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Glacial Florida from 2.5 million years ago.
Interglacial Florida

Prehistoric mammals began migrating to, as well as evolving in Florida during the Early Miocene epoch. Due to lack of a glacial sheet and temperate to warm climate, many species of mammals thrived in what is now Florida.

Prior to 23-24 million years ago, no land mammals were present in what is now Florida. The first mammalian fossils are from the Eocene and are that of the extinct whales †Basilosaurus (44.9—33.9 Ma) and †Basilosaurus cetoides (37.2—33.9 Ma). Land mammals were prevented access to the forming peninsula by a natural water barrier known as the Gulf Trough which flowed over northern Florida and southern Georgia carrying sediments away and prevented migration. Though Florida was forming, this process was taking place over the central to north central part of the state.

As the trough filled in, the first mammals were able to move from the north and in to the forming peninsula.[1] North Florida became the first part of the future state to receive sediments. As the area began filling in from deposited sediments from rivers to the north and as sea level dropped during glaciation, these two processes eventually exposed the peninsula or the upper most areas of the Florida Platform.

Also see: Choctaw Sea

Florida, a rather flat state, has an abundance of phosphate and it is the mining of this mineral which has yielded most of the fossil specimens.

Most specimens have been dated using Appearance Event Ordination.

Carnivores

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Amphicyonids

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Known as bear-dogs, these animals are more closely related to bears than dogs but may be the earliest caniforms. They had large skulls, robust bodies, and short but strong limbs giving an overall appearance that looked dog-like. These animals were not related to wolves or dogs and existing in Florida for approximately 9.5 million years.

  • †Amphicyon longiramus, est age ~21.7 Ma.
  • †Cynelos caroniavorus, est. age ~21.7 Ma
  • †Daphoenodon notionastes, est. age ~23.1—21.9 Ma.
  • †Pliocyon robustus, est age ~13.6 Mya.
  • †Mammacyon obtusidens (type species), est. age ~21.8—21.7 Ma.
    • †M. loomis, est. age ~21.8—21.7 Ma.

Canidae

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First Caninae

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  • †Leptocyon sp. was a small canid in Florida during the Oligocene through Miocene epochs weighing approximately 3.5 kg (7 lbs). Its estimated age ~24.—20.6 Ma, existing approximately 3.4 million years.

†Osbornodon was an early canid and a subfamily of the Hesperocyon. Osbornodon was the largest member of Hespercyonids with short legs weighing between 16—18 kg (30—40 lbs) and was a hypocarnivorous to hypercarnivorous animal. It existed in Florida for approximately 5.2 million years.

  • †Osbornodon iamonensis est. age ~23.6—18.8 Ma.
  • †O. scitulus est. age ~19.3 Ma.
  • †O. wangi est. age ~24.8—24.7 Ma.

Borophagines

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Borophagines were descended from the subfamily Hesperocyoninae which died out in North America during the mid-Miocene about 9 Mya. This family is composed of "bone-crushing" dogs of the extinct subfamily Borophaginae, extinct and extant wolf, fox, jackal, and coyote.

Borophagines are recorded from as early as 23 Mya to as recent as 1.3 Mya.

Canines

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Canidae descended from Borophagines around 35 million years ago.[2] In Florida, 3 of 6 canine species are shown in strata as far back as 2.1 Mya. Three species survived to present.

Procyon

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Racoons:

Ursidae

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The family Ursidae (Bears) are are caniforms, or doglike carnivorans, with the pinnipeds being their closest living relatives.

Feliforma

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Panthera leo (American Lion)

Feliforma are cats and cat-like mammals within 10 families.

Hyaenidae

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Hyena is a family of Feliforma cat-like carnivores.

Mustilids

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Mephitidae

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Herbivores

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Xenarthra

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Cingulata
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Giant sloths
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Comprised of Megatheriidae, Megalonychidae, and Mylodontidae.

  • Eremotherium sp. 2.3 Ma—400,000
  • E. eomigrans 4.9—400,000 years ago.
  • Megalonyx sp. 2.1 Ma—700,000 years ago.
    • M. leptostomus 3.7—1.5 Ma.
    • M. wheatleyi 1.6—1.5 Ma.
  • Thinobadistes segnis 11.0—9.0 Ma.
    • T. wetzeli 11.0—9.0 Ma (AEO). Alachua, Marion Co.
Giant armadillo
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G. arizonae
  • Glyptotherium arizonae 3.7 million—400,000 years ago.
    • G. chapadmalense 2.3 Ma.
    • G. floridanum 400,000 years ago.
Dasypodidae (armadillo)
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Marsupials

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Herpetotherium (type species)

Odd-toed ungulates

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Chalicothere

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Chalicotheres were distantly related to the horse but generally had long forelimbs with shorter hind limbs and moved with much of their weight on their hind legs. They had long curved claws on their front legs indicating knuckle-walking like giant anteaters of today.

Equidae (horse)

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  • Anchippus texanus 22.9—21.9 Ma.
  • Anchitherium clarencei 21.7—17.7 Ma
  • Astrohippus sp. 10.1—5.7 Ma.
    • A. stockii 10.1—5.7 Ma.
  • Calippus cerasinus 11.6—8.7 Ma.
    • C. elachistus 11.5—8.7 Ma.
    • C. hondurensis 11.5 to 9.3 Ma.
    • C. martini
    • C. maccartyi
  • Dinohippus sp. 9.0—8.9 Ma.[6]
    • D. mexicanus 10.3—5.5 Ma.

Pseudhipparion skinneri, Hipparion cf. tehonense, Neohipparion trampasense, Nannippus westoni, Hippotherium ingenuum, Hippotherium plicatile, Calippus cerasinus, Calippus elachistus, Protohippus gidleyi

Tapir

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Even-toed ungulates

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Hypertragulus

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Antelope/Deer

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Peccary

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Mammals belonging to the families of Gelocidae and Tayassuidae.

  • Catagonus brachydontus (Chacoan peccary) 10.1—6.5 Ma (AEO). Polk Co.[7]
  • Floridachoerus olseni 21.7 Ma (AEO). Gilchrist Co.
  • Pseudoceras sp. 11.7—9.0 Ma (AEO). Alachua, Hamilton, Marion Co.
  • Mylohyus elmorei 7.9—7.8 Ma (AEO). Polk Co.
    • M. floridanus 3.7—2.2 Ma (AEO) Alachua, Gilchrist, Highlands, Sarasota Co.
    • M. fossilis 2.1 Ma—11,000 years ago (AEO). Alachua, Hillsborough, Indian River, Marion, Orange, Polk, Sumter Co.
  • Parablastomeryx floridanus 18.9—21.7 Ma (AEO) Ma (AEO). Bradford, Gilchrist Co.
  • Platygonus sp. 2.1 Ma—11,000 years ago (AEO). Alachua, Orange Co.
    • P. bicalcaratus 3.7—1.5 Ma (AEO). Citrus, Columbia, Gilchrist, Lee, Okeechobee, Sarasota Co.[8]
    • P. compressus 300,000—11,000 years ago. Alachua, Marion, Orange Co.
    • P. vetus 2.1 Ma—300,000 years ago. (AEO). Alachua, Citrus, Hillsborough, Polk, Sumter Co.
  • Sphenophalos garciae 7.9—7.8 Ma (AEO). Polk Co.

Hog-like Entelodont

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  • Dinohyus 22.9—21.9 Ma (AEO). Alachua Co.

Bovine

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Camelids

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Camels, predecessors of camels and llamas.

  • Aepycamelus sp. 11.5—8.9 Ma (AEO). Alachua, Marion Co.
    • A. major 11.0—10.9 Ma (AEO). Levy Co.
  • Camelops 0.126,000—11,000 years ago. Jefferson Co.
  • Floridatragulus sp. 21.7 Ma (AEO). Leon Co.
    • F. dolichanthereus 21.7 Ma (AEO). Gilchrist Co.
  • Gentilicamelus 22.9—22.8 Ma (AEO). Columbia, Hamilton Co.
  • Hemiauchenia sp.,
    • H. minima. 11.5—8.9 Ma (AEO). Alachua, Levy, Marion Co.
    • H. macrocephala 3.7 Ma—11,000 years ago (AEO). Alachua, Brevard, Citrus, DeSoto, Gilchrist, Hillsborough, Lee, Manatee, Polk, Sarasota, Sumter Co.
  • Nothokemas sp. 23.8—23.0 Ma (AEO). Alachua, Columbia Co.
    • N. floridanus 21.7 Ma (AEO). Gilchrist, Leon Co.
    • N. waldropi 22.9—24.7 Ma (AEO). Alachua, Columbia, Hamilton, Hernando, Hillsborough Co.
  • Oxydactylus sp. 23.1—20.6 Ma (AEO). Alachua, Hamilton, Hernando Co.
  • Palaeolama sp. 2.1 —0.7 Ma (AEO). Hendry Co.
    • P. mirifica (stout-legged llama) 1.6 Ma—11,000 years ago (AEO). Alachua, Citrus, Gilchrist, Levy, Marion, Orange, Polk, Sumter Co.
  • Procamelus 9.1—9.0 Ma (AEO). Marion Co.
    • P. grandis 11.5—9.0 Ma (AEO). Alachua, Marion Co.

Shrew/Mole

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Mammoth/Mastodon

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Animals with trunks similar to elephants and includes Gomphotheridae, Mammoth, and Mastodon.

  • Amebelodon sp. 11.8—7.9 Ma. Levy, Marion Co.
    • A. britti 9.0—8.9 Ma. Marion County.
    • A. floridanus 9.4—7.9 Ma. Marion County.
  • Mammut sp., (Mastodon) 10.1 Ma—700,000 years ago. Hendry Co.
  • Mammuthus sp., 2.1 Ma—700,000 years ago. Hendry County.
    • M. columbi (Columbian Mammoth) 400,000—11,000 years ago. Manatee, Pinellas, Indian River Co. Reposited: American Museum of Natural History.
    • M. hay (Hay's Mammoth) 2.1—1.5 Ma. Charlotte, Polk Co.[9]
  • Cuvieronius sp., 2.1—1.5 Ma. Sarasota Co.
    • C. tropicus 2.3—1.5 Ma. Okeechobee, Charlotte Co.
  • Platybelodon 9.1—9.0 Ma. Marion County.
  • Rhynchotherium sp. 9.1—2.9 Ma. Gilchrist & Polk Co.
Mammut americanum life restoration - note that tusk curvature may be excessive

Rhinocerotidae

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  • Aphelops 18.9—7.1 Ma (AEO). Alachua, Hillsborough, Polk, Gadsden Co.
    • A. malacorhinus 11.5—9.0 Ma (AEO). Polk, Levy Co.
    • A. mutilus 9.4—8.9 Ma (AEO). Alachua, Marion Co.
  • Diceratherium sp. 22.9—22.8 Ma (AEO). Columbia, Hamilton Co. Reposited at Florida Museum of Natural History.
  • Floridaceras whitei
  • Menoceras 21.7 Ma (AEO). Leon Co.
    • M. arikarense 21.8—21.7 Ma (AEO). Marion Co.
    • M. barbour 21.7 Ma (AEO). Gilchrist Co.
  • Teleoceras hicksi 6.5—6.4 Ma (AEO). Polk Co.
    • T. proterum 11.5—9.0 Ma (AEO) Alachua, Polk Co.

Bats

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Leporidae

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Rodentia

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Marine mammals

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Cheloniidae (seals)

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Phocida (seal)

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Dugongidae

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Dugongidae were sea cows and manatees.

Odobenidae (walrus)

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Cetacea

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Cetacea is composed of whales, dolphins, and porpoises.

http://paleodb.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?action=basicCollectionSearch&collection_no=18535

Citatations

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  1. ^ Florida Environments Online, Florida's geological history and geological resources, ISSN 0085-0640
  2. ^ X. Wang
  3. ^ Thomas Farm Site citations
  4. ^ Paleobiology database: Inglis 1A Site Collection
  5. ^ G. S. Morgan and R. C. Hulbert. 1995. Bulletin of the Florida Museum of Natural History 37(1), Florida Museum of Narural History site, CI019
  6. ^ Dinohippus authority: M. Uhen and N. Pyenson.
  7. ^ Pyenson, Nick. Univ. of California-Berkely Museum of Paleontology, contributing researcher, PaleoDB.
  8. ^ Hunter, John. Ohio State University, contributing researcher.
  9. ^ Uhen, Mark D., George Mason University, PaleoDB researcher, Uhen, George Mason U.
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