Orange Island (Florida)

geologic stage of the Early Oligocene epoch and named for Orange County, Florida, United States of America.

Orange Island's general location is east of or on the eastern part of the Ocala Platform running north to south.

The western side of the island was bounded by the Pasco Reef System, an environment now only found in the southern Pacific Ocean (Petuch).

During the middle Oligocene ~25 Ma, a worldwide cooling of the climate started the drying of the Dade Subsea, Gulf Trough, and in turn enlarging Orange Island.

During the Chattian of the Late Oligocene, land mammals began their movement into what is now Florida with earliest of their fossils found in Hernando County dating to 24.8 Ma.

Depiction of mid ( Rupelian ) Early Oligocene Orange Island .
Orange Island with Hillsborough Lagoon System on the west and Caloosahatchee Lagoon System on the east.