Sharktooth Hill Fauna, circa 2003
List of taxa from the Sharktooth Hill Local Fauna The taxa with + are previously unreported in the literature. Those with * are taxa whose holotypes were collected in the Sharktooth Hill bonebed. Taxa with a question mark are considered as undetermined or unknown until further research is completed on that certain taxa or species.
(Note: Fauna List is still being looked into and new species maybe added to the list or some species maybe taken off the list for scientific accuracy.)

Phylum: Chordata (vertebrates)
Class Chondrichthyes
  Superorder Selachoidii (Sharks)
    Order Hexanchiformes
      Family Hexanchidae (six-gilled & seven-gilled sharks)
        *Hexanchus andersoni (Jordon, 1907) (six-gilled shark)
        Notorhynchus sp. (seven-gilled shark)
    Order Heterodontiformes
      Family Heterodontidae (bullhead "horn" shark)
        Heterodontus sp
    Order Squaliformes
      Family Squalidae (dogfish sharks)
        *Squalus occidentalis (Agassiz, 1843)
        Squalus serriculus (Jordon & Hannibal, 1923)
      Family Echinorhinidae (bramble shark)
        *Enchinorhinus blakei (Agassiz, 1856)
    Order Squatinformes
      Family Squatinidae (angel shark)
        *Squatina lerichei (Jordon & Beal, 1913)
    Order Lamniformes
      Family Megachasmidae (mega-mouth shark)
        +Megachasma sp.
      Family Odontaspidae (sand tiger sharks)
        +Odontaspis sp.
        ? Carcharias (Odontaspis) cuspidata (Agassiz, 1843)
      Family Cetorhinidae (basking shark)
      Cetorhinus cf. maximus (Gunner, 1765) (basking shark)
      Family Alopidae (thresher shark)
      Alopius ? latidens (Leriche, 1909) (thresher shark)
      Family Lamnidae (Mako sharks)
      Isurus planus or plana (Agassiz, 1856) (hooked-tooth Mako shark)
      Isurus hastalis (Agassiz, 1843) (giant Mako shark)
      Isurus retroflexus (Agassiz, 1843) (Longfin Mako shark)
      Isurus desori (shortfin Mako shark)
      Isurus sp
    Family Otodontidae (Mega-teeths and Great White Sharks)
      Carcharocles megalodon (Agassiz, 1837) (Mega-tooth)
      +Parotodus benedeni (LeHon, 1871) (false-tooth Mako shark)
    Order Carcharhiniformes
      Family Carcharhinidae (tiger sharks, requiem sharks)
        *Galeocerdo aduncus (Agassiz, 1843) (tiger shark)
        *Galeocerdo contortus (Gibbes, 1849) (tiger shark)
        Rhizoprinodon sp. (sharpnose shark)
        +Negaprion antiquus (lemon shark)
        *Carcharhinus antiquus (Agassiz, 1856) (gray shark)
        Carcharhinus cf. egertoni (Agassiz, 1843) (requiem shark)
        Carcharhinus cf. limbatus (Valenciennes, 1839) (blacktip shark)
      Family Hemigaleidae (weasel "snaggletooth" sharks)
        +Genus/species undetermined
        Hemipristis serra (Agassiz, 1843) (snaggletooth "Indian Ocean" shark)       Family Triakidae (hound sharks)
        Galeorhinus sp? (tope shark)
        +Mustelus sp. (smooth-hound shark)
        *Triakis beali (Jordon, 1919) (hound shark)
      Family Scyliorhinidae (catsharks)
        Scyliorhinus sp. (catshark)
        +Cephaloscyllium sp. (swellshark)
      Family Sphyrnidae (hammerhead shark)
        Sphyrna cf zygaena (Linnaeus, 1758)
      Family Prisitiophoridae
        Pristiophorus sp (sawfish)
  Superorder Batoidea (Rays and Skates)
    Order Rajiformes
      Family Rajidae (skates)
        +Raja sp.
      Family Rhinobatidae (guitar fish)
        +Rhinobatus sp.
    Order Myliobatiformes
      Family Myliobatidae (eagle bat rays)
        *Myliobatus morriami (Jordon & Beal, 1913)
        *Myliobatus smithii (Jordon & Beal, 1913)
      Family Dasyatidae (sting rays)
        +Dasyatis sp. (Diamond back stingray)
        +Mobula loupianensis (Cappetta, 1970) (devil ray)
      Family Gymnuridae (butterfly ray)
        +Gymnura sp.
      Family Moblidae (manta ray)
        +Mobla sp.
Class Osteichthyes (bony fish)
    Order Clupeiformes
      Clupeiform, undef.--herring
    Order Perciformes
      Family Sciaenidae (giant sea basses)
        +cf. Cynoscion sp.
      Family Carangidae (jacks)
        Caranx sp.
        +Two genera/species undetermined
      Family Labridae (sheeps heads)
        +cf. Pimelometopon sp.
      Family Scaridae
        +cf. Nicholsina sp.
      Family Serranidae (sea basses)
        small and large sp.
      Family Acanthuridae (surgeon fish)
        Prionurus sp.
      Family Scombridae (mackerel, tuna)
        +Two genera/species undetermined
      Family Istiophoridae
        Genus/species undetermined
    Order Pleuronectiformes
      Family Pleuronectidae (or Bothidae) (flat fish)
        +Genus/species undetermined
    Order Tetradontiformes
        Family Balistidae (trigger fish)
        +Genus/species undetermined
        Oplegnathus sp.
      Family Diondontidae (puffer fish)
        +Diodon sp.
      Family Molidae (Ocean sun fishes)
        Mola sp.
        Osteichthyes, incertae sedis
        +Five species undetermined
Class Reptilia
    Order Crocodilia
      Family Gavialidae or Crocodylidae (crocodiles)
        +? Thecachampsia sp. (marine crocodile)
    Order Chelonia
      Family Testudinidae (land tortoises)
        +Geochelone sp. or Gopherus sp.
      Family Cheloniidae (green sea turtles)
        +Genus/species undetermined
      Family Carrettochelyidae? (hawks bill turtles)
        +Genus/species undetermined
      Family Dermochelyidae (leatherback turtles)
        *Psephophorus californiensis (Gilmore, 1937)
Class Aves (Birds)
    Order Procellariformes
      Family Diomedeidea (albatrosses)
        *Diomedea californica (Miller, 1962)
        *Diomedea milleri (Howard, 1966)
        Diomedea sp. (possibly new species)
      Family Procellariidae (shearwaters)
        *Puffinus inceptor (Wetmore, 1930)
        Puffinus sp.
        *Puffinus priscus (Miller, 1961)
        *Puffinus mitchelli (Miller, 1961)
        *Fulmarus miocaenus (Howard, 1984)
    Order Pelecaniformes
      Family Sulidae (boobies, gannets)
        *Morus vagabundus (Wetmore, 1930)
        Morus sp.
      Family Pseudodontornithidae (giant bony toothed birds)
        Osteodontornis sp.,O. ? orri (Howard, 1957)
    Order Anseriformes
      Family Anatidae (ducks, geese)
        Anserifomes sp. (including Branta sp.of Miller, 1961)
        *Presbychen abavus (Wetmore, 1930) (goose-like anseriform)
        *Megalodytes morejohni (Howard, 1992) (swan-like anseriform)
        Megalodytes sp.
    Order Charadriiformes
      Family Phoenicopteridae (flamigos)
        Megapaloelodus sp.
      Family Recurvirostridae (avocets)
        Recurvirostra sp.
      Family Alcidae (auks, puffins)
Two Genus/species undetermined
    Order Ciconiiformes
      Family Vulturidae (New World vultures, condors)
        *Hadrogyps aigialerus (Emslies, 1988)
      Family Ciconiidae (storks)
        Genus/species undetermined
    Order Falconiformes
      Family Pandionidae (ospreys)
        *Pandion homalopteron (Warter, 1976)
Class Mammalia
  Suborder Placenta
    Order Cetacea
    Suborder Odontoceti (toothed whales)
      Family Physeteridae (sperm whales)
        +cf. Scaldicetus sp. (primitive sperm whale)
        *Aulophyseter morricei (Kellogg, 1927) (advanced sperm whale)
      Family Squalodontidae (Acrodelphidae)
        *Prosqualodon errabundus (Kellogg, 1931) (primitive platanistoid)
      Family Kentriodontidae
        aff. Kampholophos sp. (primitive (3m) long-snouted delphinoid)
        *Liolithax kernensis (Kellogg, 1931) (primitive long-snouted delphinoid)
        *Kentriodon obscurus (Kellogg, 1931) (advanced short-snouted delphinoid)
        *Grypolithax pavida (Kellogg, 1931) (advanced short-snouted delphinoid)
        *? Lamprolithax simulans (Kellogg, 1931) (advanced long-snouted delphinoid)
        ? Lamprolithax annectens (Kellogg, 1931) (advanced long-snouted delphinoid)
        Genus/species undetermined
      Family Phocoenidae (porpoises)
        *Loxolithax sinuosa (Kellogg, 1931)
        Undetermined Odontoceti (dolphins)
        *Oedolithax mira (Kellogg, 1931)
        *Nannolithax gracilis (Kellogg, 1931)
        *Platylithax robusta (Kellogg, 1931)
    Suborder Mysticeti (baleen whales)
      Family Cetotheriidae
        aff. Herpetocetus sp.
        *Parietobalaena securis (Kellogg, 1931) (tiny (4m) primitive mysticete)
        *Tiphyocetus temblorensis (Kellogg, 1931) (small (6-7m) mysticete)
        *Peripolocetus vexillifer (Kellogg, 1931) (small (7m) mysticete)
        aff. Aglaocetus sp. (large (12m) primitive mysticete)
      Family Balenopteridae
        +Large rorqual
      Family Balaenidae? (right whales)
        +Genus/species undetermined
    Order Carnivora
        Family Otariidae (sea lions, walruses)
      Subfamily Allodesminae
        *Allodesmus kelloggi (Mitchell, 1966)
        *Allodesmus kernensis (Kellogg, 1922)
        *Allodesmus graciliis (Barnes, 1995)
      Subfamily Desmatophocinae
        + aff. Desmatophoca sp.
      Subfamily Imagotariinae
        *Pelagiarctus thomasi (Barnes, 1988)
        *Neotherium mirum (Kellogg, 1931)
        +Neotherium ernesti (recently discovered 1999-2000)
      Family Felidae (cats)
        ? Pseudaelurus sp. (ancestary cat)
      Family Canidae (dogs)
        + Tomarctus sp. (ancestary dog)
      Family Mustelidae (weasels and allies)?
        Genus/species undetermined (recently discovered in 2000, perhaps weasel)
      Family Amphicyonids (Bear-dog)?
        ? Amphicyonids indet (recently discovered 7/02-9/20)
    Order Desmostyidia (desmostylians)
      Family Desmostyidae
        Desmostylus hesperus (Marsh, 1888)
      Family Paleoparadoxidae
        +Paleoparadoxia sp.
    Order Sirenia (sea cows, manatees, and relatives)
      Family Dugongidae (sea cows)
        Metaxytherium cf. M. arctodites
    Order Proboscidea (elephants, mastodonts, and relatives)
      Family Gomphotheriidae (primitive, shovel tusked elephants)
        +Gomphotherium sp.
      Family Mammutidae (mastodonts)
        +Zygolophodon sp (Miomastodon sp.)
    Order Perissodactylia
      Family Equidae (horses)
      Subfamily Equinae
        (13 genera found in Kern County, 2 from Sharktooth Hill)
        Merychippus isonesus (small browsing horse)
        Merychippus brevidontus (Bode, 1934) (small browsing horse)
        Hypohippus sp. (large browsing horse)
      Subfamily Anchiteriinae
        +Parahippus sp. (small browsing horse)
      Family Tapiridae
        +Miotapirus sp. (medium sized tapirs)
      Family Rhinocerotidae (rhinoceroses)
        Teleoceras sp. (large rhino)
        + cf. Aphelops sp. (large rhino)
      Family Chalicotheriidae? (clawed mammal, related to horses)
        ? Moropus sp.
    Order Artiodactyla
      Family Camelidae (Miolabinae) (primitive camels)
        +Genus/species are undetermined, but here are some possible Genus/species:
        ? Tylocamulus sp. (tall camel)
        ? Stenomylus sp. (llamas)
        ? Aepycamulus sp. (tall camel)
      Family Protoceratidae
        ? Synthetoceras sp. (primitive deer)
      Family Paleomerycidae
        cf. Barbouromeryx sp. (deer-like artiodactyl, lacking horns)
      Family Tayassuidae
        ? Genus/species undetermined (peccaries or wild pig)

Currently, there are 138 known species of vertebrate animals, not including invertebrate and plant species
LAST UPDATED: 8/15/ 2003: 141 species on the fauna list.
References:
Sharktooth Hill Foundation Faunal list at the former website: www.sharktoothhill. org
Edward Mitchell’s History of Research from Sharktooth Hill, 1965.
Buena Vista Museum of Natural Historys Sharktooth Hill fossil Kit 1998.
Buena Vista Museum’s tour guide booklet and website www.sharktoothhill.com
California Geology Magazine: Sharktooth Hill, Kern County, California. 1985.
National Geographic Magazine; November 2001 Evolution of Whales.
Other Sharktooth Hill websites such as
www.elasmo.com
http://salinevalley.topcities.com/sb/sharkbonebed.html
http://paleodb.org/nam/listfiles/Sharktooth_Hill.html

Submitted by: John P.C. Stegall.

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