Estuary mystery

AshLee · #1 (**permalink**) 19-02-2010, 05:37 PM

Hi all,

I saw this collection of bones in an estuary in SE England. Can anyone help me ID them?

If this is a rib cage, it is about three feet across (not sure about exact measurements though - sorry

):

Panning out - could this be the shape of a marine mammal? (Why did that text turn blue?)

Closer up and a larger file, to get some detail.

Thanks!

Ash

Beekeeper · #2 (**permalink**) 19-02-2010, 06:37 PM

Judging by the ribcage bones i would make a guess at either Dolphin, Porpoise or something along those lines but i could be totally wrong, maybe even a Seal!

Ian

fairplay · #3 (**permalink**) 19-02-2010, 08:02 PM

Could even be a cow or horse which got stuck in the mud and which the rescue services couldn't rescue/save. It may have died before the owner knew it was stuck.
Not sure what the legal requirements are if this was the case, as it seems pointless bringing in rescue services and get covered in mud if the animal was definitely dead.
In a tidal estuary, pollution to the water is not really an issue, whereas a dead whale on a beach would have H&S implications.

Looks like it's been there sometime so locals are best people to ask.

Neil.