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Author Topic: Whale vertebrae in cave  (Read 2257 times)

Offline Pegasus

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Whale vertebrae in cave
« on: August 09, 2017, 10:21:49 pm »
Saw this amazing shot on facebook and just had to share on here.  The comment by Neil Silverwood with the photo was:

A fossilised whale vertebrae bridges a cave passage. From Caves: Exploring New Zealand's Subterranean Wilderness available at -http://www.pottonandburton.co.nz/store/caves — with Lauren Kelley.


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Offline ZombieCake

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Re: Whale vertebrae in cave
« Reply #1 on: August 09, 2017, 10:43:51 pm »
If it's not photoshopped (there's a suspicious looking very flat bit on the bottom right bit of the backbone where it contacts the rock if you zoom in, and some of the lower rim lights look odd and inconsistent, but am more than happy to eat humble pie (I don't normally have a hat) if not) then it is indeed a storming shot.
Nevertheless as an image 'tis nice.
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Offline RobinGriffiths

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Re: Whale vertebrae in cave
« Reply #2 on: August 10, 2017, 12:11:57 am »
Dubious myself, but most NZ limestone is Oligocene - 22 to 30Ma,  Whales evolved 50 Ma ago, so maybe.
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Offline ZombieCake

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Re: Whale vertebrae in cave
« Reply #3 on: August 10, 2017, 12:31:15 am »
One good flood with a bit of debris would wash it away, look at the surrounding rock and the erosion, and dodgy focus.  ??? Fake ??? Still happy to be corrected if wrong.
« Last Edit: August 10, 2017, 12:58:22 am by ZombieCake »
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Offline Amata

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Re: Whale vertebrae in cave
« Reply #4 on: August 10, 2017, 04:09:54 am »
It's not fake. It's been ID'd by scientists and was part of research for the newest book on New Zealand caves. There are whale fossils in other nearish caves this is just really impressive how it is.
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Offline Roperat

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Re: Whale vertebrae in cave
« Reply #5 on: August 10, 2017, 07:12:59 am »
Yep. As an nz caver, whale remains aren't uncommon in our limestone. I believe this one is in the south island, but where I have seen whale bone in the north island, the limestone is 35-45 million years old.

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Offline Pegasus

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Re: Whale vertebrae in cave
« Reply #6 on: August 10, 2017, 10:48:29 am »
Am glad it's true.  Would love to see the above vertebrae.

Aren't caves amazing places....
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Offline Ian Ball

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Re: Whale vertebrae in cave
« Reply #7 on: August 10, 2017, 11:59:40 am »
I thought it was forming a gour pool.
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Offline mrodoc

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Re: Whale vertebrae in cave
« Reply #8 on: August 11, 2017, 09:25:57 am »
I managed to buy the book and it looks stunning :). I had to buy it as apparently the cost of shipping them is probhibitive. Nearly put me over the luggage limits so there weren't that many for sale at the UIS congress. It is also bang up to date.
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Online mikem

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Re: Whale vertebrae in cave
« Reply #9 on: September 24, 2017, 08:32:59 am »
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Offline Laurie

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Re: Whale vertebrae in cave
« Reply #10 on: September 24, 2017, 11:05:50 am »
Wow! Staggering cleanliness.
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