# Id these fish skulls? **URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-fish-skulls/658754 **Category:** Factual Questions **Created:** [May 19, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-fish-skulls/658754 "2013-05-19T19:43:24Z") **Posts on this page:** 6 **Page:** 1
### Author: ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker) #### Post date: [May 19, 2013, 7:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-fish-skulls/658754/1 "2013-05-19T19:43:24Z")
Ocracoke Island, North Carolina. [Skull 1](http://s294.photobucket.com/user/badger60/media/Picture002_zps71f4fb13.jpg.html#/user/badger60/media/Picture002_zps71f4fb13.jpg.html?&_suid=13689924273590002032412956127827) [Skull 2](http://s294.photobucket.com/user/badger60/media/obppic4_zps7ca23957.jpg.html) ---
### Author: ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri) #### Post date: [May 19, 2013, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-fish-skulls/658754/2 "2013-05-19T20:02:13Z")
The first one looks like some kind of [needlefish.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Needlefish) I don’t have a clue on the second. It doesn’t even look like a skull. Do you have any other photos? ---
### Author: ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker) #### Post date: [May 19, 2013, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-fish-skulls/658754/3 "2013-05-19T20:10:55Z")
Maybe it’s not, but it looked like one in real life. I thought those might be “eye” holes to the left of that lateral fissure at the far right, one above the ridge, and one below, in the shadow. Sadly, that’s the only one I took. Thanks for the needlefish id. ---
### Author: ![ducati](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/cc9497/32.png) [@ducati](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ducati) #### Post date: [May 19, 2013, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-fish-skulls/658754/4 "2013-05-19T20:42:57Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > The first one looks like some kind of [needlefish.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Needlefish) Maybe. I’d also consider the [Gar](https://www.google.com/search?q=gar+skull&client=firefox-a&hs=TpB&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=VDiZUfmhGYa-9QS4q4DwBg&ved=0CAoQ_AUoAQ&biw=960&bih=505). On Ocracoke, it’s a possibility. The jaw looks a bit short for a needlefish. ---
### Author: ![April\_R](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@April\_R](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/April_R) #### Post date: [May 19, 2013, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-fish-skulls/658754/5 "2013-05-19T20:50:43Z")
I am WAG gar for the first one as well. Looks like this [![Imgur](https://live.staticflickr.com/3454/3821861393_9424c2bb1a_b.jpg "skull of gar fish") ](https://www.flickr.com/photos/d_bergum/3821861393/) ---
### Author: ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri) #### Post date: [May 19, 2013, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/id-these-fish-skulls/658754/6 "2013-05-19T21:23:36Z")
It could be a gar. I was assuming the skull was on a beach on the ocean. Gar are usually freshwater but can occur in brackish water.