White River Fauna

Last updated May 05, 2024

The White River Fauna are fossil animals found in the White River Badlands of South Dakota, Wyoming, Colorado and Nebraska in the United States including Badlands National Park.^[1]

List

Genera include:

Birds

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
† Bathornis	†B. veredus (type) †B. celeripes †B. cursor †B. fricki †B. geographicus †B. grallator †B. fax? †B. minor	†Bathornithidae	Eocene-Miocene		The type genus of the Bathornithidae, large predatory birds related to seriemas.^[2]
† Paracrax		†Bathornithidae			Closely related and similar to the conspecific Bathornis; however, it seems to have occupied more arid environments.^[3]

Mammals

Artiodactyls

Antracotheres

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
† Bothriodon	†B. sp.	†Anthracotheriidae
† Elomeryx	†E. brachyrhynchus	†Anthracotheriidae

Camelids

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
† Poebrotherium	†P. wilsoni (type) †P. chadronensis †P. eximium †P. franki †P. labratum	Camelidae

Entelodonts

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
† Archaeotherium	†A. mortoni (type)	†Entelodontidae	Oligocene
† Daeodon	†D. shoshonensis (type) †D. humerosum?	†Entelodontidae	Miocene

Leptomerycids

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
† Leptomeryx		†Leptomerycidae			The most common fossil found in the area.^[4]

Merycoidodontids

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch
†Eporeodon	†E. major (type) †E. occidentalis †E. pygmyus	†Merycoidodontidae	Oligocene
† Leptauchenia		†Merycoidodontidae
† Merycoidodon		†Merycoidodontidae
† Miniochoerus		†Merycoidodontidae

Protoceratids

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
† Protoceras		†Protoceratidae

Ruminants

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
† Hypertragulus		†Hypertragulidae

Carnivorans

Amphiconid

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
† Daphoneus	†D. vetus (type) †D. hartshorianus †D. lambei †D. ruber †D. socialis †D. transversus	†Amphicyonidae	Eocene-Miocene
† Parictis		†Amphicynodontinae

Borophagin

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
† Archaeocyon	†A. leptodus (type) †A. pavidus †A. falkenbachi	†Borophaginae	Oligocene

Canids

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
†Osbornodon		Canidae

Creodonts

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
† Hyaenodon	†H. horridus	†Hyaenodontidae	Eocene - Miocene

Felids

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch
† Dinictis	†D. felina (type)	†Nimravidae	Eocene-Miocene
† Hoplophoneus	H. primaevus (type) H. occidentalis H. strigidens H. cerebralis H. dakotensis H. oharrai H. sicarius	†Nimravidae	Eocene-Oligocene
† Nimravus		†Nimravidae

Epoicotheres

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
† Xenocranium	†X. pileorivale (type)	†Epoicotheriidae	Oligocene

Lagomorphs

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
† Palaeolagus		Leporidae

Perissodactyls

Brototheres

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
† Megacerops		†Brontotheriidae	Eocene - Oligocene

Equids

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
† Mesohippus		Equidae
† Miohippus		Equidae

Rhinocerotoids

Amynodonts

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
† Metamynodon		†Amynodontidae

Hyracodontids

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
† Hyracodon		†Hyracodontidae	Eocene - Oligocene

Rhinocerotids

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
† Subhyracodon		Rhinocerotidae

Tapirids

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
† Protapirus		Tapiridae

Rodents

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch	Image	Notes
† Agnotocastor	†A. praeteredens (type) †A. coloradensis †A. galushai †A. readingi	Castoridae	Eocene-Miocene
† Ischyromys		†Ischyromyidae

Reptiles

Genus	Species	Clade	Epoch
Alligator	† A. prenasalis	Crocodilia	Eocene
† Peltosaurus		Anguidae
† Stylemys	†S. nebrascensis (type) †S. botti †S. calaverensis †S. canetotiana †S. capax †S. conspecta †S. copei †S. emiliae †S. frizaciana †S. karakolensis †S. neglectus †S. oregonensis †S. pygmea †S. uintensis †S. undabuna	Testudinidae

Related Research Articles

Miacis is an extinct genus of placental mammals from clade Carnivoraformes, that lived in North America from the early to middle Eocene.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Merycoidodontoidea</span> Extinct superfamily of mammals

Merycoidodontoidea, previously known as "oreodonts" or "ruminating hogs," are an extinct superfamily of prehistoric cud-chewing artiodactyls with short faces and fang-like canine teeth. As their name implies, some of the better known forms were generally hog-like, and the group has traditionally been placed within the Suina, though some recent work suggests they may have been more closely related to camels. "Oreodont" means "mountain teeth," referring to the appearance of the molars. Most oreodonts were sheep-sized, though some genera grew to the size of cattle. They were heavy-bodied, with short four-toed hooves and comparatively long tails.

Metamynodon is an extinct genus of amynodont that lived in North America and Asia from the late Eocene until early Oligocene, although the questionable inclusion of M. mckinneyi could extend their range to the Middle Eocene. The various species were large, displaying a suit of semiaquatic adaptations more similar to those of the modern hippopotamus, despite their closer affinities with rhinoceroses.

Poebrotherium is an extinct genus of camelid, endemic to North America. They lived from the Eocene to Miocene epochs, 46.3—13.6 mya, existing for approximately 32 million years.

Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised feces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because humans have encountered fossils for millennia, paleontology has a long history both before and after becoming formalized as a science. This article records significant discoveries and events related to paleontology that occurred or were published in the year 1992.

Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised feces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because humans have encountered fossils for millennia, paleontology has a long history both before and after becoming formalized as a science. This article records significant discoveries and events related to paleontology that occurred or were published in the year 1977.

Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised feces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because humans have encountered fossils for millennia, paleontology has a long history both before and after becoming formalized as a science. This article records significant discoveries and events related to paleontology that occurred or were published in the year 1976.

Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised feces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because humans have encountered fossils for millennia, paleontology has a long history both before and after becoming formalized as a science. This article records significant discoveries and events related to paleontology that occurred or were published in the year 1963.

Paleontology or palaeontology is the study of prehistoric life forms on Earth through the examination of plant and animal fossils. This includes the study of body fossils, tracks (ichnites), burrows, cast-off parts, fossilised feces (coprolites), palynomorphs and chemical residues. Because humans have encountered fossils for millennia, paleontology has a long history both before and after becoming formalized as a science. This article records significant discoveries and events related to paleontology that occurred or were published in the year 1927.

Paleontology in South Dakota refers to paleontological research occurring within or conducted by people from the U.S. state of South Dakota. South Dakota is an excellent source of fossils as finds have been widespread throughout the state. During the early Paleozoic era South Dakota was submerged by a shallow sea that would come to be home to creatures like brachiopods, cephalopods, corals, and ostracoderms. Local sea levels rose and fall during the Carboniferous and the sea left completely during the Permian. During the Triassic, the state became a coastal plain, but by the Jurassic it was under a sea where ammonites lived. Cretaceous South Dakota was also covered by a sea that was home to mosasaurs. The sea remained in place after the start of the Cenozoic before giving way to a terrestrial mammal fauna including the camel Poebrotherium, three-toed horses, rhinoceroses, saber-toothed cat, and titanotheres. During the Ice Age glaciers entered the state, which was home to mammoths and mastodons. Local Native Americans interpreted fossils as the remains of the water monster Unktehi and used bits of Baculites shells in magic rituals to summon buffalo herds. Local fossils came to the attention of formally trained scientists with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Cretaceous horned dinosaur Triceratops horridus is the South Dakota state fossil.

Paleontology in the United States refers to paleontological research occurring within or conducted by people from the United States. Paleontologists have found that at the start of the Paleozoic era, what is now "North" America was actually in the southern hemisphere. Marine life flourished in the country's many seas. Later the seas were largely replaced by swamps, home to amphibians and early reptiles. When the continents had assembled into Pangaea drier conditions prevailed. The evolutionary precursors to mammals dominated the country until a mass extinction event ended their reign.

Phasmagyps, is an extinct genus of New World vulture in the family Cathartidae, known from one Oligocene fossil found in Colorado. The genus contains a single described species, Phasmagyps patritus which is possibly the oldest New World vulture known, though its placement in the family Cathartidae has been questioned.

The Brule Formation was deposited between 33 and 30 million years ago, roughly the Rupelian age (Oligocene). It occurs as a subunit of the White River Formation in Nebraska, Colorado, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.

The White River Formation is a geologic formation of the Paleogene Period, in the northern Great Plains and central Rocky Mountains, within the United States.

The Wasatch Formation (Tw) is an extensive highly fossiliferous geologic formation stretching across several basins in Idaho, Montana Wyoming, Utah and western Colorado. It preserves fossils dating back to the Early Eocene period. The formation defines the Wasatchian or Lostcabinian, a period of time used within the NALMA classification, but the formation ranges in age from the Clarkforkian to Bridgerian.

The Washakie Formation is a geologic formation in northern Colorado and southern Wyoming. It preserves many mammal, bird, reptile and other fossils dating back to the Lutetian stage of the Eocene within the Paleogene period. The sediments fall in the Bridgerian and Uintan stages of the NALMA classification.

The Bridger Formation is a geologic formation in southwestern Wyoming. It preserves fossils dating back to the Bridgerian and Uintan stages of the Paleogene Period. The formation was named by American geologist Ferdinand Vandeveer Hayden for Fort Bridger, which had itself been named for mountain man Jim Bridger. The Bridger Wilderness covers much of the Bridger Formation's area.

The San Jose Formation is an Early Eocene geologic formation in the San Juan Basin of New Mexico and Colorado.

Bathornis is an extinct lineage of birds related to modern day seriemas, that lived in North America about 37–20 million years ago. Like the closely related and also extinct phorusrhacids, it was a flightless predator, occupying predatory niches in environments classically considered to be dominated by mammals. It was a highly diverse and successful genus, spanning a large number of species that occurred from the Priabonian Eocene to the Burdigalian Miocene epochs.

Xenocranium is an extinct monotypic genus of placental mammal from extinct paraphyletic subfamily Epoicotheriinae within extinct paraphyletic family Epoicotheriidae in extinct order Palaeanodonta, that lived in North America during the late Eocene.

References

↑ Scott, W. B., & Jepsen, G. L. (1940). The Mammalian Fauna of the White River Oligocene: Part IV. Artiodactyla. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, 28(4), 363–746. https://doi.org/10.2307/1005504
↑ Wetmore, A. (1927). "Fossil Birds from the Oligocene of Colorado" (PDF). Proceedings of the Colorado Museum of Natural History. 7 (2): 1–14.
↑ Wetmore, A. (1927). "Fossil Birds from the Oligocene of Colorado" (PDF). Proceedings of the Colorado Museum of Natural History. 7 (2): 1–14.
↑ Emry, Robert J. (1973). "Stratigraphy and Preliminary Biostratigraphy of the Flagstaff Rim Area, Natrona County, Wyoming". Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology (18): 1–43. doi:10.5479/si.00810266.18.1. ISSN 0081-0266.

This paleontological site article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This article related to the Paleogene period is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.

[1] Scott, W. B., & Jepsen, G. L. (1940). The Mammalian Fauna of the White River Oligocene: Part IV. Artiodactyla. Transactions of the American Philosophical Society, 28(4), 363–746. https://doi.org/10.2307/1005504

[Wetmore1927-2] Wetmore, A. (1927). "Fossil Birds from the Oligocene of Colorado" (PDF). Proceedings of the Colorado Museum of Natural History. 7 (2): 1–14.

[Wetmore19272-3] Wetmore, A. (1927). "Fossil Birds from the Oligocene of Colorado" (PDF). Proceedings of the Colorado Museum of Natural History. 7 (2): 1–14.

[4] Emry, Robert J. (1973). "Stratigraphy and Preliminary Biostratigraphy of the Flagstaff Rim Area, Natrona County, Wyoming". Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology (18): 1–43. doi:10.5479/si.00810266.18.1. ISSN 0081-0266.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]