To fang or not to fang?

This section is for debates, Quizzes and Competitions. Please keep the debates clean, no name calling, etc. Have fun!
Check back often to see the latest Competitions and progress thereof.

To fang or not to fang?

Postby adrianx » Wed Aug 04, 2010 12:10 am

I'm not quite sure what to make of this, I found it next to the Gamtoos river bank in the Eastern cape.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
If you want to run with the big dogs, don't piss like a puppy!
User avatar
adrianx
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 170
Joined: Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:28 pm
Location: Parts Unknown

Re: To fang or not to fang?

Postby mailjvdb » Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:00 am

I think its not to fang... It looks like a snake rib, like young Python maybe, but i seriously doubt as they are said to be extinct to very scarce in EC. More likely a Puff adder (Bitis arietans), or similar large bodied type of snake. Puffy's are quite common in Eastern Cape (if not everywhere). I saw another user, Eyelash, was into this sorta stuff, maybe he or someone else is expert enough to name exact species.
www.deviantexotics.co.za
User avatar
mailjvdb
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 566
Joined: Thu Jun 03, 2010 1:43 pm
Location: Pretoria,Gauteng

Re: To fang or not to fang?

Postby Westley Price » Wed Aug 04, 2010 6:31 am

I don' think it's a fang.

I have a feeling it's a fish bone.
"I am dying by inches from not having anybody to talk to about insects." - Charles Darwin
User avatar
Westley Price
Forum gatekeeper
 
Posts: 4019
Joined: Tue Feb 12, 2008 8:25 am
Location: South Africa

Re: To fang or not to fang?

Postby Warren Klein » Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:43 am

2nd the fish bone. Defiantly not a snake fang!
An inaccurate naturalist is a pest and a danger, forever perpetuating illogical deductions and landing later naturalists in trouble. Damm and blast them all to hell in the most painful way. C.J.P. Ionides
User avatar
Warren Klein
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 932
Joined: Sun Apr 12, 2009 5:16 pm
Location: Bela Bela, South Africa / Angola

Re: To fang or not to fang?

Postby Nzyme » Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:34 am

I believe that to be a pectoral fin spine from a catfish.
1.0.0 Mojave
0.1.0 Spider
0.1.0 Pinstripe
1.0.0 Spider Het Axa
0.3.0 Normal
0.1.0 Axanthic
1.0.0 Yellowbelly
1.0.0 Cinnamon
0.1.0 Lemon Pastel
1.0.0 Ghost House snake
0.1.0 Albino House Snake
1.0.0 Brazilian Rainbow boa

Nikki du Toit
User avatar
Nzyme
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 201
Joined: Wed Jan 20, 2010 1:22 pm
Location: Cape Town

Re: To fang or not to fang?

Postby eyed_lizard » Wed Aug 04, 2010 8:49 am

Nzyme, I think you hit the nail there, I was trying to think where have I seen something like this before, and now it hit me sea catfish, I know this because I got cut on my thumb while trying to get the hook out, needles to say, I was dazed for a while.
I then pulled this fin bone out with some pliers and killed it with it... I know I shouldn't have but I was young and in pain.

So I agree, that is a pectoral fin spine from a catfish.
eyed_lizard
This member has been banned
 
Posts: 434
Joined: Mon Jul 26, 2010 1:17 pm

Re: To fang or not to fang?

Postby mailjvdb » Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:49 am

1st pic i can't remember where i got it from, second Pic from http://www.paleoenterprises.com/Miocene1.htm, but anyways the similarity is very striking...

Its a long shot, but i still think it is a Snake rib... Getting it near a river bed doesn't necessarily suggest it to be a fish bone
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
www.deviantexotics.co.za
User avatar
mailjvdb
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 566
Joined: Thu Jun 03, 2010 1:43 pm
Location: Pretoria,Gauteng

Re: To fang or not to fang?

Postby mailjvdb » Wed Aug 04, 2010 10:59 am

Catfish spines usually have sort of serrated edges, usually only visible after decomposition or exposure of the spine, and not as smooth as the one in the pic, but then again, it won't be the first time i am wrong, so I'm interested to learn what you have found there mate.
www.deviantexotics.co.za
User avatar
mailjvdb
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 566
Joined: Thu Jun 03, 2010 1:43 pm
Location: Pretoria,Gauteng

Re: To fang or not to fang?

Postby herpitologica » Wed Aug 04, 2010 2:13 pm

Could it not be a fishes rib or dorsal spine?The catfish spines i have seen are were very straight,this one looks a bit skew.
User avatar
herpitologica
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 247
Joined: Wed Jun 24, 2009 3:08 pm

Re: To fang or not to fang?

Postby Bushviper » Wed Aug 04, 2010 3:14 pm

I think that is just a fish bone. The fact that it has a groove in it makes me think less that it is a snake rib. The way the joint is makes me wonder about the "barb" too.
It is easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.

Those who are afraid to ask are ashamed of learning.
User avatar
Bushviper
Founder Member
 
Posts: 17358
Joined: Fri Jul 15, 2005 10:02 am
Location: Pretoria

Re: To fang or not to fang?

Postby Eyelash » Wed Aug 04, 2010 5:46 pm

In my opinion it is def. a rib of some sorts...I would say its not from a snake just because of the shape(not curved enough and the already mentioned groove)...It does look a lot like a fish rib if I had to compare it to some of the skeletons on display in the zoology building...
Louis Jacobsz
072 7992588
http://www.clickapet.co.za (coming soon)
https://www.facebook.com/LJAfricanCaptiveBreds
User avatar
Eyelash
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 1532
Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 8:08 pm
Location: Pretoria

Re: To fang or not to fang?

Postby adrianx » Wed Aug 04, 2010 7:00 pm

Hey, here is a couple more images to solve this issue.
I just want to add that this rib/spine/fang or whatever it is has a enamel like coating, not like the average rib you get...
Louis, if you wanna check it out I will be able to post it to you. PM me if interested.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
If you want to run with the big dogs, don't piss like a puppy!
User avatar
adrianx
SA Reptiles Member
 
Posts: 170
Joined: Mon Mar 23, 2009 10:28 pm
Location: Parts Unknown


Return to Debate, Quiz and Competition Forum

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 4 guests

cron