The Bog Lemming from the Pleistocene of Florida

Abstract

Although the southern bog lemming is not indigenous to Florida at the present time, remains of an extinct species belonging to the genus Synaptomys have been known for over two decades. Simpson (1928) established the new species australis, using a lower jaw which was collected from the Pleistocene deposit of Saber-tooth Cave, as a basis for his type description. Additional material of this same species turned up in excavations of the Pleistocene beds of Seminole Field (Simpson, 1929; Cooke and Mossom, 1928). Pierce Brodkorb, of the University of Florida, was responsible for bringing to the attention of the writer numerous specimens of this heretofore rare form. These specimens were collected from the rich cave deposits near Reddick, Florida, and an isolated lower jaw was also collected from a newly reported sinkhole near Arrendondo, Florida—this last in association with a typical Florida Pleistocene fauna. The southernmost range...