List of the Cenozoic life of Florida

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

†Conus delessertii

Shell of an Acanthocardia cockle
Living adult (center) and chick (lower right) Accipiter striatus , or sharp-shinned hawks
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene horse Acritohippus
Shells of Acteocina barrel-bubble sea snails
A living Actitis macularius , or spotted sandpiper
Life restoration of the Miocene camel Aepycamelus , or the long-necked camel. Heinrich Harder (1920).
A living Aetobatus narinari , or spotted eagle ray
A living Agelaius phoeniceus , or red-winged blackbird
Fossilized mandible of the Miocene-Pleistocene bear Agriotherium
Restorative model of the Miocene deer relative Aletomeryx
Life restoration of the Miocene elephant relative Amebelodon . Margret Flinsch (1932).
A living Amia , or bowfin
Fossilized skull of the Miocene saber-toothed cat Amphimachairodus
A living Amphiuma means , or two-toed amphiuma
Shell of an Anachis dove sea snail
Shell of an Anadara floridana , or cut-ribbed ark clam
Shell of an Anadara transversa , or transverse ark clam
A living Spatula cyanoptera , or cinnamon teal
Fossilized limb bones, and teeth of the Miocene three-toed horse Anchitherium (left)
Living male (on top) and female (bottom, with white stripe down her back) Anolis carolinensis , or Carolina anoles
A shell of an Antalis tusk shell
Shell of an Antillophos nassa mud snail
A living Aquila chrysaetos , or golden eagle
Interior of the shell of an Arca zebra , or turkey wing ark clam
A living Architectonica staircase shell sea snail
Restoration of an Arctodus , or short-faced bear, with a human to scale
A living Argopecten irradians (formerly Aequipecten irradians ), or Atlantic bay scallop
A living Asio flammeus , or Short-eared owl
Shell of a Lithopoma phoebium (formerly Astraea phoebia ), or longspine star shell sea snail, inhabited by a hermit crab
Multiple views of a fossilized shell of the volute sea snail Athleta
Restoration of the Paleocene-Miocene nautiloid cephalopod Aturia
Illustration of a living Balaenoptera acutorostrata , or common minke whale
A living Balistes triggerfish
Life restoration of the Eocene whale Basilosaurus
Shells of Batillaria mudcreeper snails
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Pleistocene Bison latifrons , also known as the giant bison or long-horned bison
Life restoration of the Miocene musk deer Blastomeryx . Robert Bruce Horsfall (1913).
Restoration of two of the Miocene-Pliocene bone-crushing dog genus Borophagus preying on a camel . Jay Matternes (1964).
Illustration of the shell of a Brachycythara sea snail
A living Bubo virginianus , or great horned owl
A living Bulimulus land snail
Shell of a Bursa rugosa frog shell sea snail
Shell in multiple views of a Sinistrofulgur perversum
A living Buteo jamaicensis , or red-tailed hawk
A living Calidris pusilla , or semipalmated sandpiper
Illustration of the shell of a Calliostoma jujubinum
Illustration in multiple views of the shell of a Calliostoma tampaense
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
Fossilized tooth of the Miocene-Pliocene shark Cosmopolitodus hastalis , or broad-toothed mako
A living Caretta caretta , or loggerhead sea turtle
A living Carya , or hickory tree
A living Ardea alba , or great egret
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene-Pleistocene giant beaver Castoroides
Living Cerastoderma cockles
Shells of Cerithideopsis pliculosa , or the plicate horn shell sea snail
Two views of a Cerithium cerith sea snail
A living Ceryle rudis , or pied kingfisher
Fossilized cranium of the Pliocene-Pleistocene hyena Chasmaporthetes
Shell in multiple views of a Chicoreus brevifrons , or West Indian murex
A living Chilomycterus , or burrfish
Fossillized shell of a Chlamys bivalve
A living Chrysemys picta , or painted turtle
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene-Pleistocene Ciconia maltha , also known as the asphalt stork or La Brea stork
A living Circus cyaneus , or hen harrier
A living Clangula hyemalis , or long-tailed duck
Shell of a Clavatula sea snail
A living Clypeaster , or sea biscuit
Shell of a Cochlespira sea snail
A living Colaptes auratus , or northern flicker
Shell in multiple views of Columbella mercatoria dove sea snails
Illustration of a living Conepatus leuconotus , or American hog-nosed skunk
Shell in multiple views of a Conasprella delessertii (formerly Conus delessertii ), or Sozon's cone sea snail
Shell in multiple views of a Conasprella jaspidea (formerly Conus jaspideus ), or jasper cone sea snail
Shell in multiple views of a Conus patricius , or patrician cone sea snail
A living Coragyps atratus , or American black vulture
Shell of a Corbula basket clam
Fossilized skeleton preserved in situ (upper left, 2) of the Miocene-Pliocene horse Cormohipparion
A living Coturnicops noveboracensis , or yellow rail
Shell of a Crassispira sea snail
Shell in multiple views of a Crepidula fornicata , or common slipper shell sea snail
A living Crotalus adamanteus , or eastern diamondback rattlesnake
A living Cryptotis parva , or North American least shrew
Life restoration of the Pliocene-Holocene elephant relative Cuvieronius
A living Cygnus columbianus , or tundra swan
Shell of a Cymatosyrinx sea snail
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Eocene whale Cynthiacetus
Multiple views of a shell of a Cypraea cowrie sea snail
Shell in multiple views of a Cyrtopleura costata , or angel wing clam
Shell in multiple views of a Daedalochila uvulifera , or peninsula liptooth land snail
Fossilized cranium seen from above and below of the Pleistocene Dasypus bellus , or beautiful armadillo
A living Desmodus , or vampire bat
Restoration of the Oligocene-Miocene hornless rhinoceros Diceratherium . Robert Bruce Horsfall (1913).
Living Diploria labyrinthiformis , or grooved brain coral
Fossilized shell of a Discohelix sea snail
Shell of a Dolicholatirus sea snail
A living Dryocopus woodpecker
Shell of an Echinocardium , or heart urchin
Taxidermied male Ectopistes migratorius , or passenger pigeon
Test of Elphidium , an Eocene to modern foraminiferan
Shell of an Engina sea snail
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene bone-crushing dog Epicyon
Illustration in multiple views of the shell of an Epitonium novangliae , or New England wentletrap
A living Equetus punctatus , or spotted drum
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene-Pleistocene ground sloth Eremotherium
A living Eubalaena , or Right whale
Fossilized skeleton of the Miocene-Pliocene coyote -like canine Eucyon
A living Euglandina rosea , also known as the rosy wolfsnail or the cannibal land snail
A living Eumops glaucinus , or Wagner's bonneted bat
A living Eusmilia stony coral
A living Falco columbarius , or merlin
A living Farancia abacura , or mud snake
A living Fasciolaria tulipa , or true tulip sea snail
Illustration of the fruit and foliage of a living Ficus carica , or Common fig
Shell of a Fissurella keyhole limpet
A living Egretta caerulea , or little blue heron
Shell of a Fragum cockle
A living Fundulus
A living Galeocerdo cuvier , or tiger shark
A Gastrochaena marine bivalve
Fossilized skull of the Miocene crocodile relative Gavialosuchus
Fossilized shell of a Gemmula sea snail , or gem turrid
A living Geranoaetus bird of prey
Fossilized shells of the Oligocene-Pliocene scallop Gigantopecten
Illustration of a living Globicephala macrorhynchus , or short-finned pilot whale
Restoration of a herd of the Pliocene-Holocene ground sloth Glossotherium
Shell of a Glyphostoma sea snail
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene-Pleistocene elephant relative Gomphotherium
A living Gopherus polyphemus , or gopher tortoise
A living Graptemys barbouri , or Barbour's map turtle
A living Gymnogyps californianus , or California condor
A living Halichoeres wrasse
Shells in differing orientations of Hastula augur sea snails
A preserved Heliaster microbrachius sea star
Fossilized lower jaw of the Miocene-Pleistocene llama relative Hemiauchenia
A living Hemipristis weasel shark
Life restoration of the Eocene-Miocene mammal Herpetotherium
A Shell of Hexaplex fulvescens from the Antilles
Life restoration of a herd of the Miocene-Pleistocene horse Hipparion . Heinrich Harder (1920).
Life restoration of the Pleistocene armadillo relative Holmesina with a human to scale
Shell of a Hyalina margin sea snail
A living Hydrochoerus , or capybara
Life restoration of the Miocene horse Hypohippus . Heinrich Harder (1920).
Fossilized skull of the Miocene bear Indarctos
A living Isurus oxyrinchus , or shortfin mako shark
A living Jabiru mycteria stork
A living Jordanella floridae , or American flagfish
A living Kinosternon subrubrum , or eastern mud turtle
Illustration of the shell of a Kurtziella cerina sea snail
A living Lachnolaimus maximus , or hogfish
A living Lagodon rhomboides , or pinfish
A living Larus gull
Illustration of a living Laterallus exilis , or grey-breasted crake
A living Leopardus wiedii , or margay
Illustration of a fossilized skull of the Oligocene-Miocene dog Leptocyon
A living Lepus townsendii , or white-tailed jackrabbit
Living Limaria , or file shells
Shell of a Linatella triton sea snail
Illustration of the shell of a Liotia sea snail
Shell of a Lithopoma americanum turban sea snail
Pair of living Lontra canadensis , or North American river otter
Shells of Lucapina sowerbii , or Sowerby's fleshy limpet
Underside of a Luidia sea star
A living Lytechinus variegatus , also known as the green or variegated sea urchin
Fossilized cranium of the Miocene-Pleistocene saber-toothed cat Machairodus
A living Macrochelys temminckii , or alligator snapping turtle
Restoration of a Mammut americanum , or American mastodon
A living Marginella margin sea snail
Shell of a Marsupina bufo , or chestnut frog shell sea snail
A wild male Meleagris gallopavo , or turkey, displaying his facial coloration and tail feathers to attract a female
Shell in multiple views of a Melongena melongena , or Caribbean crown conch
Life restoration of the Miocene rhinoceros Menoceras
Collection of Mercenaria mercenaria , also known as hard clams or quahogs
Life restoration of the Miocene three-toed horse Merychippus
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene-Pleistocene manatee relative Metaxytherium
Illustration of a living Micropterus , or black bass
Living Millepora alcicornis , or sea ginger
Restoration of the Pliocene-Pleistocene Miracinonyx , or American cheetah
Multiple views of a shell of a Mitromorpha sea snail
A living Modulus modulus , or tulip mussel
Shell in multiple views of a Monoplex parthenopeus , or giant triton
Shell of a Murex sea snail
Shell in multiple views of a Muricanthus murex sea snail
Living Mussismilia stony coral
Fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene-Holocene peccary Mylohyus
A living Myrica cerifera , or southern wax myrtle
Partial fossilized mandible of the Miocene-Pliocene horse Nannippus
Shells in differing orientations of a Phrontis antillara (formerly Nassarius antillarum ), or the Antilles nassa sea snail
A living Nasua , or coati
A living Necturus , or mudpuppy
Life restoration of a herd of Neohipparion . Robert Bruce Horsfall (1913).
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene Neophrontops
A living Nerodia fasciata , or banded water snake
Fossilized partial cranium of the Miocene saber-toothed cat Nimravides
Shell of a Niveria suffusa false cowrie
Life restoration of the Pleistocene ground sloth Nothrotheriops
Interior of a fossilized shell of the Early Ordovician-modern marine bivalve Nucula
A living Nyctanassa violacea , or yellow-crowned night heron
Living Oculina stony coral
A living Odontaspis sand shark
Shell in multiple views of an Oliva sayana , or lettered olive sea snail
A living Ondatra , or muskrat
Fossil of the Permian-modern crustacean burrow ichnogenus Ophiomorpha
A living Oryzomys palustris , or marsh rice rat
At the top of the picture is a line representing twenty meters. Below this is a gray megalodon silhouette that measures twenty meters, below is a red megalodon silhouette that measures fifteen meters, below is a violet whale shark silhouette that measures ten meters, below is a green great white shark that measures five meters. Standing next to this shark is a black human silhouette that stands two meters.
Diagram illustrating the largest (grey) and most conservative (red) size estimates of the Miocene-Pliocene shark Carcharocles megalodon (sometimes Carcharodon or Otodus megalodon ) with a whale shark (violet), great white shark (green), and anachronistic human (black) to scale
Restoration of the Cretaceous-Eocene sea snake Palaeophis
A living Pandion haliaetus , or osprey
A living Panthera leo , or lion
Fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene-Pleistocene ground sloth Paramylodon
Fossilized teeth of the Eocene-Pleistocene shark Parotodus , or the false-toothed mako
Illustration of the shell of a Parviturbo
A living Pecari
Fossilized skull of the Eocene-Oligocene lizard Peltosaurus
Interior of the shell of a Periglypta venus clam
The appearance of a Podomys floridanus , or Florida mouse, is similar to the Peromyscus shown in this illustration
Illustration of the shell of a Persicula sea snail
A living Petrolisthes porcelain crab
Illustration of a fossilized skull in multiple views of the Oligocene-Miocene bone-crushing dog Phlaocyon
A living Phoenicopterus ruber , or American flamingo
Shells in differing orientations of Physa freshwater bladder snails
Skull
A living Pituophis melanoleucus , or pine snake
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene elephant relative Platybelodon
A living Plethodon glutinosus , or northern slimy salamander
Shell in multiple views of a Pleuroploca sea snail
Fossilized partial skull of the Miocene dog-like bear relative Plithocyon
A living Poecilia latipinna , or sailfin molly
Shell in multiple views of a Polinices lacteus , or milk moon sea snai
Shell in multiple views of a Polygyra septemvolva land snail
Illustration of a living Pomacea paludosa , or freshwater Florida applesnail
A living Porphyrio martinicus , or American purple gallinule
Fossilized skeleton of the Miocene horse Protohippus
Illustration of the shell in multiple views of a Prunum guttatum margin sea snail
Hypothetical restoration of the Oligocene-Pliocene sea turtle Psephophorus
Replica of a fossilized cranium of the Miocene horse Pseudhipparion
Fossilized shell of the Eocene-modern jewelbox marine bivalve Pseudochama
A living Pterocarya or wingnut tree
Shell of a Pterynotus alatus murex sea snail
A living Puma
Assemblage of fossilized shells of the Cretaceous-Pleistocene oyster Pycnodonte
Pyrazus
A living Quercus virginiana , or southern live oak
A living Rallus elegans , or king rail
A living Recurvirostra americana , or American avocet
A living Rhineura floridana , or North American worm lizard
A living Rhizoprionodon terraenovae , or Atlantic sharpnose shark
Restoration of the Miocene-Pliocene elephant relative Rhynchotherium
Fossilized shells of the sea snail Rissoina
Illustration of living Ruppia , or widgeonweeds
Living Sabal palmetto
A living Sardinella
Fossilized teeth of the Neogene sperm whale Scaldicetus
A living Scaphiopus holbrookii , or eastern spadefoot toad
Illustration of a close-up view of a Schizoporella bryozoan ("moss animal")
A living Scolopax minor , or American woodcock
Shell of a Seila sea snail
A living Semicassis helmet sea snail
Living Serenoa , or saw palmetto
A living Sigmodon hispidus , or hispid cotton rat
Several views of the shell of a Sinum moon snail
A living Siren lacertina , or greater siren
Life restoration of the Pleistocene-Holocene saber-tooth cat Smilodon
Shell of a Solariella top sea snail
Fossilized shells of the marine bivalve Solecurtus
A living Somateria spectabilis , or king eider
A living Sphyraena barracuda , or great barracuda
A living Spizaetus , or typical hawk-eagle
Life restoration of the Oligocene-Miocene shark-toothed dolphin Squalodon
Fossilized skeleton of the Miocene weasel Sthenictis
Fossilized teeth of the Paleocene-Miocene sandshark Striatolamia
A living Strix varia , or barred owl
Shell of a Strombina dove sea snail
Fossilized shell in multiple views of a Strombus alatus , or Florida fighting conch
A living Sturnella magna , or eastern meadowlark
Shell of a Subcancilla sea snail
A living Sylvilagus palustris , or marsh rabbit
Life restoration of the Miocene even-toed ungulate Synthetoceras
A living Tachybaptus dominicus , or least grebe
A living Tapirus , or tapir
Living Taxodium distichum , or bald cypresses
Restoration of the Miocene-Pliocene rhinoceros Teleoceras
Shell of a Tellina , or tellin
Life restoration of the Pleistocene bird of prey Teratornis
Shell in multiple views of a Terebra dislocata , or eastern auger sea snail
A living Terrapene carolina , or common box turtle
Illustration of living Thalassodendron sea grass
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene-Pliocene ground sloth Thinobadistes
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene-Pleistocene terror bird Titanis
A living Trachemys scripta , or pond slider
Exterior and interior of the shell of a Trachycardium isocardia , or West Indian prickly cockle
Living Trachyphyllia geoffroyi , or open brain coral
A living Trichechus manatus , or West Indian manatee
Shell of a Trigonostoma nutmeg sea snail
A living Triplofusus papillosus , or Florida horse conch
Close-up portrait of a living Tropidophis , or West Indian wood snake
A living Turbinella , or chank
Shell of a Turbo castanea , or chestnut turban sea snail
Fossilized shells of the Late Jurassic-modern tower snail Turritella
A living Tursiops , or bottlenose dolphin
Close-up portrait of a living Typhlops blind snake
A living Ulmus , or elm
A living Urosalpinx sea snail, or oyster drill
A living Ursus americanus , or American black bear
Shell in multiple views of a Vasum muricatum , or Caribbean vase sea snail
Fossilized shell of the Paleocene-Miocene nerite sea snail Velates
A living Oreothlypis celata (formerly Vermivora celata ), or orange-crowned warbler
Fruit and foliage of living Vitis rotundifolia , or muscadine grape vines
Shell in multiple views of a Vokesimurex rubidus , or rose murex sea snail
A living Vulpes vulpes , or red fox
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Pleistocene saber-toothed cat Xenosmilus
Mourning dove
A living Zonotrichia leucophrys , or white-crowned sparrow