La Brea Tar Pits (general): Late/Upper Pleistocene, California
List of taxa
Where & when
Geology
Taphonomy & methods
Metadata & references
Taxonomic list
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unclassified
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Phaeopus hudsonicus
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Mammalia
- Camelidae
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Camelops hesternus
(Leidy 1873)
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Mammalia
- Bovidae
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Bison antiquus
Leidy 1852
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Mammalia
- Perissodactyla
- Equidae
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Equus occidentalis
Leidy 1865
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| synonym of Equus (Hesperohippus) mexicanus | ||||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Teratornithidae
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Cathartornis gracilis
Miller 1910
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Teratornis merriami
Miller 1909
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Falconidae
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Polyborus prelutosus
Howard 1938
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| synonym of Caracara cheriway | ||||||||||
| subspecies prelutosus | ||||||||||
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Falco sp.
Linnaeus 1758
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Falco sparverius
Linnaeus 1758
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Falco mexicanus
Schlegel 1850
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Falco peregrinus
Tunstall 1771
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Falco columbarius
Linnaeus 1758
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
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Charadriiformes indet.
Huxley 1867
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Charadriidae
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Eupoda montana
(Townsend 1837)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| original and current combination Charadrius montanus | ||||||||||
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Oxyechus vociferus
(Linnaeus 1758)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| original and current combination Charadrius vociferus | ||||||||||
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Squatarola squatarola
(Linnaeus 1758)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Pluvialis squatarola | ||||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Laridae
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Larus ? brachyrhynchos
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Rissa ? tridactyla
Linnaeus 1758
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Scolopacidae
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Numenius americanus
Bechstein 1812
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Limnodromus griseus
(Gmelin 1789)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Totanus melanoleucus
(Gmelin 1789)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Tringa melanoleuca | ||||||||||
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Limosa ? fedoa
(Linnaeus 1758)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Capella delicata
(Ord 1825)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Gallinago delicata | ||||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Accipitridae
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Hypomorphnus fragilis
(Miller 1911)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Buteogallus fragilis | ||||||||||
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Wetmoregyps daggetti
(Miller 1915)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Buteogallus (Wetmoregyps) daggetti | ||||||||||
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Morphnus woodwardi
Miller 1911
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Circus hudsonius
(Linnaeus 1766)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Aquila chrysaetos
(Linnaeus 1758)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Haliaeetus leucocephalus
(Linnaeus 1766)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Neogyps errans
Miller 1916
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Neophrontops americanus
Miller 1916
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Accipiter striatus
Vieillot 1897
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| subspecies velox | ||||||||||
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Astur atricapillus
(Wilson 1812)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Accipiter cooperii
(Bonaparte 1828)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Buteo sp.
de Lacepède 1799
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Buteo swainsoni
Bonaparte 1838
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Buteo lagopus
(Pontoppidan 1763)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Buteo regalis
(Gray 1844)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Buteo jamaicensis
(Gmelin 1788)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Spizaetus grinnelli
(Miller 1911)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Elanus leucurus
(Vieillot 1818)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Cathartidae
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Cathartes aura
(Linnaeus 1758)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Breagyps clarki
(Miller 1910)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Gymnogyps californianus
(Shaw 1797)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Coragyps occidentalis
(Miller 1909)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Anatidae
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Chaulelasmus streperus
(Linnaeus 1758)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Mareca strepera | ||||||||||
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Spatula clypeata
(Linnaeus 1758)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Nyroca ? valisineria
(Wilson 1814)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Aythya valisineria | ||||||||||
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Nettion carolinense
(Gmelin 1789)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Anas crecca carolinensis | ||||||||||
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Anas platyrhynchos
Linnaeus 1758
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Querquedula sp.
Stephens 1826
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Cygnus columbianus
(Ord 1815)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Branta canadensis
(Linnaeus 1758)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Anabernicula miniscula
(Wetmore 1924)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| original and current combination Branta minuscula | ||||||||||
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Chen hyperborea
(Pallas 1769)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| synonym of Anser caerulescens | ||||||||||
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Anser albifrons
Scopoli 1769
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Chen ? rossi
(Cassin 1861)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Anser rossii | ||||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Podicipedidae
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Podilymbus podiceps
(Linnaeus 1758)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Aramidae
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Plegadis guarauna
(Linnaeus 1762)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Aramus guarauna | ||||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Gruidae
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Grus canadensis
(Linnaeus 1758)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Antigone canadensis | ||||||||||
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Grus americanus
(Linnaeus 1758)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Grus americana | ||||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Rallidae
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Fulica americana
Gmelin 1789
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Tytonidae
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Tyto alba
(Scopoli 1769)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Strigidae
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Speotyto cunicularia
(Molina 1782)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Athene cunicularia | ||||||||||
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Asio flammeus
(Pontoppidan 1763)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Asio wilsonianus
(Lesson 1830)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Asio otus wilsonianus | ||||||||||
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Otus asio
(Linnaeus 1758)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Megascops asio | ||||||||||
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Bubo virginianus
(Gmelin 1788)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Strix brea
Howard 1933
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Oraristrix brea | ||||||||||
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Glaucidium gnoma
Wagler 1832
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Cryptoglaux acadica
(Gmelin 1788)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Aegolius acadicus | ||||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Columbidae
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Columba fasciata
Say 1822
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Patagioenas fasciata | ||||||||||
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Ectopistes migratorius
(Linnaeus 1758)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Zenaidura macroura
(Linnaeus 1758)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Zenaida macroura | ||||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Cuculidae
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Geococcyx californianus
(Lesson 1829)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Picidae
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Colaptes cafer
(Gmelin 1788)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Colaptes auratus cafer | ||||||||||
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Ceophloeus plicatus
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Asyndesmus lewis
(Gray 1849)
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Melanerpes lewis | ||||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Tyrannidae
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Tyrannus sp.
Linnaeus 1766
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Icteridae
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Euphagus magnirostris
Miller 1929
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Icterus sp.
Brisson 1760
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Agelaius sp.
Vieillot 1816
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Sturnella neglecta
Audubon 1844
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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? Xanthocephalus sp.
Bonaparte 1850
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Corvidae
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Aphelocoma californica
(Vigors 1839)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Cyanocitta stelleri
(Gmelin 1788)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Corvus brachyrhynchos
Brehm 1822
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Corvus cryptoleucus
Couch 1854
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Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Corvus caurinus
Baird 1858
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Corvus corax
Linnaeus 1758
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Pica nuttalli
(Audubon 1837)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Mimidae
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Oreoscoptes montanus
(Townsend 1837)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Toxostoma redividum
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Laniidae
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Lanius ludovicianus
Linnaeus 1766
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Passerellidae
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Amphispiza bilineata
(Cassin 1850)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Spizella passerina
(Bechstein 1798)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Turdidae
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Sialia sp.
Swainson 1827
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Fringillidae
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Fringillidae indet.
Vigors 1825
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Spinus tristis
(Linnaeus 1758)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Spinus pinus
(Wilson 1810)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Alaudidae
|
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Otocoris alpestris
(Linnaeus 1759)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Eremophila alpestris | ||||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Ciconiidae
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Mycteria wetmorei
Howard 1935
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Ciconia maltha
Miller 1910
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Ardeidae
|
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Casmerodius albus
(Linnaeus 1758)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| original and current combination Ardea alba | ||||||||||
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Ardea herodias
Linnaeus 1758
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
|
Egretta ? thula
(Molina 1782)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
|
Florida ? caerulea
(Linnaeus 1758)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Egretta caerulea | ||||||||||
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Butorides virescens
(Linnaeus 1758)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Threskiornithidae
|
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Ajaia ajaja
(Linnaeus 1758)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| original and current combination Platalea ajaja | ||||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Colymbidae
|
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Colymbus sp.
Linnaeus 1758
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Meleagridae
|
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Parapavo californicus
(Miller 1909)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
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Reptilia
- Theropoda
- Odontophoridae
|
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Lophortyx californica
(Shaw 1798)
|
Miller and DeMay 1942 | |||||||||
| recombined as Callipepla californica | ||||||||||
| see common names | ||||||||||
Geography
| Country: | United States | State/province: | California | County: | Los Angeles |
| Coordinates: | 34.5° North, 118.2° West (view map) | ||||
| Paleocoordinates: | 34.5° North, 118.2° West |
Time
| Period: | Quaternary | Epoch: | Pleistocene |
| Stage: | Late/Upper Pleistocene | 10 m.y. bin: | Cenozoic 6 |
| Key time interval: | Late/Upper Pleistocene | ||
| Age range of interval: | 0.12900 - 0.01170 m.y. ago |
Stratigraphy
| Stratigraphy comments: Specimens at La Brea mostly range from 11,500 to 35,000 years old. One of the older pits, pit 77, has a mean calibrated age of 35,370, while a younger pit, pits 61/67, has a mean calibrated age of 11,581 before present. Many other pits fall in between these dates, however, most seem to occur between 20,000–29,000 years ago |
Lithology and environment
| Primary lithology: | black tar |
| Environment: | tar |
Taphonomy
| Modes of preservation: | body |
| Size of fossils: | macrofossils |
Collection methods and comments
| Reason for describing collection: | taxonomic analysis |
Metadata
| Database number: | 190077 | ||
| Authorizer: | M. Uhen | Enterer: | J. So, M. Uhen |
| Modifier: | P. Holroyd | ||
| Created: | 2017-11-27 14:26:50 | Last modified: | 2023-04-25 21:36:09 |
| Access level: | the public | Released: | 2017-11-27 14:26:50 |
| Creative Commons license: | CC BY |
Reference information
Primary reference:
| 63919. | D. B. Jones and L. R. G. Desantis. 2017. Dietary ecology of ungulates from the La Brea tar pits in southern California: A multi-proxy approach. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 465(15):110-127 [M. Uhen/J. So/P. Holroyd] |
Secondary references:
| 75467 | L. Miller and I. DeMay. 1942. The fossil Birds of California. University of California Publications in Zoology 47(4):47-142 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen] |