Prehistoric mammals of Florida is the chronicling of the emergence and of prehistoric mammals in Florida.

Chadronian age

Epoch: Eocene— Oligocene.
Time period: ~38—33.9 Ma.
Duration: 4.1 million years.
The Chadronian ( NALMA) corresponds with Priabonian through Rupelian in geologic time. The Chadronian provides the first evidence of mammals in Florida. During the Reupellian, Florida began to emerge from the surrounding ocean and the layer known as Suwannee Limestone formed. The Gulf Trough had prevented land mammals from moving further south than mid- Georgia. The sea mammal fossils of Basilosaurus cetoides and Zygorhiza, two toothed whales found in lithified limestone southeast of [[[Marion County, Florida]] date from ~37.2—33.9 Ma. ^[1] and appear to be the oldest mammal fossils found in Florida. ^[2]

Arikareean age

Epoch: Oligocene.
Time period: ~30.8—20.6 Ma.
Duaration: ~ 10.2 million years
The Arikareean age spanned the geological time periods of the Rupelian through Burdigalian. During the Rupelian, Florida fully connected with Georgia creating a peninsula which provided access for land mammals to enter early Florida. During this period, the geological structure known as the St. Marks Formation was created. Also during this period Choctaw Sea and Okeechobean Sea were created. The mid late Arikareean offers the first evidence of these land mammals with the earliest fossils dating to ~24.8 Ma. and found in Hernando County, Florida. ^[3]

• Carnivores:
  • Canids ( subfamily Borophaginae) a proto-dog: Cormocyon copei, Cynarctoides lemur, Enhydrocyon pahinsintewakpa , Osbornodon wangi, Phlaocyon and P. taylori.
  • Amphicyonidae, a family of dog-like carnivores also known as Bear-dogs: Amphicyon longiramus, Daphoenodon, Cynelos caroniavorus, Mammacyon obtusidens.
  • Mustilids: Weasal-like mustilids and Paleogale minuta.
• Herbivores:
  • Proto-horse: Miohippus, Parahippus leonensis
  • Chalicotheres: Moropus. A horse size animal with short hind limbs and long fore limbs which moved like a giant sloth.
  • Camels: Nothokemas waldropi.
  • Deer: Nanotragulus looisi,
  • Rodents: Rabbit, the shrew Geolabididae and hedgehog Erinaceidae, the beaver Agnotocastor, squirrel Sciuridae, and mouse or rat Florentiamyidae
  • Marsupial: Herpetotherium
  • Bats: Phyllostomatidae, Vespertilionidae, Emballonuridae, and Mormoopidae.

Suwannee County, Florida paleontological sites

Hemingfordian age

Epoch: Miocene.
Time period: ~20.6—16.3 Ma.
Duration: ~ 4.3 million years
The Hemingfordian spanned the geological time periods of the Burdigalian through Langhian. During this time the Chipola Subsea and Torreya Formation of north Florida was created.

• Carnivores:
  • Canids: Osbornodon iamonensis, Metatomarctus canavus, Euoplocyon spissidens, Phlaocyon.
  • Bear-dogs: Amphicyon longiramus, Cynelos caroniavorus.
  • Bears: Phoberocyon johnhenryi
  • Mustelids: Acheronictis webbi, Arikarictis chapini, Leptarctus ancipidens, Zodiolestes freundi, Oligobunis floridanus.
• Herbivores:
  • Proto-horse: Anchitherium clarencei, Archaeohippus blackbergi, Merychippus and M. gunteri, Miohippus.
  • Mastodon: Pliomastodon sellardsi
  • Rhinoceros: Menoceras barbouri, Floridaceras whitei
  • Even-toed ungulates: Floridachoerus olseni, Machaeromeryx gilchristensis, Parablastomeryx floridanus, Merycoidodon, Prosynthetoceras texanus,
  • Camels: Floridatragulus dolichanthereus, Nothokemas floridanus
  • Marsupials: Herpetotherium
  • Bats: Karstalia silva, Miomyotis floridanus, Suaptenos whitei, Primonatulus prattae.
  • Rodents: Limnoecus (Squirrel), Texomys, Harrymys magnus, Proheteromys floridanus

Squirrel: Miospermophilus, Nototamias hulberti, Petauristodon pattersoni

Mylagaulidae

Barstovian age

The Barstovian age spanned the geological time periods of the Langhian. Epoch: Miocene.
Time period: ~16.3—13.6 Ma.
Duration: ~ 2.7 million years.

• Carnivores:
  • Bear-dogs: Pliocyon robustus
• Herbivores:
  • Proto-horse: Calippus martini, Hypohippus chico

Clarendonian age

Epoch: Miocene.
Time period: ~13.6—10.3 Ma.
Duration: ~ 3.3 million years.
The Clarendonian age spanned the geological time periods of the Serravallian through Tortonian. During this period the Walton Subsea was created.

• Carnivores:
  • Proto-dogs: Aelurodon taxoides, Epicyon haydeni.
  • Bear-dogs: Pliocyon.
  • Cats: Barbourofelis loveorum (False saber-tooth), Nimravides galiani (basal felid).
• Herbivores:
  • Proto-horse: Astrohippus martini, Calippus cerasinus and C. elachistus, C. hondurensis. Hippotherium ingenuum and H. plicatile, Hypohippus chico, Megahippus, Nannippus aztecus and N. westoni, Neohipparion trampasense, Pseudhipparion skinneri,
  • Camels: Aepycamelus major
  • Giant sloth: Pliometanastes, Thinobadistes
  • Proto-elephants: Gomphotherium obscurum
  • Mastodon: Mammut matthewi

Alachua County. Sarasota, Hardee,

Hemphillian age

Epoch: Miocene— Pliocene.
Time period: ~10.3—4.9 Ma.
Duration: ~ 5.4 million years.
The Hemphillian age spanned the geological time period of the Tortonian. During this period the Alaqua Subsea filled in northern Florida.

• Carnivores:
  • Proto-dogs: Borophafus diversidens, B. pugnator, B. hilli, B. galushai, B. orc, and B. validus.
  • Bears: Agritherium schneideri, Arctodus, and Plionarctos.
  • Cats: Megantereon hesperus (Saber-toothed cat). Felis rexroadensis.
• Herbivores:
  • Proto-horse: Astrohippus blackbergi, Cormohipparion emsliei, Dinohippus mexicanus, Hexameryx simpsoni, Hipparion tehonense, Neohipparion eurystyle, Nannippus minor
  • Peccary: Catagonus brachydontus,
  • Proto-elephants: Amebelodon floridanus, Gomphotheriidae, Rhynchotherium
  • Rhinoceros: Rhinocerotidae

Bone Valley Formation, Polk County, Florida paleontological sites, Marion County, Florida paleontological sites Levy, Sarasota County

Blancan age

Epoch: Pliocene.
Time period: ~4.9—1.8 Ma.
Duration ~ 3.1 million years
The Blancan age spanned the geological time period of the Blancan. During this period the Jackson Subsea

• Carnivores:
  • Cats: Smilodon gracilis, Homotherium, Lynx rufus (Bobcat), Leopardus wiedii (Margay).
  • Hyena: Chasmaporthetes ossifragus.
• Herbivores:
  • Proto-horse: Dolichohippus, Nannippus peninsulatus
  • Camels: Hemiauchenia blancoensis and H. macrocephala
  • Proto-elephant: Mammuthus, M. hayi, Mammut
  • Armadillo: Pachyarmatherium leiseyi, Dasypus bellus.
  • Ground sloth: Glossotherium chapadmalense, Paramylodon,
  • Armaillo: Glyptotherium arizonae
  • Peccary: Mylohyus floridanus

Alachua, Charlotte, Gilchrist, Levy, Marion, Alachua, Charlotte, Citrus, Hillsborough, Indian River, Sumter, Brevard.

Irvingtonian age

Epoch: Pleistocene
Time period: ~1.8 Ma.—300,000 years ago.
Duration: ~ 1.5 million years.
The Irvingtonian age spanned the geological time period of the Blancan.

• Carnivores:
  • Canines: Armbruster's Wolf, Edward's Wolf, Dire Wolf.
  • Bears: Florida Cave Bear.
  • Cats: Smilodon fatalis (Saber-tooth), Panthera leo (American Lion), Puma concolor (Cougar), Miracinonyx inexpectatus (American Cheetah).
• Herbivores:
  • Proto-horse: Equus leidyi
  • Proto-elephant: Cuvieronius tropicus,
  • Mastodon: Mammut americanum.
  • Giant sloths: Eremotherium and E. eomigrans. Megalonyx, M. leptostomus, and M. wheatleyi. Glossotherium chapadmalensis, Glyptotherium
  • Armadillo: Pachyarmatherium leiseyi

Gilchrist, citrus, orange Citrus, Columbia, Gilchrist, Sarasota, Sumter County.

Rancholabrean age

Epoch: Pleistocene.
Time period: ~300,000—11,000 years ago.
Duration: ~ 0.289 million years
The Rancholabrean age spanned the geological time period of the Blancan.

• Carnivores: Felines: Dinobastis serus (Saber-tooth cat), Panthera onca (American Leopard), Leopardus pardalis (Ocelot).
• Herbivores:

Marion County. Sumter

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geologic_timescale#Table_of_geologic_time

References