You always seem to find the best fossils right at the end of the day when it’s time to leave…
Earlier this month, Florida Museum Vertebrate Paleontology Curator, Jonathan Bloch, at exactly the end of the day in the deepest, furthest corner of his square uncovered the proximal end (closer to the shoulder) of a “hyena-dog” Borophagus hilli left humerus (upper arm bone).
About two weeks later, first-time Montbrook volunteer, Lyndsay Spencer, uncovered the other (distal) end. Guess what?! The two pieces connect in the middle!
It gets even better…
The proximal end has three bite marks. Two are pictured below and the third is on the reverse side. We are not yet sure whose chompers those belong to but are working to narrow down the culprit.
“Hyena-dog” Borophagus hilli humerus. Proximal to the right. Florida Museum photo by Rachel Narducci.
“Hyena-dog” Borophagus hilli humerus with bite marks. Florida Museum photo by Rachel Narducci.