and teeth I had found after my grandfather had plowed up one of the fields. As a kid, I was just walking around picking up piece after piece. A Trex skull was found on our neighbors fence line probably around a hundred yards from where I was finding my stuff. I won't say any more about locations, as the neighbors have had trouble over the years with people trespassing and stealing fossils. The lighter colored scutes and the small bone an vert pieces were found a few miles away, in a different area.

 

[Jason in Enid]

holy @#$@% I wish I had known about your family farm! All the pieces on the left look like turtle shell, the verts are an unknown, they remind me of champsasaur verts I dug a few weeks ago, the bone is an unknown, but it obviously had weathered out before you found it. Still in decent shape and looks repairable. With a rex skull found that close and the other finds you have your site sounds very similar to the quarry I have been digging in. Would have loved to know more sooner, could have had my paleontologist friend give you a call about having a look around.

 

[Perico]

I'm on the East Coast in Florida. I'm not as proficient on identifying in your area. So post some clear pictures and let's see what you got. Hopefully we get some other people identifying for you. Jason sounds like a good resource for your identification.

 

[CaptEsteban]

Looks like turtles scutes to me. If I could have some clear pictures it also looks like you may have some shark vertebrae.

I AGREE !

 

[IAMZIM]

Okay, sorry this took so long to reply to this! Here are some better pics. I don't think that the verts are from sharks , although I would love to find some... I could not find a ruler so I used a Morgan dollar for scale. Let me know what you think....

 

[Perico]

I don't think they are either with the better pictures you posted. Would like to hear more on what you have there from other viewers. Nice finds!

 

[woodsman1981]

nice pottery,

 

[IAMZIM]

nice pottery,

Lol, funny!