The Brooksville 2 Local Fauna (Arikareean, latest Oligocene): Hernando County, Florida

Abstract

Vertebrate fossils from fissure fill deposits in the Suwannee Limestone located near the town of Brooksville, Hernando County, Florida, represent at least 27 mammalian species, constituting the Brooksville 2 Local Fauna. Taxa from the Brooksville 2 Local Fauna that include first occurrences in Florida are Agnotocastor, Megalagus, Palaeogale, Enhydrocyon, and an Entoptychine rodent. Described in detail are two insectivores (Centetodon, Parvericius), the lagomorph (Megalagus abaconis n. sp.), the castorid (Agnotocastor sp.), and all carnivores (Palaeogale, two new musteloids: Acheronictis webbi n. gen. et sp., Arikarictis chapini n. gen. et sp., and three canids: Enhydrocyon, Osbornodon wangi n. sp., Phlaocyon taylori n. sp.). Biochronologic correlation indicates the age of the fauna is within the undefined biochronologic interval of the "medial" Arikareean NALMA (latest Oligocene). The Brooksville 2 Local Fauna is correlative with the Cow House Slough Local Fauna and SB-1A Local Fauna.