Thread: What is this ?

Originally Posted by CraigE

It depends on the whale.
Could be part of the upper vertebrae or even back of the skull, but I have seen vertebrae like that before in a complete carcass. The lower vertebrae thins out quite a bit.
Also if you are tempted to take it home be aware it is an offence and someone you know may dob you in. This happened to a friend and he ended up with a court date, a huge fine and a conviction.
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Dam, I was going to go back and get it - would look great on the varandah. not going to cop a fine for it though .

The goverment let the japs kill whales in Australian waters - but I can get an arse kicking for picking up a bone off the beach.

Originally Posted by KarlB

This is a tricky one. Whales, like other mammals, have flat faced vertebrae with disks in between, so I suspect it is not a whale vertebrae. Without consulting some books at work tomorrow, my best guess is the back of a whale's skull.

Originally Posted by KarlB

Typical whale vertebrae:




Back of a Bowhead Whale skull:




Might even be able to work out the species. Where was the photo taken Hardchina? Any more photos? Were there any other bones?

Cheers
KarlB

Thanks mate, no other bones - i'd say the locals have grabbed most of what had washed up. Was at an ocean beach of western port bay.

edit, just found this

http://www.theage.com.au/environment...0513-uzfz.html

looks like a blue whale - two blokes facing $27,000 fines for grabbing bones.