Pleistocene Mammals of Pleistocene Mammals of North AmericaNorth America

Mike HilsMike Hils

PalaeontologyPalaeontology

Lasted from 1.8 Ma Lasted from 1.8 Ma to 10 kato 10 ka

Name comes from Name comes from Greek meaning Greek meaning “most” and “new”“most” and “new”

4 major glaciation 4 major glaciation eventsevents

End of the End of the Pleistocene Pleistocene corresponds to the corresponds to the end of the Paleolithic end of the Paleolithic period in Archaeology period in Archaeology

The PleistoceneThe Pleistocene

The MammalsThe Mammals

Mammals had been diversifying since Mammals had been diversifying since the K/T extinction 65 Ma beforethe K/T extinction 65 Ma before

The Cenozoic is the “Age of Mammals”The Cenozoic is the “Age of Mammals” Diversity was much higher than it is nowDiversity was much higher than it is now Land bridges formed by volcanism and Land bridges formed by volcanism and

lowering of sea level allowed for faunal lowering of sea level allowed for faunal exchanges to occurexchanges to occur

The MammalsThe Mammals

Orders and Families were much more Orders and Families were much more widely spread than todaywidely spread than today

Although Ohio was mostly covered Although Ohio was mostly covered by ice during the last glaciation, by ice during the last glaciation, many Pleistocene fossils have been many Pleistocene fossils have been found found

Many Pleistocene animals are still Many Pleistocene animals are still around todayaround today

Black Bear

Ursus americanus

Red Fox

Vulpes vulpes

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

NA Beaver

Castor canadensis

Elk

Cervus canadensis

Reindeer

Rangifer tarandus

Musk Ox

Ovibos moschatus

Bison

Bison bison

Were all Were all found in found in Ohio!!!Ohio!!!

Endemic GroupsEndemic Groups Perissodactyls (horses, rhinos, tapirs)Perissodactyls (horses, rhinos, tapirs) ArtiodactylsArtiodactyls

Antilocapridae (Pronghorns)Antilocapridae (Pronghorns) Camelidae (Camels)Camelidae (Camels) Tayassuidae (Peccaries)Tayassuidae (Peccaries)

PerissodactylaPerissodactyla HorsesHorses

Used to be several species alive Used to be several species alive About 40 species namedAbout 40 species named May be fewerMay be fewer

Today there are only two true horses Today there are only two true horses and 8 other spp in and 8 other spp in EquusEquus

Massive extinction in North AmericaMassive extinction in North America Europeans brought horses back Europeans brought horses back

TapirsTapirs 4 spps living in S. American and Asia4 spps living in S. American and Asia

HorsesHorsesTooth

Equus scotti

Stripes! Equus ferus przewalskii

CarnivoraCarnivora Giant Short-faced Bear (Giant Short-faced Bear (Arctodus simusArctodus simus))

Genus is ancestral to Spectacled BearGenus is ancestral to Spectacled Bear Competition with Ursine bears?Competition with Ursine bears?

North American Lion (North American Lion (Panthera leo Panthera leo atroxatrox)) Larger than African & Asian lionsLarger than African & Asian lions

Smilodon (Smilodon (Smilodon fatalisSmilodon fatalis)) Subfamily Machairodontinae Subfamily Machairodontinae

Dire Wolf (Dire Wolf (Canis dirusCanis dirus) ) More robust than Gray WolfMore robust than Gray Wolf Hyaena-like in lifestyleHyaena-like in lifestyle

Canis dirus Panthera leo atrox

Arcotodus simus

Smilodon fatalis

ProboscideaProboscidea

Three families in North America:Three families in North America: Gomphotheriidae – Gomphotheres, 3 Gomphotheriidae – Gomphotheres, 3

sppspp Mammutidae – Mastodons, 1 spMammutidae – Mastodons, 1 sp Elephantidae – Mammoths, 4 sppElephantidae – Mammoths, 4 spp

All originated in AfricaAll originated in Africa Represented by 3 species todayRepresented by 3 species today

Asian Elephants most closely related to Asian Elephants most closely related to mammothsmammoths

GomphotheresGomphotheres

MastodonsMastodons

Burning Tree Mastodon,

Newark, OH

Mammut americanum

M. dinozordus

MammothsMammoths

Mammuthus columbi

M. primigenius

M. imperator

XenarthaXenartha Endemic to South AmericaEndemic to South America CingulataCingulata

Glyptodon - armadillo-like Glyptodon - armadillo-like PilosaPilosa

Giant Ground SlothsGiant Ground Sloths 4 spp in United States4 spp in United States Last ones went extinct in 1550 on Hispaniola Last ones went extinct in 1550 on Hispaniola

and Cuba and Cuba

RodentiaRodentia Giant Beaver - Giant Beaver - Castoroides ohioensis

Weighed 130-220 lbsWeighed 130-220 lbs

Giant Ground Sloth

Giant Beaver

Glyptodon

The ExtinctionThe Extinction The Pleistocene megafauna died out The Pleistocene megafauna died out

shortly after the Ice Age endedshortly after the Ice Age ended OverkillOverkill Climate ChangeClimate Change HyperdiseaseHyperdisease A combinationA combination

Megafauna also died out in all of the Megafauna also died out in all of the other continentsother continents Some obviously continue in special Some obviously continue in special

environmentsenvironments

Things to ConsiderThings to Consider

Many animals alive today lived back Many animals alive today lived back thenthen

Elephants still live in Africa and AsiaElephants still live in Africa and Asia Horses survived in Asia, Africa and Horses survived in Asia, Africa and

EuropeEurope

Pleistocene ParksPleistocene Parks

Russia is setting up a preserve to Russia is setting up a preserve to recreate Pleistocene ecosystemrecreate Pleistocene ecosystem Will stock it with modern equivalentsWill stock it with modern equivalents Hope to clone mammothsHope to clone mammoths

It’s been suggested that the US It’s been suggested that the US create one, toocreate one, too

Kind of been done with feral horses Kind of been done with feral horses out westout west

Questions?Questions?