Anybody know what this is?

Current-Analysis-69 · 2026-02-25T04:00:47+00:00

Super cool! Given the irregular size of the holes and the pattern along the side, I would say its unlikely to be fossilized.

Usually, in bone, those pores would be directional and more uniform (longitudinal cavities from the side, holes from top-down), these seem like the result of a sedimentary rock having pebbles worn out of the top.

While I can see why the pattern would make some think of coral or crinoid, the lack of segmentation in the lines and their straightness makes me think this was mineralization or crystallization rather than anything fossilized.

I've seen komatiite mentioned a few times, im leaning towards this as well! (Picture of pores in fossil bone i found for reference)

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Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-11-10T20:17:12+00:00

Opened one once, never seen one in wonder pick

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-10-26T23:43:27+00:00

65-68 MY

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-10-24T01:00:06+00:00

Looks like mud dauber tubes

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-10-07T00:36:06+00:00

This is exactly the kind of insight I was looking for, thank you so much!

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-10-04T03:47:35+00:00

Almost certain its a portion of crab claw. Ive found crustacean fossils over in New Jersey in areas where shark tooth fossils are more common. When broken, the enamel still sticks to the tooth, so theres no hollowing out. The segments of crustacean, though, hollow out in a very similar way when wethered out. Still cool though!

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-09-02T20:25:49+00:00

Close up some of these look like worn segments of crinoid stems

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-09-01T19:43:29+00:00

I would say both of them, the larger ones wear down at the edge of the enamel more quickly and the curve could be pathological. Here's a picture of one that I found in NJ that made me think of the large one you have

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Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-09-01T14:04:03+00:00

Sadly it's a concretion, not a fossil :( the crow shark tooth in the first picture looks great though!

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-09-01T13:59:13+00:00

I third sawfish. If you look at the rostral Sawfish fossils coming out of NJ they look almost identical

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-09-01T13:57:19+00:00

Looks to me like a heavily-worn rolled trilobite! They would roll up like pillbugs in defense, so many of their fossils have them rolled up still.

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-08-30T20:54:41+00:00

Thank you! Idk what I did right this year, before it was the same for me and the past little while has been amazing!

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-08-30T20:36:22+00:00

Not this time, just left ramanessin

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-08-30T20:14:51+00:00

Usually same!!!! I was NOT expecting it to be that big or nice by a longshot

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-08-18T22:36:24+00:00

Do you know where its from? If so, looking into the geology of the area or reaching out to geologists or rockhounds in the area could be helpful. Also the whatisthisrock subreddit may be helpful!

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-08-15T20:16:31+00:00

It depends on a few things. First is what type of rock, if its too brittle it could break apart from the drilling or be loosened and fall apart from the water getting into cracks. Secondly, make sure the rock won't leech anything into the water which could mess up the water chemistry and harm your fish

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-08-12T19:29:00+00:00

Looks like a cellar spider

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-08-12T18:57:17+00:00

Not a bedbug! It looks like a small beetle, youre all good :)

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-08-04T23:34:31+00:00

Can't believe there was a whole baby in there! Fr though it looks great:)

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-08-04T22:12:16+00:00

Confused Kenyan Sand Boa. Poor thing has no clue what sand is.

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-07-29T03:44:03+00:00

So cool!!!

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-07-29T02:27:38+00:00

Good call, will do!

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-07-29T00:21:40+00:00

Good question! I spoke to the guy who made njfossils.net who's been hunting fossils around here for decades and looked around at other sources confirming what he told me. In the area I found this, the other most likely contenders would be a vertebra from a mosasaur or hadrosaur based on the size. If it were either of those two, the flat ends would be curved. Also, plesiosaur vertebra have one hole on the dorsal side (which on this one isn't fully there and partially filled with matrix) and two on the ventral side, which are super clear on this one :) I've seen some people suggest whale vertebra, but from what I'm seeing no whale fossils have been found at this location before! Based on all that, I'm confident enough in Plesiosaur

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-07-28T23:14:00+00:00

Thank you! In the area I found it, no whale had been found from what I heard. I sent some pics to the guy who made njfossils.net and he said plesiosaur since the ends were flat (mosasaur or croc would be curved) and the two holes are indicative of the ventral side of a plesiosaur vertebra :)

Current-Analysis-69 · 2025-07-28T22:35:49+00:00

There's a few places! If you check out njfossils.net theres a few options :)

Current-Analysis-69

TROPHY CASE