Dove Spring Formation

The Dove Spring Formation (formerly the Ricardo Formation) is a geologic formation in the western Mojave Desert of California. It preserves fossils dating back to the Miocene epoch of the Neogene period.

Fossil content

Mammals Bats Bats reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images ChiropteraGen. et. sp. undetermined Kern County, California. A bat.

Carnivorans Carnivorans reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesBarbourofelisB. osborniKern County, California.Junior synonym of B. whitfordi.B. whitfordiRed Canyon & other localities, Kern County, California.Teeth & mandible.A barbourofelid.B. sp.LACM localities 6260 & 1108, Kern County, California.Left partial humerus (LACM 140853) & left distal humerus (LACM 59336).A barbourofelid also found in the Green Valley Formation.BassariscusB. sp.Kern County, California.A procyonid.BorophagusB. littoralisRed Rock Canyon, Kern County, California.Left maxillary (LACM 143520).A borophagine dog also found in the Green Valley, Santa Margarita & Chanac formations.CarpocyonC. robustusKern County, California.Partial skeleton (UCMP 33569).A borophagine dog.cf. Eomellivoracf. E. sp.Kern County, California.A large mustelid similar to the honey badger.EpicyonE. aphobusKern County, California.Junior synonym of E. haydeni.E. haydeniRicardo Fauna, Kern County, California.Skull elements.A borophagine dog.E. saevusRicardo Fauna, Kern County, California.Ramal elements.A borophagine dog."Felis""F." sp.Kern County, California.A small felid.IschyrocyonI. gidleyiLast Chance Gulch, Kern County, California.A bear-dog.I. mohavensisKern County, California.Junior synonym of I. gidleyi.LeptocyonL. vaferKern County, California (lower & upper parts of the formation).Skull elements.A canine dog.MartinogaleM. faulliRed Rock Canyon, Kern County, California.A nearly-complete skull (LACM 56230).A skunk.M. sp.Kern County, California.A skunk."Mephitis""M." sp.Kern County, California.A skunk.MetalopexM. macconnelliRed Rock Canyon, Kern County, California.Skull elements.A fox also found in the Milk Creek Formation & Malheur County, Oregon.Mustela?M. buwaldiKern County, California.A weasel.OsteoborusO. diabloensisKern County, California.Junior synonym of Borophagus littoralis.PseudaelurusP. sp.Kern County, California.A felid.TomarctusT. robustusKern County, California.Moved to the genus Carpocyon.T. sp.Kern County, California.A borophagine dog."Vulpes""V." sp.Kern County, California.A fox.

Eulipotyphlans Eulipotyphlans reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesAlluvisorexA. chasseaeKern County, California.A shrew.ErinaceidaeErinaceidae "A"Kern County, California.An erinaceid. LanthanotheriumL. sp. Kern County, California. An erinaceid.LimnoecusL. sp.Kern County, California.A shrew.ScapanusS. (Xeroscapheus) shultziKern County, California.A mole."Sorex""S." sp.Kern County, California.A shrew.

Lagomorphs Lagomorphs reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesHesperolagomysH. sp.Kern County, California.A pika.HypolagusH. sp.Kern County, California.A leporid.

Proboscideans Proboscideans reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesGomphotheriumG. sp.Kern County, California.A gomphothere.SerbelodonS. burnhamiRicardo, Kern County, California.Anterior portion of a mandible (F:AM 18228) & 2 tusk fragments (F:AM 18228A & 18228B).An amebelodontid.

Rodents Rodents reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesAcrolophomysA. rhodopetrosTeeth & dentary.A cricetid.AmmospermophilusA. sp.Kern County, California.An antelope squirrel.AntecalomysA. coxaeMany teeth.A sigmodontine.BensonomysB. sp.Kern County, California.Maxillae, a dentary & teeth.A sigmodontine.CopemysC. dentalisKern County, California.Dentaries & teeth.A cricetid.C. cf. C. longidensKern County, California.A cricetid.C. russelliKern County, California.A cricetid.C. sp.Kern County, California.A cricetid.C. sp., cf. C. dentalisTeeth & jaw elements.A cricetid.CupidinimusC. avawatzensisKern County, California.A heteromyid also found in the Avawatz Formation.C. tertiusKern County, California.A heteromyid.C. sp.Kern County, California.A small heteromyid.EucastorE. sp.Kern County, California.A castorid.LeptodontomysL. sp.Kern County, California.An eomyid.LindsaymysL. takeuchiiKern County, California.Multiple specimens.A cotton rat.L. sp., cf. L. takeuchiiKern County, California.Multiple teeth.A cotton rat.L. sp. AKern County, California.Molars.A cotton rat.L. sp. BKern County, California.Molars.A cotton rat.ParapliosaccomysP. sp.Kern County, California.A gopher.ParonychomysP. spp.Kern County, California.A cricetid.PerognathusP. furlongiKern County, California.A pocket-mouse.P. minutusKern County, California.A pocket-mouse.PostcopemysP. sp., cf. P. valensisTeeth & dentary.A cricetid.ProtospermophilusP. sp.Kern County, California.A squirrel.Repomys"R." sp.Kern County, California.A cricetid.cf. R. sp.M2 (LACM 156378).A cricetid.TamiasT. atelesKern County, California.A chipmunk."Thomomys""T." sp.Kern County, California.A gopher.

Ungulates Ungulates reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesAphelopsA. sp.Kern County, California.A rhinoceros.CormohipparionC. occidentaleKern County, California.Isolated teeth & a lower mandible.Remains reassigned to C. sp.C. sp. El Paso Basin.Isolated teeth & a lower mandible. An equid.CosoryxC. sp.Kern County, California.An antilocaprid.DinohippusD. cf. D. leardiKern County, California.An equid.?Hemiauchenia?H. sp.Kern County, California.A camelid.HipparionH. forceiKern County, California.An equid.H. tejonensisKern County, California.An equid.IlingocerosI. sp.Kern County, California.An antilocaprid.MegahippusM. cf. M. matthewiKern County, California.An equid.?Megatylopus?M. sp.Kern County, California.A camelid.?Michenia?M. sp.Kern County, California.A camelid.ParacosoryxP. furlongiKern County, California.An antilocaprid.PeracerasP. sp.Kern County, California.A rhinoceros.PliocerosP. sp.Kern County, California.An antilocaprid.PliohippusP. tantulusKern County, California.An equid.P. tejonensisKern County, California.An equid.?Procamelus?P. sp.Kern County, California.A camelid.?Prosthennops?P. sp.Kern County, California.A peccary.TeleocerasT. cf. T. meridianumKern County, California.A rhinoceros.UstatochoerusU. californicusKern County, California.A merycoidodontid.U. cf. U. profectusKern County, California.A merycoidodontid.

Reptiles Birds Birds reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images BrantaB. howardae Kern County, California. A goose. NeophrontopsN. ricardoensisKern County, California.A gypaetine vulture.

Squamates Squamates reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesAnguidaeGen. indet.Kern County, California.A very large anguid lizard.CallisaurusC. sp.Kern County, California.A zebra-tailed lizard.GerrhonotusG. cf. G. kingiKern County, California.An alligator lizard.LichanuraL. sp.Kern County, California.A rosy boa.PaleoheterodonP. sp.Kern County, California.A colubrid snake.ParacoluberP. sp.Kern County, California.A colubrid snake.ParagerrhonotusP. ricardensisKern County, California.An anguid lizard.ProptychophisP. achorisRed Rock Canyon State Park, Kern County, California.Numerous vertebrae & the posterior portion of a right maxilla.A colubrid snake.SceloporusS. sp.Kern County, California.A large spiny lizard."Thamnophis""T." sp.Kern County, California.A garter snake.UmaU. sp.Locality LACM 4702.A partial & fused premaxilla (LACM 159892).A fringe-toed lizard.?Uta?U. sp.Kern County, California.A side-blotched lizard.XantusiaX. sp.Kern County, California.A night lizard.

Testudines Testudines reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesClemmysC. sp.Kern County, California.An emydine turtle.GeocheloneG. sp.Kern County, California.A tortoise.?Gopherus?G. sp.Kern County, California.A gopher tortoise.

Amphibians Amphibians reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images BatrachosepsB. sp. Kern County, California. A lungless salamander. BufonidaeKern County, California.A true toad.cf. Ensatinacf. E. sp.Kern County, California.A lungless salamander.RanidaeKern County, California.A true frog.

Fish Fish reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images EmpetrichthysE. sp. Kern County, California. A splitfin.

Plants Plants reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesAcaciaA. sp.Kern County, California.An acacia.CeanothusC. sp.Kern County, California.A buckbrush.CupressusC. sp.Kern County, California.A cypress tree.LyciumL. sp.Kern County, California.A box thorn. PalmoxylodonP. mohavensis Kern County, California. A palm.PinusP. kelloggiiKern County, California.A pine.QuercusQ. ricardensisKern County, California.An oak tree.RobiniaR. alexanderiKern County, California.A legume.

See also

List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in California Paleontology in California

References