Fossils!

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Fossile specimen - distal tarsometatarsus of Titanis walleri in anterior (left) and posterior (right) views. Bird, Fossil, Species, Natural History, Extinction, Vertebrates, Flightless Bird, Fossils, Waller
Titanis walleri were large, predatory, flightless birds that grew to around 5 feet tall.
Waller’s terror bird, Titanis walleri, belongs to the family Phorusrhacidae, an extinct group of Tertiary birds otherwise known only from South America. Titanis is the only confirmed member from North America. Several real fossils of Titanis walleri are on public display in the fossil hall of the Florida Museum of Natural History. #FloridaFossils #FloridaPliocene #FloridaPleistocene #FloridaMuseumOfNaturalHistory #FloridaMuseumFossilHall #FloridaFossilsEvolutionOfLifeAndLand
Fossil specimen - cast of the holotype rostrum of the Thecachampsa americane view from above and below, below shows teeth sockets Crocodile, Florida, Paleontology, North America, Sawyer
Thecachampsa americana, a long-snouted crocodile that inhabited Florida from 13-6 million years ago.
Thecachampsa americana grew to around 6 meters long, slightly larger than its closest living ancestor, the modern false gharial (Tomistoma schlegelii), which lives in Malaysia and Indonesia. #FloridaVertebrateFossils #FossilSpeciesOfFlorida #FloridaFossils #FloridaMiocene #FloridaMuseumOfNaturalHistory
Fossil specimen -  jaw belonging to Tremarctos floridanus with distinct teeth Bear, Spectacled Bear, Cave Bear, South American
Fossils of the Florida spectacled bear are much more common in Florida than the living black bears
The Tremarctos floridanus, Florida spectacled bear, is thought to have been primarily an herbivore like the living South American spectacled bear. These bears lived 250,000 to 11,000 years ago in Florida, but possibly up to 2 million years ago in western North America. #FloridaFossils #FloridaPleistocene #FloridaMuseumOfNaturalHistory
left maxilla of Tapirus haysii in occlusal view. Teeth present are first through fourth premolars and first through third molars. History, Tapir, Baird, Mammals
Tapirus haysii, Hays' tapir, is part of an extinct lineage, with no living descendants.
Analysis of the tooth enamel of the Tapirus haysii, Hays' tapir, indicates a browsing diet of leaves from bushes, shrubs, and trees, as is typical of the genus. #FloridaVertebrateFossils #FossilSpeciesOfFlorida #FloridaFossils #FloridaPleistocene #FloridaMuseumOfNaturalHistory
Humerus and femur of  Smilodon fatalis These are part of the most complete skeleton of the species in Florida. Smilodon, Felidae, Mchenry, Cats, American Lion, Sabertooth
Smilodon fatalis, had a body mass ranging from 350-600 lbs, similar to the modern Siberian tiger.
Though fossils of Smilodon fatalis, saber-tooth cat, are not particularly common in Florida there have been many fossils found across the United States. #FloridaVertebrateFossils #FossilSpeciesOfFlorida #FloridaFossils #FloridaPleistocene #FloridaMuseumOfNaturalHistory
Vertebra of Siren lacertina in dorsal (right), ventral (middle), and lateral (left) views Siren, Salamander
Siren lacertina, a large extant salamander has been living relatively unchanged for 2.5million years
Most fossils of this large, extant salamander in the family Sirenidae have been found at sites with other aquatic vertebrates such as fish, frogs, or other aquatic salamanders, so presumably their ecologic preferences have remained constant over time. #FloridaVertebrateFossils #FossilSpeciesOfFlorida #FloridaFossils #FloridaPleistocene #FloridaHolocene #FloridaMuseumOfNaturalHistory
right mandible holotype fossil of the Rhizosmilodon fiteae
Rhizosmilodon fiteae, Fite’s saber-tooth cat, is a small saber-toothed cat known only from Florida
Though the Rhizosmilodon fiteae is only known from Florida most species of felids have large geographic ranges, so it would not be surprising to find its fossils in other areas of North America. #FloridaVertebrateFossils #FossilSpeciesOfFlorida #FloridaFossils #FloridaPliocene #FloridaMuseumOfNaturalHistory
Pseudemys williamsi turtle shell in left lateral view Smooth, Turtle, Modern, Shell
Pseudemys williamsi, Williams’ cooter, is from the family Emydidae which includes pond & box turtles
This species has only been positively identified from two Florida localities. Pseudemys williamsi has a smooth shell and shares several characteristics with the modern river cooter, Pseudemys concinna. #FloridaVertebrateFossils #FossilSpeciesOfFlorida #FloridaFossils #FloridaMiocene #FloridaMuseumOfNaturalHistory
dorsal view of Pomatodelphis inaequalis skull Dolphins, Marine, River, River Dolphin
Pomatodelphis inaequalis is only found in the SE United States, including Florida & Alabama.
Pomatodelphis inaequalis is believed to be a type of river dolphin and likely had a wide salinity tolerance, living in nearshore marine and estuarine environments with the ability to travel up low salinity streams. Fossils date from about 13.5 to 6.8 million years ago. FloridaVertebrateFossils #FossilSpeciesOfFlorida #FloridaFossils #FloridaMiocene #FloridaMuseumOfNaturalHistory
right mandible in lateral and occlusal view Africa, Tusk, Walrus
Like the modern walrus, Ontocetus emmonsi, Emmon’s walrus, had large tusks.
Fossils of Emmon’s walrus can be found in Florida, up the Eastern Atlantic coast, in Europe, and North Africa. The tusks are the most commonly found type of fossil for this species. #FloridaVertebrateFossils #FossilSpeciesOfFlorida #FloridaFossils #FloridaPliocene #FloridaMuseumOfNaturalHistory
partial rib of Metaxytherium floridanum. This cross-sectional view showing growth rings. Cow, Sea Cow
Metaxytherium floridanum, the Florida sea cow, is known only from Central and Northern Florida.
Florida sea cow, Metaxytherium floridanum - Fossil dugongs are the most common mammal fossils found in Florida. #FloridaVertebrateFossils #FossilSpeciesOfFlorida #FloridaFossils #FloridaMiocene #FloridaMuseumOfNaturalHistory
Mandibles of Neohipparion eurystyle Perissodactyla, Equidae, Central, East, Chicora
Neohipparion eurystyle fossils date from about 7 to 4.5 million years ago
This moderate-sized hipparionine horse ranged from central Mexico to Nebraska and east to central Florida. #FloridaVertebrateFossils #FossilSpeciesOfFlorida #FloridaFossils #FloridaMiocene #Florida Pliocene #FloridaMuseumOfNaturalHistory
Jaw fossil of the Mesoreodon floridensis with sharp teeth Camels, Llamas
Mesoreodon floridensis, Florida oreodont, is the only well known oreodont from Florida.
Among living artiodactyls, oreodonts are most closely related to the camels and llamas. #FloridaVertebrateFossils #FossilSpeciesOfFlorida #FloridaFossils #FloridaOligocene #FloridaMuseumOfNaturalHistory #FloridaMuseumFossilHall #FloridaFossilsEvolutionOfLifeAndLand
reconstructed skull of the holotype specimen showing horns at the end of the nose and longer horns above the eye sockets. Museums, Museum
The Florida Museum has 44 specimens of the species Kyptoceras amatorum in its collection.
Kyptoceras amatorum was named in honor the many contributions of amateur fossil collectors to Florida paleontology. #FloridaVertebrateFossils #FossilSpeciesOfFlorida #FloridaFossils #FloridaPliocene #FloridaMuseumOfNaturalHistory
articulated carapace of Dasypus bellus Armadillo, Invertebrate
Dasypus bellus was about 2 to 2.5x the size of the living nine-banded armadillo.
Dasypus bellus, beautiful armadillo, is found in many sites in Florida. partial articulated carapace of Dasypus bellus fossils of the scales are very distinct. #FloridaVertebrateFossils #FossilSpeciesOfFlorida #FloridaFossils #FloridaPleistocene #FloridaMuseumOfNaturalHistory