Fossilized Whale Ear Bone

Item Description

This is an impressive and very well-preserved example of the hard to find fossilized ear bones of a whale from Apalachee Bay, Florida. I've seen several of these specimens labeled as belonging to sperm whales, but I've also seen references online that say these could be from a balaenopteroid baleen whale. With that said, I'm leaving it simply as a whale ear bone. For reference, the anatomical name for this bone is Tympanic Bulla. The piece dates back to the Miocene Epoch (15 million years ago). It's incredibly detailed, distinct and impressive for its size and quality. Ex Jack Arbiser collection.