Land Mammals: Phylum Chordata

Land mammal fossils were discovered in 1992 in the lower part of the Calvert formation at the Pollack Farm site. During the short time the pit was open, the collection grew to become the most diverse tertiary land mammal fauna known north of Florida on the eastern half of North America.

The gathering, collected from the lower Miocene formation, includes at least 26 species representing at least 17 families in 7 orders (listed below).

Orders:

  • Soricomorpha (Shrews, moles)
  • Erinaceomorpha (Hedge hogs)
  • Chiroptera (Bats)
  • Rodentia (Rats, mice)
  • Carnivora (Bears, wolves)
  • Perissodactyla (Rhinoceros, horses)
  • Artiodactyla (Deer)

The Collection of Miocene land mammal fossils, especially north of Florida, is relatively minimal. Only four localities distancing between Georgia and New Jersey yielded significant Miocene fossil beds. Although single teeth and parts of postcranial elements represent the majority of land mammals of the Pollack Farm local fauna, the sites diversity of species elevates the importance of the Pollack Farms location.

Click the image or the link below to view the Land Mammal collection!

Reference(s)

Photographs from DGS Special Publication No. 21, 1998, R.N. Benson, ed.
Top left image: http:/www.hedweb.com/animimag/rhino.jpg

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