Yes, looks like part of a mysticete skull to me. Cannot get closer than that, I'm afraid, but should be possible for someone else to determine the species.

This is certifiably a sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) skull including the occipital shield, squamosal, and part of the frontal. Mysticetes have a much different looking frontal bone and typically do not have a vertical occipital shield.

I am agree with you Robert , this partial skull belonging to sperm whales Physeter macrocephalus.

Thank so much! It's one of few records of this species for the island.

Just to make sure I understand, we can see the occipital shield in the photo on the bottom right and if this were from a mysticete skull it would have been curved to form part of the top of the cranium?

I don't know; the temporal fossa looks wrong for a sperm whale, so does the slope of the supraoccipital (it is not that vertical compared to the condyle position); and of course the scale. it is a "younger" animal (but not yearling) from the squamosal suture, that small a size for Physeter? so for sure not mysticete-like, but I am not sure about Physeter either.

this looks more like a Ziphius or Mesoplodon?

Hello David I'm not sure if it's a sperm whale .... Mesoplodon in my opinion.

I think these parts are some parts of the cranium of the sperm whale

Thanks for your help in identifying this sample. Is there any additional information I can provide to aid in the ID?

Also, if anyone can suggest resources (books/papers etc) that I can use to improve my capability in identifying cetacean species from skeletal specimens I would be most grateful.

Alësha

Physeter skull, not fully-developed animal

Jefferson's guide is still the most comprehensive. the original FAO version is here http://www.fao.org/3/t0725e/t0725e00.htm#Contents and the most up-to-date edition is on Elsevier's website: https://www.sciencedirect.com/book/9780123838537/marine-mammals-of-the-world Alësha R. Naranjit