20Q; Chet Kirby, Glynn County, GA
Pleistocene & Miocene-Pleistocene
Donations to Florida Museum of Natural History
By Thomas Thurman
20/Feb/2026
Chet Kirby, and his family, have probably done more to promote paleontology in Georgia than any other amateur or professional. Chet is an amateur. He’s very active in the field and collects in the greater Brunswick area.
I can’t say what he keeps in his personal collection, but he had donated 199 vertebrate fossils to the Florida Museum of Natural History and 2,735 invertebrate fossils. Those are fossils identified, accepted, and cataloged into the museum’s collection and database. As you may imagine, he is highly thought of the museum and often works closely with it’s various researchers.
I can’t say what he keeps in his personal collection, but he had donated 199 vertebrate fossils to the Florida Museum of Natural History and 2,735 invertebrate fossils. Those are fossils identified, accepted, and cataloged into the museum’s collection and database. As you may imagine, he is highly thought of the museum and often works closely with it’s various researchers.
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Below is a list of 166 Pleistocene horse teeth he collected and donated from one locality about a mile from Brunswick. All of these horse teeth date to the Rancholabrean (Ra2) of the North American Land Mammal Age. This places them between 115,000 and 12,000 years old. The teeth are premolars and molars, perhaps evidence of a small herd.
Horses emerged in North America about 50 million years ago and generally evolved in North America. At roughly a million years ago they crossed land bridges and entered Eurasia where they proliferated. At about 10,000 years ago they went extinct here North America and there were none on the continent until the Spanish reintroduced them in the 15th Century.
Horses emerged in North America about 50 million years ago and generally evolved in North America. At roughly a million years ago they crossed land bridges and entered Eurasia where they proliferated. At about 10,000 years ago they went extinct here North America and there were none on the continent until the Spanish reintroduced them in the 15th Century.
The same Brunswick site additionally produced 4 giant beaver teeth of the same age as the horses. Kirby also donated 4 terrapin fossils (Malaclemys terrapin) and 24 teeth from the broadhead seven-gill shark (Notorynchus cepedianus), the terrapin and shark teeth are less easy to date, they could be anything from Miocene to Pleistocene. The problem is that the site has had dredge material deposited and many fossil beds along Coastal Georgia have been reworked repeatedly by restless sea levels and climate change.
So many fossil from so few species tells us little since this is only what Kirby donated and I’m not aware of any complete list of what was recovered from the site. Still, this is an impressive array of vertebrate material from a single location.
So many fossil from so few species tells us little since this is only what Kirby donated and I’m not aware of any complete list of what was recovered from the site. Still, this is an impressive array of vertebrate material from a single location.
Dredge material on an island of Turtle River @ Brunswick.
Late Pleistocene
Rancholabrean Ra2
115,000 to 12,000 years ago
No collection date given
Scientific name Common name Specimen# Type Collector
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261809 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261810 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261811 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261812 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261813 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261814 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261815 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261816 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261817 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261818 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261819 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261820 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261821 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261822 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261823 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261824 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261825 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261826 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261827 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261828 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261829 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261830 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261831 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261832 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261833 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261834 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261835 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261836 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261837 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261838 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261839 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261840 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261841 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261842 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261843 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261844 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261845 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261846 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261847 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261848 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261849 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261850 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261901 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261902 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261903 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261904 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261905 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261906 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261907 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261908 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261909 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261910 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261911 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261912 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261913 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261914 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261915 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261916 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261917 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 261918 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265152 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265153 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265154 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265155 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265156 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265157 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265158 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265159 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265160 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265161 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265162 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265163 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265164 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265165 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265166 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265167 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265168 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265169 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265170 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265171 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265172 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265173 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265174 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265175 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265176 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265177 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265178 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265179 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265180 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265181 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265182 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265183 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265184 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265185 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265186 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265149 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265150 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265151 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265187 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265188 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265189 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265190 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265191 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265192 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265193 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265194 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265195 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265196 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265197 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265198 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265199 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265200 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265201 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265202 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265203 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265204 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265205 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265206 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265207 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265208 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265209 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265210 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265211 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265212 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265213 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265214 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265215 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265216 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265217 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265218 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265219 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265220 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265221 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265222 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265223 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265224 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265225 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265226 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265227 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265228 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265229 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265230 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265231 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265232 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265233 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265234 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265235 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265236 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265237 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265238 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265239 Premolar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265240 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265241 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265242 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265243 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265244 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265245 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265246 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265247 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265248 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265249 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265250 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265251 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265252 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265253 Molar Chet Kirby
Genus; Equus Horse-family 265254 Molar Chet Kirby
Castoroides dilophidus Giant beaver 265146 Premolar Chet Kirby
Castoroides dilophidus Giant beaver 265147 Premolar Chet Kirby
Castoroides dilophidus Giant beaver 265148 Premolar Chet Kirby
Castoroides dilophidus Giant beaver 277389 Premolar Chet Kirby
Dredge material on an island of Turtle River @ Brunswick.
These fossils cannot be accurately dated.
Possible Miocene to Late Pleistocene
No collection date given
Scientific name Common name Specimen# Type Collector
Malaclemys terrapin Terrapin 256392 Costal Chet Kirby
Malaclemys terrapin Terrapin 256393 Costal Chet Kirby
Malaclemys terrapin Terrapin 256394 Costal Chet Kirby
Malaclemys terrapin Terrapin 256395 Costal Chet Kirby
Malaclemys terrapin Terrapin 256396 Costal Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262801 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262802 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262803 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262804 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262805 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262806 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262807 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262808 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262809 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262810 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262811 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262812 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262813 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262814 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262815 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262816 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262817 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262818 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262819 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262820 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262821 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262822 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262823 Tooth Chet Kirby
Notorynchus cepedianus Seven gill shark 262824 Tooth Chet Kirby
Florida Museum of Natural History Vertebrate Database, Web Portal