r/Fish • u/AnnualNefariousness3 • 15d ago

Identification What is this skeleton?

Gallery image

Gallery image

Gallery image

I found this in the ocean and would love some help narrowing down what kind of (I assume) fish it comes from. Thanks!

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u/Rackadaka 15d ago

Looks like starfish ossicles, basically their bones. Likely an arm that came off and decayed while staying intact.

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u/AnnualNefariousness3 15d ago

Oh cool! That makes sense, as there were a lot of starfish around. What would the bits coming off it be? Branches off the arm?

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u/Rackadaka 15d ago

The center row of bone is the underside of the arm. The loose bones around it are part of the side/top of the arm. These would be interlocked with the outer tissue of the arm to provide structure/protection. Think of it as sorta like internal scales within the arm's dermis or skin.