Unknown Mammal Skull Mystery

[bigdave60dog]

Originally Posted by Farplace

Not sure, but it looks like a carnivour. I would guess a mustalid - perhaps ferret, mink, otter depending on where it was found. Any other clues?

Definitely not mustelid, no keel on the top of skull and detached lower jaw.
Definitely feline but from the photo impossible to say which feline.

[Dogghound]

Unless you live in certain parts of Scotland, its fair to assume that this is a domestic/feral cat skull. Wild cat skulls are more robust and larger but without measurement we can only stipulate.

[tcvarlh]

Orbit is the eye socket Will-Walk.

[thunder]

Wild Cats have a slightly different shaped skull to domestic cats, and according to the Handbook, this skull shows two characters that mean it is a domestic cat.

henrya

[Will-Walk]

Well, thankyou everyone for the mystery being cleared up so thoroughly.

The newest uncertainty comes from a little dent by his eye, on the right side - looks like a pellet mark perhaps?

This might throw a little light on how the skull same to be left in the woods.

A feral cat, even not yet among the proverbial chickens, is an unknown farmer's pre-emptive opportunity to protect his investments. Even if the description and metaphor are unwieldy, the scenario is well plausible. You know Kentish farmers...they're ruthless, and righteous with it.

anyway, good day, and thanks for all help.

[thunder]

Originally Posted by Will-Walk

The newest uncertainty comes from a little dent by his eye, on the right side - looks like a pellet mark perhaps?

This might throw a little light on how the skull same to be left in the woods.

It's hard to say for certain, as the photograph is not quite sharp enough, but that looks like a natural hole to me. If made by a pellet, I would expect to see fractured pieces of bone. Can you see any in the actual specimen?

henrya