The San Timoteo Formation, also called the San Timoteo Beds, is a geologic formation in California.
| San Timoteo Formation | |
|---|---|
| Type | Formation |
| Location | |
| Region | California |
| Country | United States |
History
editPart of the wider San Timoteo Badlands, San Timoteo Formation was initially excavated in San Timoteo Canyon under by a team sponsored by Childs Frick from 1916 to 1921.[1][2]
Geology
editThe San Timoteo Formation represents Pliocene and Early Pleistocene sediments, mostly sandstone. The Formation overlies the late Miocene and early Pliocene Mt. Eden Formation (Jack Rabbit Trail & Eden Hot Springs localities, corresponding to the Hemphillian and Blancan faunal stages).[2]
Fossils
editFossils of Irvingtonian prehistoric mammals were found in the San Timoteo Formation (El Casco, Mammoth and Shutt Ranch localities).[2][3][4][5] These include:
- Canis edwardii (Edward's wolf)
- Microtus sp. (vole)
- Ondatra idahoensis (muskrat)
- Mictomys kansasensis (bog lemming)
- Erethizon cascoensis (porcupine)
- “Plesippus” fracescana (three-toed horse)
- Equus bautistensis (horse)
- Tapirus merriami (tapir)
- Odocoileus cascaensis (deer)
- Megalonyx sp. (ground sloth)
- Mammuthus sp. (mammoth)
- Possibly a giant bear (may be either Arctodus or Agriotherium)[6]
Fossils have also been recovered from the El Casco Substation locality, which was dated to 1.4Mya. Recovered specimens include Smilodon gracilis, Homotherium, two ground sloths, two types of camels, a llama, horse, and deer. Plant fossils include birch, pine, sycamore and oak trees.[7][8][9]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "The Bone Mine". The Banning Record. 1918-03-07. p. 2. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ a b c Albright, L. Barry; Kendall, Jr., Arthur (2000-08-03). Biostratigraphy and Vertebrate Paleontology of the San Timoteo Badlands, Southern California. University of California Press. doi:10.1525/california/9780520098367.003.0001. ISBN 978-0-520-09836-7.
- ^ "San Timoteo Badlands". www.utep.edu. Retrieved 2024-07-22.
- ^ "Big Pine Citizen 2 March 1918 — California Digital Newspaper Collection". cdnc.ucr.edu. Retrieved 2023-11-17.
- ^ McComas, Katie (8 May 2019). "Paleontological Records Search – Gilman Springs Median and Shoulder Widening Project" (PDF) – via San Diego Natural History Museum.
- ^ Scott, Eric; Cox, Shelley M. (May 24, 1993). "Arctodus simus (Cope, 1879) from Riverside County, California" (PDF). PaleoBios. 15 (2): 27–36.
- ^ "The Associated Press: Calif. utility stumbles on 1.4M-year-old fossils". 2010-09-24. Archived from the original on 2010-09-24. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
- ^ "El Casco Substation". LSA. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
- ^ "Southern California Edison Discovers Most Comprehensive Collection of Fossils of its Era in Southern California". Edison International | Newsroom. Retrieved 2024-07-23.
- Various Contributors to the Paleobiology Database. "Fossilworks: Gateway to the Paleobiology Database". Retrieved 17 December 2021.
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