Comments on: Claw or Tooth – Can You Help Identify?

By: Emily

Emily — Mon, 01 Apr 2019 23:51:27 +0000

Hi! I found something very similar on the Lake Erie Shoreline last Friday! I would love to send you a photo.

By: Tamara

Tamara — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 11:13:46 +0000

Rena, thank you for sharing the link to the update!

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Tue, 23 Sep 2014 10:03:41 +0000

UPDATE: See what Tamara made from this wonderful find, in her follow-up post: “Chomper” – Jewelry from a Primitive Beach Find.

By: Natasha Burger

Natasha Burger — Mon, 08 Sep 2014 14:31:56 +0000

I live in rural northern Alberta, Canada. We get alot of teeth and claws – I agree that it looks like a molar tooth of a herbivore. The outer enamel of a tooth lasts longer than the softer inner dentin, which explains the hollow center. The tapered end of the tooth is the root, where it would have been embedded in the jaw bone, which explains the color difference and shape change from one end to the other.

By: Tamara

Tamara — Sat, 30 Aug 2014 20:14:12 +0000

Hi Glenda! Thank you for your suggestions. It seems as though the lynx tooth could be a little narrower than what I have. Same for the wolf.

By: Glenda Munguia

Glenda Munguia — Wed, 27 Aug 2014 15:21:26 +0000

Do you think it might be a Lynx tooth? That perhaps lost sharpness due to being in the water among rocks? The size is similar. Could also be a wolf’s?

If you research the wildlife in your area that might give you a direction. I did a search for Ontario wildlife and the teeth of those above stood out.

By: Tamara

Tamara — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 22:49:52 +0000

Hi Julie! Wow, you sound very knowledgeable!! Thank you for your input! The possibility of it being a bird’s beak is legitimate, I think. A bird’s beak is their version of a tooth, after all! 🙂 We don’t have coots here in Canada, though, from what I understand. I hadn’t even heard of them, had to look them up.

The top is smooth, but not quite as even as the pictures make it look like it is. It obviously was in the water for a long time, as the top edges feel the same as glass that has been water tumbled.

By: Julie

Julie — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 21:57:52 +0000

Depending on its size it looks like a coot beak. Reason being is the bottom of a birds beak is exactly as it looks in your images. The hole through it is for the blood vessels. The bottom indents are perfect for the bottom beak to fit into. But, the beak looks as if its been cut from the bird, its too smooth, too even. Could have been a seasonal kill, cleaned near a lake and this was a remaining part after a washing, cleaning, and bone/beak removal at a lake side campsite?
Good luck.

By: Tamara

Tamara — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 14:44:13 +0000

Thank you, Carol, and everyone, for your help in identifying this. I had never thought of it being the tip of an antler – interesting. It’s difficult, too, to tell by just looking at a picture. When seen in real life, I can tell it’s not shell as there’s blood staining around the interior, and it feels different from shell, heavier. My first impression when I picked it up was that it was a tooth, and even still felt that when others thought it was a claw.

By: Carol

Carol — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 14:28:58 +0000

It looks like everything that has been mentioned, but I think it is most likely a very worn piece of shell. My first thought was the tip of an antler, actually! It is pretty neat, anyway, and should make a nice jewelry component. I have a nice collection of ocean oddities, too!

By: Carol

Carol — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 12:17:46 +0000

It’s a worn piece of seashell

By: Tamara

Tamara — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 12:02:12 +0000

Hi Doris! I am finding that I do get very attached to the special little treasures I’m finding on the beach – of course it doesn’t help when people here encourage me to keep them, LOL! When I first found this, I wasn’t attached to it, and had a bit of an “eww” reaction to the underside of the tooth. I figured I’d just put it on a cord and pass it on to someone, probably a guy, that loved that type of thing. But something shifted for me when I found out that it’s probably from an herbivore. I may never know what type of animal it comes from, and it’s obviously from something big, but I started to see whatever it is as a “gentle giant” in it’s eating habits. I’ve grown more fond of it, and know the direction I want to take in creating with it, and it’s not just to put it on a cord. I’ll post a picture when I do it up.

By: Doris

Doris — Tue, 26 Aug 2014 10:49:43 +0000

I think this is a piece you would want to keep for yourself since it so rare. I bet a lot of people will ask about it and you can share your story.

By: Tamara

Tamara — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 17:31:21 +0000

LoL, Rena and Andrea!!! And thank you to you, Ronnie, for your suggestion as well.

I think I finally have part of an answer anyway. I did more research, and after looking at more pictures of claws and teeth, it really appeared to me to look more like a tooth. The claws were all curved or hooked. Eventually I found a Natural History Museum website in the U.K. where you could ask a scientist or members of their community to identify specimens. I had to register an acct. first, so I did that, and did my post a couple of days ago. 40 members of the community looked at it, with no response, but one of the scientists just went on and answered me. He said it is a tooth, very worn, and appears to be from an herbivore. So, good to know it’s a tooth, but now I wonder, from what? And interesting how the tooth of an herbivore would end up in the lake. It obviously wasn’t fishing. Hmmm…

By: Rena Klingenberg

Rena Klingenberg — Sun, 17 Aug 2014 01:40:40 +0000

What a cool find and a great size for a jewelry component, Tamara! It would be interesting to know how old it is. (However, since you’ve stirred up the curse of Bigfoot by stealing his toenail, you may want to watch your back!) LOL

By: Andrea

Andrea — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 20:43:41 +0000

Or maybe a ‘pinky’ nail, LOLOLOL

By: Ronnie

Ronnie — Thu, 14 Aug 2014 18:05:03 +0000

the big cats,puma,wild cat known to go fishing,might the claw you are looking for ,be from one them ?it is a really nice piece very lucky for you

By: Tamara

Tamara — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 23:49:37 +0000

LOL, Andrea! If it is, hopefully he won’t come looking for his toenail! 😀

By: andrea

andrea — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 22:44:17 +0000

Oh Tamara, maybe it’s from Bigfoot!! 😉

By: Tamara

Tamara — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 15:12:20 +0000

Thank you for your input, Karen and Andrea! The consensus of most people seems to be that it’s a claw. I think it would be too large to be from a dog. It’s obviously been tumbling in the water for a long time because the top is all smooth. It seems natural to think it’s a bear because of the size, and because they fish in the water. I was told that if it were from a bird of prey, the end would be curved or hooked. I just haven’t found any pictures of bear claws online that look like it. Not to say there aren’t any though, if I look longer. Thank you for the suggestions as far as who else I might inquire from as well.

It’s not the usual type of jewellery element I use for my creations, but I figure it would be valued by someone. When I do get to design with it, I will try to refrain from putting lace and crystals on it (will be hard though!! :D)

By: Andrea

Andrea — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 14:25:47 +0000

I would say also, it looks like a claw or talon of some kind. In the second picture of the underside, the two flat areas to the left of the ‘pointed’ end look like additional padding or gripping for the claw which also makes me think it’s not a tooth. A wildlife rehabber or santuary might be able to shed some light on it, but I agree, it’s a wonderful find!

By: karen

karen — Wed, 13 Aug 2014 05:38:23 +0000

This is a claw. A tooth would have jagged edges and not be hollow at the top like that (husband is a dentist). It almost looks fossilized! I would take to a vet and ask them if they know if it was from a large dog or a bear. It could have been bleached by the sun and saltwater? Either way, a fabulous focal piece!!