PaleoBios,   Volume   14,   Number   1,   Pages   3-8,   April   24,   1992
Miocene Land Mammal Faunas From the Caliente Formation,
Cuyama Valley Badlands, California
Thomas S. Kelly1 and E. Bruce Lander1'2
'Vertebrate Paleontology Section, Natural History Museum of
Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Blvd., Los Angeles, CA 90007;
2Paleo Environmental Associates, Inc.,
797 New York Dr., Altadena, CA 91001
The continental Caliente Formation of the
Cuyama Valley Badlands is notable for its
superposed mammalian faunas, which range in
age from middle to late Miocene (Hemingfordian
to Hemphillian North American Land Mammal
Ages) (Gazin, 1930; Wood, 1937; Vander Hoof,
1939; Stock, 1947; Savage, 1957; James, 1963;
Madden, 1987; Kelly and Lander, 1988a, 1988b;
Kelly, 1992). Kelly and Lander (1988b) and Kelly
(1992) revised the definitions of the
Hemingfordian and Barstovian local faunas from
the Caliente Formation and reevaluated the
stratigraphic relations of the localities that
yielded these local faunas. An ongoing study of
the local faunas by the authors resulted in
modifications of the faunal lists provided by
Kelly and Lander (1988b). Furthermore, Kelly
and Lander (1988b) did not include the
Clarendonian and Hemphillian local faunas in
their faunal lists. This report provides a revised
faunal list and updated characterization of each
local fauna from the Caliente Formation in the
Cuyama Valley Badlands.
We recognize eight local faunas from the
Caliente Formation in the badlands and each
fauna is characterized by a distinct assemblage of
taxa that occur within a restricted stratigraphic
interval (Kelly and Lander, 1988b; Kelly, 1992).
In ascending stratigraphic order, these local
faunas include the early late Hemingfordian
Hidden Treasure Spring Local Fauna; the latest
Hemingfordian West Dry Canyon Local Fauna;
the early Barstovian Lower Dome Spring Local
Fauna; the early late Barstovian Upper Dome
Spring Local Fauna; the late Barstovian Doe
Spring Local Fauna; the early Clarendonian
Mathews Ranch Local Fauna; the late
Clarendonian Nettle Spring Local Fauna; and the
Hemphillian Sequence Canyon Local Fauna. The
taxa that comprise each local fauna are listed in
Appendix 1.
The Hidden Treasure Spring Local Fauna is
characterized by the first occurrence of
"Stylonus" carrizoensis and Aepycamelus  sp.
indct; and the restricted stratigraphic ranges of
Stylonus cf. S. seversus, Parahippus sp. indet.,
chalicothcriid, gen. and sp. indet., and
Ticholcptus  zygornaticus.
The West Dry Canyon Local Fauna is
characterized by the first occurrences of Stylonus
n. sp., Miolabis fricki, and Barbouromeryx
(Bouromeryx) cf. B. (B) milleri; the last
occurrence of "Stylonus" carrizoensis; and the
restricted stratigraphic range of Brachycrus
laticeps   buwaldi.
The Lower Dome Spring Local Fauna is
characterized by the first occurrences of
Hypolagus cf. H. parviplicatus and Cynorca
occidentals; the last occurrence of Aepycamelus
sp. undet.; and the restricted stratigraphic range
of Cuyamacamelus jamesi, Brachycrus laticeps
siouense, Rakomeryx raki, and Merycodus sp.
undet..
The Upper Dome Spring Local Fauna is
characterized by the first occurrences of
Lanthanotherium sawini, Mustela sp. undet.,
Petauristodon uphami, and Perognathus furlongi;
the last occurrences of Hypolagus cf. H.
parviplicatus, Cynorca occidentale, Miolabis
fricki, and Barbouromeryx (Bouromeryx) cf. B.
(B.) milleri; and the restricted stratigraphic
ranges of Tomarctus rurestris, Tomarctus cf. T.
temerarius, Amphicyon sp. undet., Pseudaelurus
sp. undet., Archaeohippus mourningi,
"Merychippus" brevidontus, Paramiolabis
taylori, Hesperocamelus cf. H. alexandrae,
Proheteromys maximus, and Copemys cf. C.
den talis.
The Doe Spring Local Fauna is characterized
by the first occurrences of Gomphotherium n. sp.,
Merycodus cf. M. cerroensis, and Ramoceros sp.
indet.; and the last occurrence of Stylonus n. sp..
The Mathews Ranch Local Fauna is
characterized by the first occurrences of
Domninoides sp. indet., Pronotolagus apachensis,
Epicyon sp. undet., Vulpes sp. undet., Sthenicitis
sp. undet., Merycodus cf. M . cerroensis,
Megahippus sp. undet., Petauristodon  mathewsi,
Page 4
Cuyama   Mammal   Faunas
Kelly  and   Lander
lamias ateles, Protospermophilus quatalensis,
Perognathus furlongi, and Copemys russelli; and
the restricted stratigraphic ranges of
Lanthanotherium dehmi, Metechinus sp. undet.,
Limnoecus tricuspis, Bassariscus sp. undet.,
Pliohippus tehonensis, Hipparion tehonense,
"Ustatochoerus"? sp. undet., Procamelus sp.
indet., Ramoceros ramosus quadratus, Cranioceras
sp. indet., Ammospermophilus fossilis, and
Perognathus minutus.
The Nettle Spring Local Fauna is
characterized by the first occurrence of
Pliohippus sp. undet. and Megahippus cf.M.
matthewi; the last occurrences of
Lanthanotherium sawini, Domninoides sp. indet.,
Pronotolagus apachensis, Epicyon sp. undet,
Vulpes sp. undet., Mustela sp. undet., Sthenicitis
sp. undet., Comphotherium n. sp., Merycodus cf.
M . cerroensis, Petauristodon mathewsi,
Protospermophilus quatalensis, Perognathus
furlongi, and Copemys russelli; and the restricted
stratigraphic ranges of Alilepus sp. undet.,
Hypolagus tedfordi, Actiocyon leardi,
(Dinohippus) n. sp., Cormohipparion occidentale,
Meryceros cf. M.joraki, Protolabis sp. indet., cf.
Megatylopus sp. indet., Pliosaccomys wilsoni,
and Perognathoides  cuyamaensis.
The Sequence Canyon Local Fauna is
characterized by the restricted stratigraphic
range of (Dinohippus) cf. (D.) interpolatus.
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James, G.T. 1963. Paleontology and nonmarine
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Page   5
Kelly, T.S. 1992. New middle Miocene camels
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Kelly, T.S. and E.B. Lander. 1988b.
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Leidy, J. 1856. Notices of some remains of extinct
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Madden, C.T. 1987. Primitive proboscidean in
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McFadden, B.J. 1984. Systcmatics and phylogeny
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Merriam, J.C. 1913. New anchitheriine horses
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Merriam, J.C. 1915. New horses from the Miocene
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Merriam, J.C. 1919. Tertiary mammalian faunas
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Savage, D.E. 1957. Age of the Caliente
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Sinclair, W.J. 1915. Additions to the fauna of the
lower Pliocene Snake Creek Beds (Results of
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Stirton, R.A. 1930. A new genus of Soricidae from
the Barstow Miocene. University of
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Stock, C. 1947. A peculiar carnivore from the
Miocene, California. Bulletin of the Southern
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Vander Hoof, V.L. 1939. New evidence as to the
age of the Cuyama beds, California.
Geological Society of America Bulletin
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White, J.A. 1988. The Archaeolaginae
(Mammalia, Lagomorpha) of North
America, excluding Archaeolagus and
Panolax. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology
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White, J.A. 1991. North American Leporinae
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Wood, A.E. 1937. Additional material from the
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Dyseohyus (Tayassuidae). Bulletin of the
American Museum of Natural History
141(2):275-355.
Page   6
Cuyama  Mammal   Faunas
Kelly  and  Lander
Appendix 1. Revised mammalian faunal lists of
Caliente Formation local faunas, Cuyama Valley
Badlands, California. Vertebrate fossil
localities included for each local fauna.
Additional key references and museum numbers of
voucher specimens for new records included in
brackets. Institutional acronyms are: LACM,
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County;
UCMP, University of California, Museum of
Valeontology; V-, UCMP vertebrate fossil
locality.
HIDDEN TREASURE SPRING LOCAL FAUNA
Early late Hemingfordian: UCMP V-5674,
V-5676, V-5679.
Lagomorpha
Hypolagus sp. indet. [Kelly and Lander, 1988b]
Perissodactyla
Stylonus cf. S. seversus Cope, 1879 [Kelly and
Under, 1988b]
"Stylonus" carrizoensis (Dougherty, 1940)
[Kelly and Lander, 1988]
Parahippus sp. indet. [James, 1963]
chalicotheriid, gen. and sp. indet. [James, 1963]
Artiodactyla
Aepycamelus sp. indet. [Kelly, 1992]
Ticholeptus zygomaticus Cope, 1878 [Kelly and
Under, 1988b]
Merycodus sp. indet. [Kelly and Lander, 1988b]
WEST DRY CANYON LOCAL FAUNA
Latest Hemingfordian: UCMP V-6763, V-6764,
V-6765, V-6766; LACM Locs. 5605, 5606, 5607,
5608, 5609.
Lagomorpha
Hypolagus? sp. indet. [Kelly and Lander,
1988b]
Perissodactyla
Stylonus n. sp. [Kelly and Under, 1988b]
"Stylonus" carrizoensis (Dougherty, 1940)
[Kelly and Lander, 1988b]
Artiodactyla
Aepycamelus sp. indet. [Kelly, 1992]
Miolabis fricki Kelly, 1992
Brachycrus laticeps buwaldi (Merriam, 1919)
[Kelly and Lander, 1988b]
Barbouromeryx (Bouromeryx) cf. B. (B.) milleri
Frick, 1937 [this report, LACM 133449]
LOWER DOME SPRING LOCAL FAUNA
Early Barstovian: UCMP V-5823, V-5824, V-5825,
V-5827, V-5670, V-5673, V-6414, V-6767 V-6768;
LACM Locs. 5604, 5996,6104.
Ugomorpha
Hypolagus cf. H. parviplicatus Dawson, 1958
[Kelly and Lander, 1988b]
Perissodactyla
Stylonus n. sp. [Kelly and Lander, 1988b]
Artiodactyla
Cynorca occidentale Woodburne, 1969
Aepycamelus sp. indet. [Kelly, 1992)
Miolabis fricki Kelly, 1992
Cuyamacamelus jamesi Kelly, 1992
Brachycrus laticeps siouense (Sinclair, 1915)
[Kelly and Lander, 1988b]  '
Barbouromeryx (Bouromeryx) cf. B. (B.) milleri
Frick, 1937 [this report, LACM 133448]
Rakomeryx raki Frick, 1937 [Kelly and Lander,
1988b]
Merycodus sp. undet. [Kelly and Lander, 1988b]
UPPER DOME SPRING LOCAL FAUNA
Early late Barstovian: UCMP V-5665, V-5666,
V-5667, V-5668, V-5669, V-5671, V-5672, V-5675,
V-5826, V-5850, V-5851, V-6797; LACM Loc. 6008.
Insectivora
Lanthanotherium sawini James, 1963
Carnivora
Tomarctus rurestris (Condon, 1896) [James, 1963]
Tomarctus cf. T. temerarius (Leidy, 1858)
[James, 1963]
Amphicyon sp. undet. [James, 1963]
Pseudaelurus sp. undet. [James, 1963]
Mustek sp. undet. [James, 1963]
Perissodactyla
Stylonus n. sp. [Kelly and Lander, 1988b]
"Merychippus" brevidontus (Bode, 1934)
[James, 1963; Kelly and Lander, 1988b]
Archaeohippus mourningi (Merriam, 1913)
[James, 1963; Kelly and Lander, 1988b]
Artiodactyla
Cynorca occidentale Woodburne, 1969
Miolabis fricki Kelly, 1992
Paramiolabis taylori Kelly,  1992
Hesperocamelus cf. H. alexandrae (Davidson,
1923) [James, 1963; Kelly and Lander, 1988b;
Kelly, 1992]
Kelly   and   Lander
Cuyama   Mammal   Faunas
Page   7
Appendix 1 (cont'd)
Barbouromeryx (Bouromcryx) cf. B. (B.) milleri
Frick, 1937 [this report, UCMP 50673]
Rodentia
Petauristodon uphami   (James, 1963)
Proheteromys maximus James, 1963 [Lindsay,
1972]
Perognathus furlongi Gazin, 1930 [James, 1963;
Lindsay, 1972]
Copemys cf. C.dentalis (Hall, 1930) [James,
19631
DOE SPRING LOCAL FAUNA
Late Barstovian: UCMP V-5843.
Proboscidea
Gomphotherium n. sp. [Madden, 1987]
Perissodactyla
Stylonus n. sp. [Kelly and Lander, 1988b]
Artiodactyla
Merycodus cf. M. cerroensis Frick, 1937 [James,
19631
Ramoceros sp. indet. [James, 1963; Kelly and
Lander, 1988b]
Rodentia
Petauristodon uphami (James, 1963) [Engesser,
1979]
MATHEWS RANCH LOCAL FAUNA
Early Clarendonian: UCMP V-5647, V-5650,
V-5651, V-5652, V-5656, V-5657, V-5658, V-5659,
V-5660, V-5664, V-5677, V-5743, V-5745, V-5747,
V-5748, V-5749, V-5750, V-5829, V-5841, V-5842,
V-5844, V-5845, V-5846, V-5847, V-5849, V-5900,
V-5901, V-5907, V-5908, V-5911, V-6028, V-6854.
Insectivora
Lanthanotherium sawini James, 1963
Lanthanotherium dehrni James, 1963
Metechinus sp. undet. [James, 1963]
Limnoecus tricuspis Stirton, 1930 [James, 1963;
Lindsay, 1972]
Domninoides sp. indet. (Hutchison, 1968]
Chiroptera
phyllostomatid?, gen. and sp. indet. [James,
1963]
Lagomorpha
Pronotolagus apachensis (Gazin, 1930) [White,
19911
Carnivora
Epicyon sp. undet. [Baskin, 1980]
Vulpes sp. undet. [James, 1963]
Bassariscus sp. undet. [James, 1963]
Mustek sp. undet. [James, 1963]
Sthenicitis sp. undet. [James, 1963]
Pseudaelurus sp. undet. [James, 1963]
Proboscidea
Gomphotherium n. sp. [Madden, 1987]
Perissodactyla
Pliohippus tehonensis (Merriam, 1915) [James,
1963]
Hipparion tehonense (Merriam, 1916) [James,
1963; McFadden, 1984]
Megahippus sp. undet. [James, 1963]
Artiodactyla
"Ustatochoerus"? sp. indet. [James, 19631
Merycodus cf. M. cerroensis Frick, 1937 [James,
1963]
Ramoceros ramosus quadraius Frick, 1937 [this
report, UCMP 55314]
Procamelus sp. indet. [James, 1963]
Cranioceras sp. indet. [James, 1963]
Rodentia
Petauristodon mathewsi (James, 1963)
[Engesser, 1979]
Petauristodon sp. undet. [James, 1963]
Ammospermophilus fossilis James, 1963
Tamias ateles (Hall, 1930) [Bryant, 1945;
James, 1963; Lindsay, 1972]
Protospermophilus quatalensis (Gazin, 1930)
[Bryant, 1945; Black, 1963; James, 1963J
Perognathus furlongi Gazin, 1930 [James, 1963;
Lindsay, 1972]
Perognathus minutus James, 1963 [Lindsay, 1972]
Copemys russelli (lames, 1963) [Lindsay, 19721
NETTLE SPRING LOCAL FAUNA
Late Clarendonian: UCMP V-5662, V-5663,
V-5703, V-5746, V-5848, V-5852, V-5902, V-5903,
V-5904, V-5905, V-5906, V-5909, V-5910, V-5912,
V-6639, V-7113; LACM Locs. 6103, 6105, 6106.
Insectivora
Lanthanotherium sawini James, 1963
Domninoides sp. indet. [Hutchison, 19681
Lagomorpha
Alilepus sp. undet. [White, 19911
Pronotolagus apachensis (Gazin, 1930) [White,
1991]
Hypolagus  tedfordi White, 1988
Page   8
Cuyama   Mammal   Faunas
Kelly  and   Lander
Appendix 1 (cont'd)
Carnivora
Epicyon sp. undet. [Baskin, 1980]
Vulpes sp. undct. [James, 1963]
Actiocyon leardi Stock, 1947
Mustek sp. undet. [James, 1963]
Sthenictis sp. undet. [James, 1963]
Proboscidea
Gomphotherium n. sp. [Madden, 1987]
Perissodactyla
Pliohippus sp. undet. [James, 1963]
(Dinohippus)  n. sp. [this report, LACM 133452]
Cormohipparion  occidentale (Leidy, 1856)
[McFadden, 1984]
Megahippus cf. M. matthewi (Barbour, 1914)
[this report, LACM 133447]
Artiodactyla
Meryceros cf. M.joraki (Frick, 1937) [this
report, LACM 133451]
Merycodus cf. M. cerroensis Frick, 1937 [James,
1963]
Protolabis sp. indet. [James, 1963; Kelly, 1992]
cf. Megatylopus, sp. indet. [this report, LACM
133450]
Rodentia
Petauristodon mathewsi (James, 1963)
[Engesser, 1979]
Tamias ateles (Hall, 1930) [James, 1963;
Lindsay, 1972]
Protospermophilus quatalensis (Gazin, 1930)
[Bryant, 1945; Black, 1963; James, 1963]
Pliosaccomys wilsoni James, 1963
Perognathus furlongi Gazin, 1930 [James, 1963;
Lindsay, 1972]
Perognathoides cuyamaensis Wood, 1937
[Baskin, 1979]
Copemys russelli (James, 1963) [Lindsay, 1972]
SEQUENCE CANYON LOCAL FAUNA
Hemphillian: UCMP V-5654, V-5661.
Perissodactyla
(.Dinohippus) cf. (D.) interpolatus (Cope, 1893)
[James, 1963]