The Punta Gorda herald. [volume] (Punta Gorda, Fla.) 1893-1958, 1915-02-04
CURIOUS ANIMALS
ONCE EXISTED IN FLORIDA
Facts Established by Fossil Remains
Are Valuable - Geological
Work Should be Aided

The value to science of the fos
sill animal remains found imbed
ded in the earth is sometimes not
fully appreciated. To the geo.
logist, fossils are not curios OF
objects of temporary interest, but
are working tools, since it is chief
ly by them that the age of the de,
posits in which they occur is de,
termined. each formation and
geologic time division is charact-
erized more or less definitely by
the animals and plants that were
then living. In passing from one
formation to another a change is
observed in the animal and plant
life, which among other things de-
termines the limits of the form
alton. In some of the European
countries the value of the fossils
to science is much more fully
recognized than in America, and
it is required by law that fossils
when found be preserved. 1t is
very much to be hoped that in this
country the true value of fossils
may be more fully appreciated,
and that all that are found may be
cared for. This is especially to
be desired in Florida, where the
rapid developments that are now
in progress result in extensive ex-
cavations, not only in connection
with mining operations, but also
in connection with the drainage
of lands, harbor and river dredg
ing and other general improve
ments. These operations are
bringing to light many animal re-
mains that have been embedded in
the earth for ages, and it GER
tainly would be exceedingly un-
fortunate if these were allowed to
be destroyed.
Some progress has been made in
the study of the "extinct life of
Florida and already we have rec
ord of the presence in the state
during earlier times of many ami
mails which are now either entirely
extinct, or are found only in re-
mote parts of the earth. Among
the land animals that formerly liv-
ed in Florida the following may be
mentioned as of special interest.
The list here given, however, is by
no means complete.
The Elephant
In former time the elephants,
now found native only in Africa
and Asia, were present in North
and extended their range
into Florida, their remains hav-
ing been found at many localities
throughout the state. The parts
of the skeleton most commonly
found are isolated bones, grinding
teeth and tuskS, the large size Of
which invariably attracts atten-
tion. The elephant found in
Florida is not the mammoth Of the |
northern state, but is the Columbi- /
an elephant. Elephas Columbi. |
Some Of the teeth, however, close
ly resemble those of the imperial /
elephant which was formerly a.
bundaat in the western part Of the /
United States and it is possible |
that both species were present in /
Florida. In addition to the true
there were present n
Florida, as shown by their fossil
remains, at least two species of
the mastodonS or primitive ele-
pharts. One of these, the Ameri-
can mastodon, known as Mammut
ame1icannum, was contemporary
eous with the elephant, or posslb-
Iy endured on this continent long
nr than did the elephant. The
other mastodons of Florida, OF
which there may be more thar one
species, existed at a time previous
to the appearance either of the
rue elephants or of the American
nastodon, and are found only in
deposits older than those in which
S imbedded in the remains of the
elephant.
The Horse
Florida was evidently the home,
through long geologic periods of {
,arious species of the horse fam /
ly. In the comparatively late ,
formations is found remains of t
he true horse, Equs, which, how
,ver, differs from the domestic !
lorse, which was reintroduced !
rom Europe after the horses ma {
i've to America had become ex- 7
met. In the somewhat older S
ormations are found earlier, I
mailer and more primitive horses /