guess this critter skull (pic)

[mmgrode]

Hey Guys,
   that Mammology class is now paying off- that's a mole skull from the family Talpidae, guys- it's in the same order as the shrews(Insectivora), but a different family(not Soricidae).  Notice the size of the skull(shrews even smaller), white enamel(vs. red on shrews), enlarged incisors, a complete zygomatic arch(unlike shrews), and lack of a cleft palate as in bats. Count the number of teeth.  If it's 36 then it's Scalopus aquaticus- eastern mole, if it's 44 it could be a starnosed mole- Condylura cristata . I can also give you a dental formula for each if you'd like it. Cool stuff, eh?  Take care, Matt

[adkmountainken]

Matt,
     i will count the teeth shortly, the leg bones looked to long to be a mole to me but i definitly will take your word for it. yes, cool stuff for sure!

[BobW]

mmgrode:

.......and you are studying to be what?????

thanks for the answer  

[Bob G]

Chupacabra

[laddy]

Aldo Leopold is smiling,  I am enjoying this, it's good stuff.

[mmgrode]

I'm pretty sure it's a Scalopus.  Here's a bottom view:



And a side view:



Matt

BobW- hoping to become a wildlife biologist.

[OkKeith]

Ken,

Its actually common to find bones of more than one species in a single pellet (makes it a booger sort out though). We go through about a thousad pellets a year or so with some of the studies my staff conduct, mostly Barn Owl. I have a couple of diffrent keys for sorting out owl pellet skeletons. I could email them if you are really into it.

If you found several in one place, sounds like a roosting spot. Slip by there early one morning and ya might get a look at who barfed it up!

Good hunting,

OkKeith

[adkmountainken]

OkKeith,
       i would really love anything you could send me as there are MANY owls in the woods i hunt and i enjoy watching, srtudying and learning anything i can about them. in one area by my house i found hundreds of pellets and allmost every one had a mouse skull in it. i did slip in early one morning during deer season and ran smack dab in to what looked to be a whole family, i think there were 5 or 6 owls in a small area of thick pines between 2 fields. i assume they feed primarily on mice and other rodents.
  If i take a couple more pic's of the skull what would help most in identifing? seperate the bottom jaw? what kind of pic?
Thanks to everyone for your input, as i said the little things are special to me and its fun to sort out a small mystery!

[mike mccaw]

Geez a bat,for real!I thought it was a schrew as well.

[Falk]

... just saw this thread and the pic - and what I imidiately thought was: Talpa
This is our european mole and would probably not be the correct genus in your part of the world, but the correct advise was already given above I think.

[mmgrode]

Talpidae is the family name of the above mole.  The genus would be Scalopus. Matt