Bringing Georgia's Natural History to Georgians
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      • Coastal Plain Core Logs by Paul F. Huddlestun
    • Presentation; Oaky Woods Stratigraphy
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      • South Houston County Fossils
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  • Education Material
    • My Field Kit; What You Need In The Field
    • Meet Crassostrea gigantissima, Georgia's Historic Giant Oyster
    • Georgiacetus Presentation; A Whale for Georgia
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  • 1: Georgia's Oldest Fossils; Archaeocyathids, At 513 Million Years Old
  • 2: Trilobites; 500 Million Years Ago
    • 2A; Murray County Stromatolites
    • 2B; A Trilobite Nest in Georgia
  • 3: Geologic Time
  • 4: Our Oldest Vertebrate?
  • 5: Georgia Before the Dinosaurs
    • 5A; Georgia’s Pennsylvanian Plant Fossils
    • 5B: Carpentertypus durhami, Georgia’s Giant Insect, 315 Million Years Ago
  • 6: 200 Million Years Ago
    • 6A: Birth of the Atlantic Ocean
  • 7: Cretaceous Georgia, Dinosaurs & more
    • 7A: Georgias Pterosaur
    • 7C: Coelecanths
    • 7B: So Many Sharks
    • 7D: Xiphactinus vetus
    • 7E: Side-necked turtles
    • 7F: Marine Reptiles
    • 7G: Dinosaurs in Georgia
    • 7I; The Blufftown Formation
    • 7L: Bill Montante's Mega "Gator" Tooth Discovery
    • 7K: The Pio Nono Formation
    • 7J: The Eutaw Formation
    • 7H: Deinosuchus schwimmeri in Recognition of Dr. David Schwimmer
  • 8: Suwannee Current, Gulf Trough, & Bridgeboro Limestone
  • 9: The Clayton Formation Report; By Hank Josey
    • 9A: The Georgia Turtle
  • 10: The Eocene; Georgia's Oldest Mammals
    • 10A: The Origins of Whales
  • 11: A Whale For Georgia
  • 12: Basilosaurids; The First Modern Whales
    • 12A: Basilosaurus cetoides
    • 12B: Basilotritus
    • 12C: Cynthiacetus (Revised)
    • 12D: Chrysocetus
    • 12E: The Redmond Mandible of Albany Ga
    • 12F; Houston County, GA Basilosaurus to the Smithsonian
  • 13: Ziggy and The Museum of Arts & Sciences, Macon, GA
  • 14: Late Eocene
    • 14A: Eocene Fossils & Stratigraphy
    • 14B; Fossils, Impacts, & Tektites Dating the Clinchfield Formation
    • 14C: The Tivola Limestone
    • 14D: Twiggs Clay Vertebrates
    • 14F; Sandersville Limestone, By Hank Josey
    • 14E: Ocmulgee Formation Vertebrates
    • 14I: Dating Late Eocene Sediments
    • 14J: Georgia's Tektites; Georgiaites
    • 14K; Shell Bluff; Georgia's Most Historic Paleontology Site
    • 14L; Taylors Bluff, Paleo Paddling the Ocmulgee River
    • 14M; Eocene Terrestrial Mammals From Gordon, GA
    • 14N: Fossil Ridge, A Stratigraphic Study in Oaky Woods Wildlife Management Area
    • 14O; Georgia's First Entelodont
    • 14P: Historic Rich Hill
    • 14Q; Bibb County's Christy Hill, Clinchfield Formation Hilltop
  • 15: Early Oligocene
    • 15A: The Marianna Limestone
    • 15B; The Glendon Limestone
    • 15C: Undiffereniated Oligocene Residuum
    • 15D; Brissus bridgeboroensis; A New Echinoid Species From Georgia’s Bridgeboro Limestone
    • 15E: The Curious Steinkern Sea Biscuits of Red Dog Farm Road
    • 15F: Early Oligocene Gordian Knot
  • 16: Bonaire GA Entelodont
  • 17: The Whale Eating Shark
  • 18: Miocene Epoch; 23.3 to 5.3 Million Years Ago
    • 18A; Miocene Terrestrial Vertebrates
    • 18B; Paul Fell, Rockhouse Cave
    • 18C: The Marks Head Formation
    • 18D: Miocene Terrestrial Vertebrates of the Marks Head Formation
    • 18E: The Statenville Formation
    • 18F: South Georgia’s Dugong Metaxytherium calvertense
  • 19: Pliocene Epoch; 5.3 to 2.5 Million years Ago
    • 19A: Two Small Primitive Horses from Taylor County Advance the Science of Georgia Geology
  • 20: The Ice Ages; Pleistocene & Holocene Epochs
    • 20A; Clark Quarry's Mammoths & Bison
    • 20B: Pleistocene Vertebrate List
    • 20C: Georgia’s Eolian Dunes
    • 20D: Georgia’s Carolina Bays
    • 20E: Late Pleistocene Significant Events
    • 20F: Southeastern Thermal Enclave
    • 20G; Diamond Back Terrapins
    • 20H; A Kaolin Mine Beaver Dam
    • 20I; Pleistocene Vertebrate Fossils On Georgia’s Piedmont
    • 20J; Watkins Quarry Pleistocene Vertebrates, Glynn County, GA
  • *NEW* 20K: Pleistocene Vertebrates from Coastal Georgia
  • 21: Humans in Georgia
  • 22: Geology of the Coastal Plain, 1911
    • 22A: 1911 Cretaceous Fossil Locations
    • 22B: 1911 Eocene Fossil Locations
  • 23: Coastal GA Locations (1957)
  • 24: Needed; The Georgia Geologic Survey
  • Building This Site
    • Origins Of This Site
    • Contributing Artists
    • Black & White Sketches


20B: Pleistocene Epoch
Vertebrate List

​(2.5 million to 11,700 years old)

Vertebrates from various sources
This should not be considered a complete list

​By Thomas Thurman


​Georgia’s Pleistocene Fossil Reports
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
Online Collections Catalog; Georgia Specimens
Quaternary Period, Downloaded 7/April/2013

Fish
Genus & Species                   Common Name       Specimens                 Location
Carcharodon carcharias     Great White              Tooth                         Georgia

Amphibians
Genus & Species                      Common Name                    Specimens                          Location
Gastrophryne carolinensis Narrowmouth Toad            Skeletal parts                        Bartow 1969
  Family; Gyrinophilus         Salamander                           Vertebra                                 Bartow 

Retiles
Genus & Species                   Common Name            Specimens                 Location
Crotalus (Species?)             Timber Rattlesnake     54 Vertebra               Bartow
Diadophis punctatus           Ringneck Snake           19 Vertebra               Bartow
Geochelone crassiscutata  Tortoise (Juvenile)       Partial shell              Bartow 1968
Geochelone crassiscutata  Tortoise (Adult)             Various                     Bartow
Kinosternon subrubrum    Eastern mud turtle       Partial shell              Bartow
Lampropeltis triangulum  Milk snake                      4 Vertebra                Bartow
Nerodia sipedon                   North. Water snake       Vertebra                  Bartow
Pseudemys concinna           River cooter turtle         Partial carapace     Bartow
Sceloporus undulates          East fence lizard            Skull/teeth               Bartow 1963
Storeria (Species?)               Red belly snake              Vertebra                   Bartow
Terrapene canaliculata      Box turtle                        Carapace frag.         Georgia
Terrapene carolina              Eastern Box Turtle        Multiple Skeletal    Bartow 1968
Thamnophis sirtalis             Garter snake                    Vertebra                  Bartow

Birds
Genus & Species                   Common Name       Specimens                 Location
Class: Aves                              Owl                              Partial Skull             Bartow
Anas rubripes                        Black Duck                Humerus                   Bartow
Canachites canadensis        Spruce Grouse          Humerus                   Bartow
Ectopistes migratorius        Passenger Pigeon     Hunerous                  Bartow
Meleagris gallopavo            Wild Turkey              Skeletal Parts           Bartow

Mammals
Genus & Species                   Common Name       Specimens                 Location
Family: Delphinidae           Dolphin                     8 Skull bones               Georgia
Family: Physeteridae          Sperm Whale            Tooth                            Georgia
Family: Physeteridae          Sperm Whale            25 Skull bones            Georgia
Physeter vetus                     Sperm Whale             Tooth                            Georgia 1929
Castoroides (species?)       Giant Beaver              2 Teeth                        Glynn
Equus leidyi                          Horse                           Tooth                           Glynn
Equus leidyi                          Horse                            Partial skull               Glynn
Equus (Species?)                  Horse                            Multiple                     Glynn
Eremotherium (species?)  Giant Ground Sloth   Multi. Teeth               Glynn
Megatherium mirabile      Giant Sloth                  15 Assorted                 Georgia 1823
Mammut americanum      American mastodon  Tooth                           Georgia 1950
Mammut americanum      American mastodon  Tooth                           Coffee
Mammuthus columbi         Columb. mammoth   Tooth                           Coffee
Neochoerus (Species?)        Capybara                      Tooth                          Glynn
Neochoerus (Species?)        Capybara                       2 Teeth                       Georgia
Neotoma (Species?)             Packrat                          Lower Jaw                 Bartow 1885
Tamias aristus                      Chipmunk                    Partial skull                Bartow 1964
Tapirus veroensis                 Tapir                              Partial Skull/Teeth  Georgia
Lutra canadensis               River Otter                 Isolated teeth         Bartow 1963-64
Acinonyx (sp)                      Cat (Cheetah?)          Heel Bone               Georgia (25/Aug/2000)
Felis inexpectata                American Cheetah    Teeth                       Bartow 1963-64
Felis rufus                            Black Footed Cat      Teeth, skull, jaw    Bartow 1963-64
Mustela frenata                 Long Tailed Weasel  Teeth, bone            Bartow 1963-64

Picture

Bartow County & Ladd's Cave
See Below

Most of these Bartow County reports originated with research in Ladds Cave and quarry operations in that immediate area. This site is popular with rock clubs as it produces very attractive cave onyx.

Age of fossils from the Ladd's Area:
Ladds Quarry site yielded dates of 10,290 (+or-100) years ago & 10,940 (+ or - 210) years ago. 
Kingston Saltpeter Cave yielded dates of 10,300 (+or-130) years ago. 
Yarborough Cave yielded dates of 14,315 (+or- 755) years ago, 16,500 (+or-1,250) years ago, 18,610 (+or-960) years ago and 23,880 (+or-200) years ago.

Land Mammals Carnivores listed first with herbivores listed below.
(Smaller rodents such as mice have been omitted.)
Scientific Name                                Common Name
Carnivores
Canis lupus                                       Gray Wolf 
Conepatus leuconotus                    American Hog-nosed Skunk
Didelphis virginiana                      Virginia Opossum (Marsupial & omnivore)
Leopardus sp                                    Ocelot or Margay 
Lutra canadensis                             North American River Otter
Lynx Rufus                                        Bobcat 
Martes pennanti                              Fisher Cat 
Mephitis mephitis                            Striped Skunk
Mustela frenata                                Long Tailed Weasel 
Panthera onca                                   Jaguar 
Puma concolor                                   Cougar           
Procyon lotor                                     Raccoon 
Urocyon cinereoargenteus            Gray Fox 
Ursus americanus                             American Black Bear 
Spilogale putorius                             Eastern Spotted Skunk
Tremarctos floridanus                     Extinct Florida Cave Bear 

Land Mammals, Herbivores/Omnivores 
Scientific Name                                Common Name
Bison sp?                                           Bison (Species?)
Bison Latifrons                                Giant Bison 
Castor canadensis                           Beaver 
Castoroides ohioensis                     Extinct Giant Beaver 
Dasypus bellus                                 Large Armadillo 
Equus sp?                                          Horse 
Eremotherium laurillardi            Largest Giant Ground Sloth 
Glaucomys volans                           Southern Flying Squirrel
Holmesina septentrionalis            Giant armadillo
Hydrochaeris holmesi                    Extinct Holmes Capybara 
Mammut americanum                   American Mastodon 
Mammuthis columbi                      Columbian Mammoth
Megalonyx sp?                                 Giant Ground Sloth
Mylohyus fossilis                             Extinct Peccary 
Neochoerus pinckneyi                    Extinct Giant Capybara 
Odocoileus virginianus                  White Tail Deer 
Palaeolama mirifica                      Extinct Stout Legged Llama 
Paramylodon harlani                    Ground Sloth 
Platygonus compressus                 Extinct Flat Headed Peccary
Rangifer tarandus                          Reindeer/Caribou
Sciurus caolinensis                          Eastern Gray Squirrel 
Spermophilus sp?                             Ground Squirrel 
Sylvilagus floridanus                     Cottontail Rabbit 
Sylvilagus palustris                        Marsh Rabbit 
Tapirus veroensis                            Extinct Tapir

Mammals; Bats 
Scientific Name                                Common Name
Eptesicus fuscus                               Big Brown Bat 
Myotis grisescens                            Gray Bat 
Myotis lucifugus                              Little Brown Bat 
Pipistrellus subflavus                     Eastern Pipistrelle Bat

Reptiles; Turtle/Tortoise 
Scientific Name                                Common Name
Apalone ferox                                   Florida Soft-shelled Turtle 
Chelydra serpentina                      Common Snapping Turtle
Chrysemys picta                              Painted Turtle
Clemmys insculpta                          Wood Turtle
Clemmys muhlenbergii                  Bog Turtle
Deirochelys reticularia                  Chicken Turtle
Gopherus polyphemus                    Gopher Tortoise
Hesperotestudo crassiscutata       Extinct Giant Land Tortoise
Hesperotestudo incisa                     Extinct Land Tortoise 
Kinosternon subrubrum                 Eastern Mud Turtle
Kinosternon sp?                                 Mud Turtle 
Pseudemys concinna                        Eastern River Cooter
Pseudemys nelsoni                            Florida Redbelly Turtle 
Sternotherus sp?                                Musk Turtle
Terrapene carolina                           Eastern Box Turtle 
Trachemys scripta                             Pond Slider 

Reptiles; Snakes
Scientific Name                                Common Name 
Agkistrodon contortrix            Southern Copperhead
Agkistrodon piscivorus            Eastern Cottonmouth 
Carphophis amoenus                Eastern Worm Snake 
Coluber constrictor                    Eastern Racer 
Crotalus horridus                       Timber Rattlesnake 
Crotalus sp?                                  Rattlesnake 
Diadophis punctatus                  Ringneck Snake
Elaphe guttata                             Corn Snake 
Elaphe obseleta                            Black Rat Snake       
Elaphe vulpina                             Eastern Fox Snake 
Heterodon platyrhinos              Eastern Hognose snake 
Heterodon sp?                               Hognose snake 
Lampropeltis calligaster            Mole Kingsnake 
Lampropeltis getulus                   Eastern Kingsnake 
Lampropeltis triangulum           Milk Snake 
Nerodia fasciata                            Southern Water Snake 
Nerodia sipedon                             Northern Water Snake 
Opheodrys aestivus                       Rough Green Snake
Pituophis melanoleucus               Pine Snake 
Regina sp?                                       Colubrid family of snakes  
Storeria dekayi                               Brown Snake 
Thamnophis sauritus                    Ribbon Snake 
Thamnophis sirtalis                       Common Garter Snake 
Virginia striatula                            Rough Earth Snake
Virginia valeriae                             Smooth Earth Snake


Reptiles: Crocodilian
Scientific Name                                Common Name       
Alligator mississippiensis              Modern American Alligator 

Below are lists of animals whose fossils haven’t been seen in Georgia but are expected to be present as they’re known from surrounding states. In many cases this is simply a matter of research, many of the surrounding states, especially Florida, have conducted extensive research in this area where Georgia has not.  

Inferred Megafauna Mammals with confirmed locations
Scientific Names                      Common Name                   Known Ranges
Bootherium bombifrons             Marlan’s Muskox         Florida & North Carolina
Bison antiquus                              Ancient Bison                Florida (N. America)
Equus alaskae                               Small Yukon Horse      Florida (known in Alaska)
Equus fraternus                           Short Legged Horse      Florida & Virginia
Equus laurentius                          Western Horse               Florida (also California)
Glyptotherium floridanum        Glyptodont                      Florida & South Carolina
Hemiauchenia macrocephala   Large Headed Llama    Florida (Once widespread)

Inferred Carnivore Mammals with confirmed locations 
Scientific Names          Common Name                         Known Ranges
Canis dirus                     Extinct Dire Wolf                  FL & Virginia (Across NA)
Canis latrans                 Coyote                                      Florida & Virginia (In GA today)
Canis rufus                     Red Wolf                                 Florida (Across Southeast)
Dinobastis serus            Extinct Saber tooth Cat       Florida (Once widespread)
Leopardus amnicola    Margay                                    Florida (Once widespread)
Leopardus pardalis      Ocelot                                      Florida (Once widespread)
Panthera atrox              Extinct American Lion        Florida & Virginia (Across NA) 
Smilodon fatalis            True Saber-tooth Tiger       Florida & S. Carolina (Common)
Ursus arctos                   Brown Bear                            Florida (Once widespread)