The Pleistocene Avifauna of Arredondo, Florida

Abstract

An extensive fauna of Pleistocene vertebrates occurs at Arredondo, Florida. The bone bed lies in a fresh water clay which is here named the Arredondo clay member of the Wicomico formation. The geographic extent of this member includes 10 localities in 3 counties of northern Florida. The sediments were deposited below the present 100-foot contour under cooler climatic conditions during the Illinoian glacial stage. The environment included a fresh water marsh community with nearby scrub. The avifauna of 43 species includes forms still living, interglacial relicts, and glacial indicators. Five living species of birds are added to the fossil record, and six others to the Pleistocene fauna of Florida. Four species are described as new: Falco readei, Colinus suilium, Dorypaltus prosphatus (n. gen., Charadriidae), and Cremaster tytthus (n, gen., Icteridae). The name Podilymbus magnus Shufeldt is revived. Limicolavis pluvianella Shufelat, from the Oligocene of Oregon, is removed from the Charadriidae; it must be left in incertae sedis until the type is restudied.