special fox skull?

Orkman-X · Dec 17, 2016

Hey guys,

been a while. I hope you are all doing great.
I have a question about a fox skull that I've had for several decades now. the guy told me it was from a blue fox but that is not really a species afaik.
the skulls has on each side a bony spike on the lower jaws. I've never seen this in any fox skull.

maybe it's an anomaly in this specific specimen or maybe it is a known feature in a specific (sub)species of (arctic) fox.

I know some of you work with experts in zoology museums so maybe someone knows.

thanks for your help

best regards

marc

Sea Wolf · Dec 17, 2016

I've looked at mine and I have pure arctic and arctic/red fox crosses. None of them show this. Thinking you have an odd abnormality.

Schrecken · Dec 18, 2016

Looks like a bone spur to me. I've seen protrusions like this on other species skulls and bones before, and it can be caused either by some kind of injury or a lot of stress on the bone in the area. Usually I see it on large predator skulls like bears, and I'm working on a cougar skull right now that has something similar on the jawbone.

skinsandkins · Dec 18, 2016

x2 on the bone spur. They're not common, but not too rare. Very cool find nonetheless!

The seller was either misinformed, or they meant a blue fox as in the color morph. I'd assume that, either way, its a ranched fox.

Orkman-X · Dec 19, 2016

thanks guys for the replies. never knew these things were merely anomalies that occur in a range of species. had hoped to own a special subspecies or whatnot.

happy holidays everyone!

marc

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