Cranium (Skull capsule)
Irregular and flat bones fused together; part of the axial skeleton (core).
Also known as: Skull, specifically the braincase or top of the head; in this genus, popularly known as a 'Deer Skull Cap'.
Classification
Irregular and flat bones fused together; part of the axial skeleton (core).
Dimensions
In mid-sized hoofed mammals like deer, the main braincase is typically about the size of a grapefruit or a large orange, often slightly longer than it is wide.
Key Features
Look for the 'wiggly' lines called sutures where different skull plates meet like a jigsaw puzzle. A primary identifying feature is the presence of two thick, textured bony pillars pointing upward from the back of the head. The underside usually features a large circular opening where the spine would attach.
Similar Bones
This might be confused with a pelvic bone (the hip), but the skull cap lacks a deep ball-and-socket joint. It also looks different from a cow or goat skull because those have hollow horn cores, whereas this deer skull has solid, textured pedestals.
Across Species
While most mammals have smooth skull tops, members of the deer family (Cervids) feature large, bony pedestals called 'pedicles' growing out of the forehead. Unlike cows, whose horns are permanent bone cores covered in keratin, deer grow temporary antlers from these points that fall off and regrow annually. In giraffe relatives, these bumps remain covered in skin and are called ossicones.
Evolutionary History
Skulls have evolved from a collection of shifting plates in ancient fish to a rigid, protective box in land-dwelling vertebrates. The specific growth of antler-ready pedestals seen here is a relatively recent adaptation in the Cenozoic era, serving as a structural foundation for seasonal combat and display behaviors in forest and grassland environments.
Photography Tips
Place the object on a neutral background with a ruler or coin nearby for scale. Take one photo looking George-Washington-style (from the side), one from the top to show the 'jigsaw' lines, and one looking directly at the large hole in the bottom.