Vertebrates
Browse our Q&A about birds, eggs, nests, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals of the Central Coast and Channel Islands.
- Anthropology
- Rocks & Fossils
- Invertebrates
- Vertebrates
- Botany
- Astronomy
- Fungi
- General
- Recently Asked
What could this possibly be?
While my 10-year-old daughter was wading in the ocean near the shore of Catalina Harbor, she found this bone? tooth? We brought it onto our boat for examination and to snap some pictures. Can you help us identify what this is before we return it? Any chance this is a fossil? Thank you.
Curator Response
Hi Cassandra,
Based on your photos, this looks like an antler point or tine, from the introduced Mule Deer population on Catalina.
Although this is not a fossil, someday you might look back on this as handling a remnant of the island’s past history. The Mule Deer population is slated to be eradicated as part of broader efforts to restore the island’s ecosystems. Read more about the Catalina Island Restoration Project on the Catalina Island Conservancy’s website.
Stay curious,
Curator of Vertebrate Zoology Krista Fahy, Ph.D.
