List of the Cenozoic life of California

This list of the Cenozoic life of California contains the various prehistoric life-forms whose fossilized remains have been reported from within the US state of California and are between 66 million and 10,000 years of age.

Illustration of a living Acipenser medirostris , or green sturgeon
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene horse Acritohippus
A living Actinemys marmorata , or western pond turtle
Life restoration of the Miocene camel Aepycamelus , or the long-necked camel. Heinrich Harder (1920).
Fossilized mandible of the Miocene-Pleistocene bear Agriotherium
Restorative model of the Miocene deer relative Aletomeryx
Fossilized skeleton of the Miocene seal Allodesmus
Caught Alopias vulpinus , or common thresher
Flowers and foliage of Amelanchier , or shadbush
Fossilized skull of the Miocene saber-toothed cat Amphimachairodus
Collection of Anadara marine ark clams
Fossilized limb bones, and teeth of the Miocene three-toed horse Anchitherium (left)
A living Antilocapra , or pronghorn
Reconstructive illustration of the skeleton of the Miocene-Pleistocene hornless rhinoceros Aphelops
A living Aquila chrysaetos , or golden eagle
Fossilized skull of the Oligocene bone-crushing dog Archaeocyon
A living Architectonica staircase shell sea snail
Restoration of an Arctodus , or short-faced bear, with a human to scale
A modern Argyropelecus silver hatchetfish
A living Asio otus , or long-eared owl
Fossilized skull of the Miocene dolphin Atocetus
Life restoration of the Miocene sperm whale Aulophyseter
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene whale Balaenula
Fossilized skull of the Miocene-Pliocene false saber-toothed cat Barbourofelis
A living Bembidion ground beetle
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Pleistocene Bison latifrons , or long-horned bison
Life restoration of the Miocene grenadier fish Bolbocara (bottom)
Restoration of two of the Miocene-Pliocene bone-crushing dog genus Borophagus preying on a camel . Jay Matternes (1964).
Restorative portrait of the Miocene oreodont mammal Brachycrus
A living Branta bernicla , or black brant
A living Bubo virginianus , or great horned owl
Shells in multiple views of Bulla gouldiana , or the California bubble sea snail
A living Buteo jamaicensis , or red-tailed hawk
A living Calliostoma annulatum , or purple-ring top sea snail
A living Callorhinus ursinus , or northern fur seal
Three modern shells of Calyptraea , or Chinese hat snails
Life restoration of the Pliocene-Holocene camel Camelops
Skeletons look identical
Modern mounted skeleton of Canis lupus , the grey wolf, to scale with a fossilized skeleton of the Pleistocene wolf Canis dirus , or dire wolf
Fossilized skeleton of the Pleistocene dwarf pronghorn Capromeryx
A living Carya , or hickory tree
A living Cathartes aura , or turkey vulture
A living Cepphus columba , or pigeon guillemot
Life restoration of the Miocene-Pliocene whale Cetotherium
Side profile of a Chauliodus , or viperfish
Life restoration of the Pleistocene-Holocene Chendytes , or Law's diving-goose
A living Chlamys hastata , or spear scallop
A living Chrysocyon brachyurus , or maned wolf
A living Cinnamomum , or cinnamon tree
Shells in multiple orientations of Clathrodrillia sea snails
Shell of a Clinocardium cockle
A living Cnemidophorus , or whip-tail lizard
Shell of a Codakia marine bivalve
Shell in two views of a Conasprelloides cone sea snail
Shell of a Conus regularis , or regular cone sea snail
A living Copris scarab
Fossilized skeleton preserved in situ (upper left, 2) of the Miocene-Pliocene horse Cormohipparion
Restoration of the Miocene palaeomerycid Cranioceras , a relative of modern deer, with anachronistic human to scale
Shell of a Crassispira sea snail
Shell in multiple views of a Crepidula onyx , or onyx slipper sea snail
A living Crotalus viridis , or prairie rattlesnake
A living Cryptotermes , or drywood termite
A living Cupressus , or cypress tree
Illustration of a living Cyclothone bristlemouth
Fossilized cranium of the Miocene bear-dog Cynelos
Illustration of a living Cyrtonyx quail
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Eocene-Miocene bear-dog Daphoenus
A school of living Decapterus , or mackerel scads
A living Dendragapus obscurus , or dusky grouse
A living Dendryphantes jumping spider
A living Dermochelys , or leatherback sea turtle
Life restoration of the Oligocene-Miocene herbivorous marine mammal Desmostylus
A living member of Diospyros , the tree genus including ebonies and persimmons
A living Dipodomys merriami , or Merriam's kangaroo rat
Fossilized shell of a Discohelix sea snail
Life restoration of the Miocene-Pliocene manatee relative Dusisiren
Illustration of a living Echinorhinus shark
Taxidermied male Ectopistes migratorius , or passenger pigeon
Life restoration of two of the Eocene-Oligocene anthracothere mammal Elomeryx being menaced by fellow-anthracothere Anthracotherium
A living Enhydra lutris , or sea otter
Fossilized skeleton of the Eocene-Pliocene frog Eopelobates
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene bone-crushing dog Epicyon
Shell of an Epitonium wentletrap sea snail
Fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene-Pleistocene horse Equus simplicidens , also known as the Hagerman horse or American zebra
Life restoration of the Pleistocene bovid Euceratherium , or the shrub ox. Robert Bruce Horsfall (1913).
A living Eusmilia stony coral
A living Eutamias chipmunk
A living Falco sparverius , or American kestrel
A living Ficus , or fig tree
Fossilized shell of the Oligocen-modern scallop Flabellipecten
A living Fratercula cirrhata , or tufted puffin
A living Galeocerdo cuvier , or tiger shark
A living Galeorhinus galeus school shark
A school of living Gasterosteus aculeatus , or three-spined stickleback
Living adult and young Gavia stellata , or red-throated loon
A living Geococcyx californianus , or greater roadrunner
A living Glaucidium gnoma , or mountain pygmy owl
Fossilized shell of a Glycymeris , or bittersweet clam
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene-Pleistocene elephant relative Gomphotherium
A living Gymnogyps californianus , or California condor
A living Haminoea bubble sea snail
Fossilized skull of the mesonychian mammal Harpagolestes
Fossilized lower jaw of the Miocene-Pleistocene llama relative Hemiauchenia
Life restoration of the Eocene-Miocene mammal Herpetotherium
A living Heterodontus , or bullhead shark
Illustration of a living Hexanchus , or sixgill shark
Life restoration of a herd of the Miocene-Pleistocene horse Hipparion . Heinrich Harder (1920).
Restoration of Pliocene-Pleistocene Homotherium , or scimitar cat
Life restoration of the Eocene-Miocene creodont mammal Hyaenodon
Side view of a brown-green dugong. It is similar to a manatee, in that the head is pointed downwards, the eyes are small, and the body is stocky. The arms are perpendicular to the body and bend backwards toward the tail. There are no fingernails. The tail is knotched, much like a dolphin tail.
Restorative model of the Pleistocene-Holocene manatee relative Hydrodamalis gigas , or Steller's sea cow
Restoration of the Miocene walrus Imagotaria
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Eocene-Oligocene rodent Ischyromys
A living Juniperus , or juniper tree
Life restoration of the Oligocene-Miocene dolphin Kentriodon
Shell in multiple views of a Labyrinthus land snail
Shell of a Laevicardium elatum , or giant egg cockle
Life restoration of the Miocene opah fish Lampris zatima
A living Larus californicus , or California gull
A living Lepidochitona chiton
Illustration of a fossilized skull of the Oligocene-Miocene dog Leptocyon
A living Leptopecten latiauratus , or kelp scallop
Top view of a fossilized skull of the Eocene creodont mammal Limnocyon
Life restoration of the Paleocene-Eocene bird Lithornis
Life restoration of the Miocene marine drumfish Lompoquia
Shell of a Lottia scabra , or rough limpet
Fossilized skull of the Eocene carnivoran mammal Lycophocyon
Fossilized cranium of the Miocene-Pleistocene saber-toothed cat Machairodus
Shell of Macoma nasuta , or the bent-nosed clam
Life restoration of the Oligocene toothed-whale Macrodelphinus (background)
Close-up view of a Magnolia flower
Restoration of a herd of Mammuthus primigenius , or wooly mammoths
A living Marginella margin sea snail
A living Martes , or marten
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene-Pleistocene ground sloth Megalonyx
Life restoration of the Miocene rhinoceros Menoceras
Life restoration of the Miocene pronghorn Merriamoceros with an anachronistic human to scale
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene pronghorn Merycodus
Fossilized skull of the Miocene oreodont mammal Mesoreodon
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene-Pleistocene manatee relative Metaxytherium
A modern Microgadus , or tomcod
A living Microtus californicus , or California vole
Fossilized skull (top) and interpretive line drawing (middle) of the Miocene auk relative Miomancalla compared with the skull of a Holocene Pinguinus impennis , or great auk
Restoration of the Pliocene-Pleistocene Miracinonyx , or American cheetah
Exterior (left) and interior of the shell of a Modiolus capax , or fat horsemussel
Shell in multiple views of a Monoplex triton sea snail
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene chalicothere mammal Moropus
Fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene-Holocene peccary Mylohyus
Living Mytilus californianus , or california mussels
Partial fossilized mandible of the Miocene-Pliocene horse Nannippus
A living Nassarius fossatus , or channeled basket snail
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Pleistocene Odocoileus lucasi , or American mountain deer
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene aquatic mammal Neoparadoxia
Living Neritina or nerite snails
Illustration of the fossilized skull of the Oligocene false saber-toothed cat Nimravus
Life restoration of the Pleistocene ground sloth Nothrotheriops
A living Numenius phaeopus , or whimbrel
A living Oceanodroma furcata , or fork-tailed storm petrel
A living Odobenus rosmarus , or walrus
Illustration of the shell of an Odostomia donilla pyram shell sea snail
Illustration of the shell of an Oenopota tabulata sea snail
Life restoration of a school of the Miocene-Pleistocene Oncorhynchus rastrosus , or saber-toothed salmon
Life restoration of the Miocene pseudo-toothed bird Osteodontornis
Fossilized teeth of the Paleocene–Miocene shark Otodus
A living Oxyura jamaicensis , or ruddy duck
Restoration of the Miocene aquatic mammal Paleoparadoxia
A living Panthera leo , or lion
Fossilized skull of the Miocene horse Parahippus
Fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene-Pleistocene ground sloth Paramylodon
Life restoration of the Miocene-Pliocene dolphin Parapontoporia (top)
Life restoration of the Miocene baleen whale Parietobalaena and calf
Shell of a Patelloida limpet
Pecten
Reconstructive illustration of a fossilized skull of the Oligocene-Pleistocene pseudo-toothed bird Pelagornis , with close-up insets of its pseudo-teeth
Interior of the shell of a Periglypta venus clam
A living Perognathus pocket mouse
Fossilized shell of the Oligocene-modern conch sea snail Persististrombus
A living Phalacrocorax auritus , or double-crested cormorant
Illustration of a fossilized skull in multiple views of the Oligocene-Miocene bone-crushing dog Phlaocyon
Two Phoenicopterus , or flamingos
A living Phrynosoma , or horned lizard
A live individual of Physa marmorata
Shell of a Pitar venus clam
A living Pituophis melanoleucus , or pine snake
Restoration of a herd of alarmed Miocene-Pleistocene peccaries of the genus Platygonus . Charles R. Knight (1922).
Life restoration of the Paleocene-Eocene primate Plesiadapis
Fossilized skull of the Miocene horse Pliohippus
Life restoration of the Miocene walrus Pliopedia
Living Pocillopora , or cauliflower coral
Illustration of a fossilized skull of the Oligocene false faber-toothed cat Pogonodon
Exterior of the shell of a Polymesoda basket clam
A modern Porichthys notatus , or plainfin midshipman
A living Prionace glauca , or blue shark
Life restoration of the Eocene brontothere mammal Protitanops
Protylopus petersoni skull
Illustration of a fossilized skull of the Eocene camel Protylopus
Hypothetical restoration of the Oligocene-Pliocene sea turtle Psephophorus
A living Pseudomelatoma sea snail
Living Pseudotsuga , or Douglas firs
Illustration of a fossilized skull of the Paleocene multituberculate mammal Ptilodus
A living Puma
Shell of a Pusula false cowrie sea snail
A living Quercus , or oak tree
Life restoration of the Miocene-Pliocene pronghorn Ramoceros and Cosoryx . Robert Bruce Horsfall (1913).
A living Recurvirostra , or avocet
A living Retusa barrel bubble sea snail
Restoration of the Miocene-Pliocene elephant relative Rhynchotherium
Flowers of a living Robinia
Living Sabal , or palmettos
Fossilized skeleton of the Eocene monitor lizard Saniwa
Fossilized teeth of the Neogene sperm whale Scaldicetus
Fossilized jaw and teeth of the Miocene horse Scaphohippus
Illustration of a living Scopelogadus ridgehead
Group of living Scyliorhinus catsharks
A living Sequoiadendron
Life restoration of two species of the Oligocene oreodont mammal genus Sespia
Several views of the shell of a Sinum moon snail
Life restoration of the Pleistocene-Holocene saber-tooth cat Smilodon
Modern specimen of the marine bivalve Solemya
A living Sorex , or long-tailed shrew
A living Sphyrna hammerhead shark
Shell of a Spisula , or surf clam
A living Squalus , or spurdog
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene-Pleistocene elephant relative Stegomastodon
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the fossil pronghorn Stockoceros
Fossilized teeth of the Paleocene-Miocene sandshark Striatolamia
Life restoration of the Eocene-Oligocene cow-sized rhinoceros Subhyracodon . Charles R. Knight (1890s).
A living Syngnathus pipefish
Flower of a living Tabernaemontana , or milkwood
Life restoration of the Eocene carnivoran relative Tapocyon
Restoration of the Miocene-Pliocene rhinoceros Teleoceras
Shell of a Tellina , or tellin
Life restoration of the Pleistocene bird of prey Teratornis
Fossilized shell in two views of the Late Devonian-modern brachiopod Terebratula
Life restoration of the Miocene fur seal Thalassoleon
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene-Pleistocene camel Titanotylopus
Foliage of living Toxicodendron
A living Tremarctos , or spectacled bear
A living Triplofusus spindle sea snail
Shell of a Tucetona bittersweet clam
Illustration of the shell of a Turbonilla laminata pyram shell sea snail
Fossilized shells of the Late Jurassic-modern tower snail Turritella
A living Tursiops , or bottlenose dolphin
Life restoration of the Eocene mammal Uintatherium
A pair of living Uria aalge , or common murre
A living Ursus americanus , or American black bear
Fossilized shell of the Paleocene-Miocene nerite sea snail Velates
A living Vireo
A living Voluta sea snail
Restoration of the Permian shark Wodnika
Fossilized shell of the Late Cretaceous-modern carrier shell sea snail Xenophora
Fossil of the Early Triassic-Eocene cycad-like frond Zamites
Known material diagram depicting the Miocene-Pleistocene mastodon relative Zygolophodon with a human to scale