List of the prehistoric life of North Carolina
Appearance
This list of the prehistoric life of North Carolina contains the various prehistoric life-forms whose fossilized remains have been reported from within the US state of North Carolina.
Precambrian-Paleozoic
[edit]The Paleobiology Database records no known occurrences of Precambrian or Paleozoic fossils in North Carolina.
Mesozoic
[edit]Selected Mesozoic taxa of North Carolina
[edit]- Acesta
- Acirsa
- †Adocus
†AetosaurusIllustration of the reconstructed skeleton of the Late Triassic Aetosaurus. Othniel Charles Marsh (1895). - †Ampullina – tentative report
- †Anomia
- †Anomoeodus
- †Apatopus
- †Arca
- Architectonica
- †Arganodus
- Astarte – tentative report
- †Asteracanthus
- †Atreipus
- †Baena – tentative report
- †Baikuris – report made of unidentified related form or using admittedly obsolete nomenclature
- Barbatia
†BelemnitellaFossilized guard of the Late Cretaceous belemnoid cephalopod Belemnitella - †Borealosuchus
- †Boreogomphodon
- Botula
- †Brachymeris
- †Brachyphyllum
- Caestocorbula
- Candona
- Carcharias – tentative report
†Carnufex – type locality for genusKnown material diagram illustrating a reconstructed skull and body of the Late Triassic distant crocodilian relative Carnufex - †Carnufex carolinensis – type locality for species
- Cerithiella
- †Cimolomys
- Cladophlebis
- Cliona
- †Coahomasuchus
- †Colognathus
- Corbula
- †Crenella
†CretolamnaFossil of the Early Cretaceous-Eocene shark Cretolamna - †Crosbysaurus
- Cucullaea
- Cylichna
- †Cylindracanthus
- †Cymella
- Cyzicus
†DeinosuchusMounted fossilized skeleton of the Late Cretaceous Alligator relative Deinosuchus - Dictyocephalus – type locality for genus
- †Diplurus
- †Dreissena – tentative report
- †Dromicosuchus – type locality for genus
- †Dromicosuchus grallator – type locality for species
- †Egertonia
- †Enchodus
- †Enchodus petrosus – or unidentified comparable form
- †Equisetum
- †Estheria
†EuspiraShell of a Euspira moon sea snail - †Eutrephoceras
- †Exogyra
- Gegania
- Glycymeris
- †Gorgetosuchus – type locality for genus
- †Gorgosaurus
- †Hadrosaurus
- †Hadrosaurus minor – tentative report
†HalisaurusLife restoration of the Late Cretaceous mosasaur Halisaurus - †Hamulus
- †Hybodus
- †Hypophylloceras
- †Hypsibema – type locality for genus
- †Hypsibema crassicauda – type locality for species
- †Inoceramus
- †Ischyodus
- †Ischyodus bifurcatus – or unidentified comparable form
- †Ischyrhiza
- Isognomon
- Isurus
†Leidyosuchus – tentative reportFossilized skull of the Late Cretaceous alligator relative Leidyosuchus - †Lepidodendron
- Lima
- Limatula
- †Linearis
- †Lingula
- †Linthia
- Lopha
- †Lucasuchus
- †Lucina
- †Lytoceras
- Martesia – tentative report
- †Mecistotrachelos
- Melanatria – tentative report
- †Morea
†MosasaurusLife restoration of two of the Late Cretaceous Mosasaurus - †Neocalamites
- Nerita
- Nucula
- Odontaspis
- †Ornithomimus – tentative report
- Ostrea
- †Pagiophyllum
- †Pannaulika
- Panopea
- †Paralbula
- †Paranomia
- †Pekinosaurus – type locality for genus
- †Pekinosaurus olseni – type locality for species
- Pholadidea – tentative report
- Pholadomya
- Phyllodus
- †Pinna
- †Placenticeras – tentative report
†PlaceriasRestoration of the Late Triassic synapsid (mammal precursor) Placerias with an anachronistic human to scale - †Platecarpus
- †Plinthogomphodon – type locality for genus
- †Plinthogomphodon herpetairus – type locality for species
- Polinices
- †Postosuchus
- †Postosuchus alisonae – type locality for species
- †Prognathodon
- †Protocardia
- †Pteria – tentative report
- †Pterophyllum
- †Pterotrigonia
- Pycnodonte
- †Revueltosaurus
- †Rhombodus
†Rutiodon – type locality for genusLife restoration of the Late Triassic phytosaur Rutiodon - †Rutiodon carolinensis – type locality for species
- †Saurodon
- †Scapanorhynchus
- †Scoyenia – tentative report
- †Semionotus
- Serpula
- †Sphenodiscus
SqualicoraxLife restoration of the Late Cretaceous shark Squalicorax - Squatina
- †Stegomus
- †Stephanodus
- †Tanytrachelos – type locality for genus
- †Tanytrachelos ahynis – type locality for species
- Trachycardium
- Trichotropis
- †Trigonia – tentative report
- Trionyx
- Turritella
†TylosaurusRestoration of the Late Cretaceous mosasaur Tylosaurus - †Uatchitodon
- †Uatchitodon schneideri – type locality for species
- †Williamsonia
- †Xiphactinus
- †Zamites
Cenozoic
[edit]Selected Cenozoic taxa of North Carolina
[edit]- Abies
- †Abies
- †Abra
- Acanthocybium
†Acanthocybium solandriA living Acanthocybium solandri, or wahoo
- †Acantholambrus
- †Acarinina
- Acipenser
- Acrosterigma
- Acteocina
- †Actinocyclus
- Aequipecten
- Aesopus
AetobatusA living Aetobatus eagle ray - Agaronia
- Agassizia
- Agatrix
- †Albertocetus – type locality for genus
- Alca
- †Alca torda – or unidentified related form
- Alnus
- Alopias
- Alosa
- †Alosa sapidissima – or unidentified comparable form
AluterusA living Aluterus filefish - †Ambrosia
- Americardia
- Ammodytes
- Amusium
- †Anabernicula
- Anachis
- Anadara
- Anas
- †Anas acuta
- †Anas americana
†Anas clypeataA living Spatula clypeata, or northern shoveler - †Anas discors
- †Anas platyrhynchos
- Angulus
- Anisotremus
- Anodontia
- Anomia
- †Anomotodon
- Anser
Apalone – or unidentified comparable formA living Apalone softshell turtle - †Araeodelphis
- Arbacia
- Arca
- Architectonica
- †Archosargus
- †Archosargus probatocephalus – or unidentified comparable form
- Arcinella
- Ardea
- †Ardea cinerea – or unidentified related form
- Argopecten
- Argyrotheca
- †Artemisia
- Artena
- Astarte
- Astyris
- Athleta
†Atocetus – or unidentified related formFossilized skull of the Miocene dolphin Atocetus - Atrina
- †Aturia
- †Auroracetus – type locality for genus
- Auxis
- Axelella
- Aythya
- †Aythya affinis – or unidentified related form
- Bagre
- Balaena
- Balaenoptera
†BalaenulaMounted fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene whale Balaenula - Balanophyllia
- Balanus
- Balearica – tentative report
- Barbatia
- Barnea
- †Basilotritus
- †Belosaepia
- Betula
- Bittium
- †Bohaskaia
- Boonea
- †Bootherium
- Boreotrophon – report made of unidentified related form or using admittedly obsolete nomenclature
†BorophagusRestoration of two of the Miocene-Pliocene bone-crushing dog genus Borophagus preying on a camel. Jay Matternes (1964). - †Borophagus dudleyi – or unidentified comparable form
- †Borophagus orc – or unidentified comparable form
- Bostrycapulus
- Botrychium
- †Botrychium dissectum – or unidentified comparable form
- †Botryococcus
- Brachidontes
- Branta
- †Branta bernicla – or unidentified related form
- †Brasenia
- Brotula
- Buccella
- Bucephala
- †Bucephala albeola – or unidentified related form
- †Bucephala clangula – or unidentified related form
- Bulweria – tentative report
- †Burnhamia
- Busycon
- †Busycon carica
†Busycon contrariumShell in multiple views of a Busycon contrarium whelk - †Busycon perversum
- Busycotypus
- Buteo
- Cadulus
- Caecum
†CalappiliaFossilized carapace of the Paleocene-Miocene crab Calappilia - Calidris
- †Calidris melanotos – or unidentified related form
- Callinectes
- Calliostoma
- Callista
- †Callophoca
- Calonectris
- †Calonectris borealis – or unidentified related form
- †Calonectris diomedea – or unidentified related form
- Calotrophon
- Calyptraea
CancellariaModern shell of a Cancellaria nutmeg snail - Capella
- †Capella media – or unidentified related form
- Carcharhinus
- Carcharias
- Carcharodon
- †Carcharodon carcharias
†Carcharodon hastalisFossilized tooth of the Miocene-Pliocene shark Cosmopolitodus hastalis, or broad-toothed mako
- Carditamera
- Caretta
- Carya
- Cassidulina
- †Cassigerinella
- Cassis
- Castanea
- Catharacta
- †Caulolatilus
- †Caulolatilus cyanops – or unidentified comparable form
- †Cavilucina
- Centropristis
- †Centropristis striata – or unidentified comparable form
- Cerastoderma
CeratoscopelusIllustration of a living Ceratoscopelus lanternfish - Cerithiopsis
- Cerithium
- Cerodrillia – report made of unidentified related form or using admittedly obsolete nomenclature
- †Cerorhinca
- Cetorhinus
†CetotheriumLife restoration of the Miocene-Pliocene whale Cetotherium - Chaetopleura
- Chama
- Chamelea
- Chelonia – tentative report
- Chelonibia
- Chemnitzia
- †Chesapecten
- Chilomycterus
†Chilomycterus schoepfiA living Chilomycterus schoepfi, or striped burrfish - †Chilomycterus schoepfii
- Chione
- Chlamys
- Chrysemys
- Cibicides
- Ciconia
- Cidaris
- Circulus – report made of unidentified related form or using admittedly obsolete nomenclature
CitharichthysA living Citharichthys large-tooth flounder - Cladocora
- †Cladogramma
- Clathrodrillia – report made of unidentified related form or using admittedly obsolete nomenclature
- Clathrus
- Clavatula
- †Clavicula
- Clavilithes – or unidentified comparable form
- Clavus – report made of unidentified related form or using admittedly obsolete nomenclature
- †Claytonia – type locality for genus
- Cliona – tentative report
- Closia
- Cochliolepis
CoelopleurusA Coelopleurus sea urchin - Colubraria
- †Colymboides – tentative report
- Compsodrillia
- Concavus
- Conger
- †Conger oceanicus – or unidentified comparable form
- Conus
- Corbicula
- Corbula
- Corvus
†Corvus ossifragus – or unidentified related formA living Corvus ossifragus, or fish crow
- †Corylus
- †Coscinodiscus
- †Cosmodiscus
- Cotonopsis
- Crania
- †Craspedodiscus
- Crassispira
- Crassostrea
- †Crenatocetus – type locality for genus
- Crenella
- Crepidula
- Crucibulum
- Cumingia
†CuvieroniusLife restoration of the Pliocene-Holocene elephant relative Cuvieronius - Cyclocardia
- Cygnus
- †Cygnus columbianus – or unidentified related form
- Cylichna
- †Cylindracanthus
- Cymatium
- †Cymatosira
- Cymatosyrinx
- Cynoscion
- †Cynoscion nebulosus – or unidentified comparable form
†CynthiacetusMounted fossilized skeleton of the Eocene whale Cynthiacetus - Cypraea
- Dasyatis
- †Dasyatis americana – or unidentified comparable form
- †Dasyatis centroura
- †Dasyatis say
- †Deinosuchus
- Delphinapterus
- Delphinus
DentaliumShell of a Dentalium tusk shell - †Denticula
- Dentimargo
- Dermomurex
- †Dictyocha
- †Didianema
- Dinocardium
- Diodora
- †Distephanus
- Distorsio
- Donax
- Dosinia
- Echinocardium
- Echinorhinus
- †Ecphora
- †Ectopistes
†Ectopistes migratorius – or unidentified related formTaxidermied male Ectopistes migratorius, or passenger pigeon
- Electra
- Elphidium
- Emarginula
- Ensis
- Epinephelus
- Epitonium
- Equetus
- Ervilia
- Erycina
- Eudocimus
- Eulima
- Eupleura
EuspiraShell of a Euspira moon sea snail - †Eutrephoceras
- Euvola
- Fabella
- Fasciolaria
- Fenimorea
- †Ficopsis
- Ficus
- Flabellum
- Fratercula
†Fratercula arctica – or unidentified related formA living Fratercula arctica, or Atlantic puffin - †Fratercula cirrhata – or unidentified related form
- †Fraxinus
- Fulgurofusus
- Fusinus
- Gadus
- †Gadus morhua – or unidentified comparable form
- Galeocerdo
- †Galeocerdo contortus
- †Galeocerdo cuvier – or unidentified comparable form
- Galeodea
- Galeorhinus
†Galeorhinus galeusA living Galeorhinus galeus school shark
- Gari
- Gastrochaena
- Gavia
- Gemma
- Geochelone
- Geodia
- †Gigantostrea
- Ginglymostoma
GlobicephalaA living Globicephala, or pilot whale - Globigerina
- Globigerinoides
- Glossus
- Glycymeris
- Glyphostoma
- Glyphoturris
- Glyptoactis
†GomphotheriumMounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene-Pleistocene elephant relative Gomphotherium - Granulina
- Grus
- †Grus americana – or unidentified related form
- †Grus antigone – or unidentified related form
- †Gryphoca
- †Hadrosaurus
- Haematopus
- †Haematopus ostralegus – or unidentified related form
- †Haematopus palliatus – or unidentified related form
- Haustator – tentative report
- Heilprinia
- †Heliornis
- †Heliornis fulica – or unidentified related form
†Hemiauchenia – or unidentified comparable formFossilized lower jaw of the Miocene-Pleistocene llama relative Hemiauchenia - Hemipristis
- †Hemirhabdorhynchus
- †Herpetocetus
- Heterodontus
- Hexanchus
- Hiatella
- Histrionicus
- †Histrionicus histrionicus – or unidentified related form
- †Homiphoca
- Hyalina
- †Hyalodiscus
- Hydroides – tentative report
- †Hypogaleus
- Ilyanassa
- Ischadium
IsistiusA modern Isistius dogfish - Isoetes
- Isognomon
- Istiophorus
- Isurus
- Ithycythara
- Juniperus
- †Juniperus virginiana – or unidentified comparable form
- †Kellum
†KentriodonLife restoration of the Oligocene-Miocene dolphin Kentriodon - Kogia – or unidentified comparable form
- †Kogiopsis – or unidentified comparable form
- Kuphus
- Kurtziella
- †Kyptoceras
- Laevicardium
- Lagena
LagenorhynchusLiving Lagenorhynchus dolphins - †Lagodon
- †Lagodon rhomboides – or unidentified comparable form
- Lamna
- Larus
- †Larus argentatus – or unidentified related form
- †Larus atricilla – or unidentified related form
- †Larus delawarensis – or unidentified related form
- †Larus minutus – or unidentified related form
- Leiostomus
LepidochelysA living Lepidochelys, or ridley sea turtle - Limaria
- Linga
- †Linthia
- Liquidambar
- Littoraria
- Littorina
- †Lonicera
- Lophius
†Lophius americanus – or unidentified comparable formMounted skeleton of a Lophius americanus, or American anglerfish
- †Lophocetus – or unidentified related form
- Lopholatilus
- Lucina
- Lyria
- Macoma
- Macrocallista
- †Macromphalina
- Makaira
- †Mammut
†Mammut americanumRestoration of a Mammut americanum, or American mastodon
- Manta
- Maretia
- Marginella
- Megachasma
- Megalops
- †Megalops atlanticus – or unidentified comparable form
- Megaptera
- †Meherrinia – type locality for genus
- †Meherrinia isoni – type locality for species
- Meiocardia
- Melanella
- Melanitta
- †Melanitta nigra – or unidentified related form
- †Melanitta perspicillata – or unidentified related form
- Melanogrammus
- †Melanogrammus aeglefinus – or unidentified comparable form
- Meleagris
- Menippe – tentative report
- Mercenaria
- Meretrix
- Mergus
†Mergus serrator – or unidentified related formA living Mergus serrator, or red-breasted merganser
- Merluccius
- †Merluccius albidus
- †Merluccius bilinearis – or unidentified comparable form
- Mesoplodon
- Metulella
- Microgadus
- †Microgadus tomcod – or unidentified comparable form
- Micropogonias
- Mitra
- Mitrella
- Mobula
- Modiolus
- Mola
Monodon – or unidentified comparable formA living Monodon monoceros, or narwhal - Morus
- Muellerina
- Mulinia
- Musculus
- Mustelus
- †Mya
- Mycteroperca
- Myliobatis
- Myriophyllum
- Mytilus
†NannippusPartial fossilized mandible of the Miocene-Pliocene horse Nannippus - †Nanosiren – tentative report
- Nassarius
- Naticarius
- †Navicula
- Negaprion
- †Neohipparion
Neophrontops – tentative reportMounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene Neophrontops - Neverita
- Niso
- †Nitzschia
- Niveria
- Notorynchus
- Nucula
- Numenius
- †Numenius borealis – or unidentified related form
- †Nuphar
- Nymphaea
- †Nyssa
- Odontaspis
†Odontaspis feroxA living Odontaspis ferox, or smalltooth sand tiger
- Odostomia
- Oliva
- Olivella
- Onoba
- †Ontocetus – type locality for genus
- †Ontocetus emmonsi – type locality for species
- Oocorys
- Ophidion
- †Opsanus
- Ortalis – tentative report
- †Orycterocetus
- †Osmunda
- Ostrea
- Ostrya
- †Otodus
†Otodus megalodonDiagram 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
- Pachyptila
- Pagrus
- Pandion
- Pandora
- Panopea
- Paragaleus
- †Paralia
- Paralichthys
- †Parotodus
- Parvanachis
- Pecten
- †Pediastrum
- †Pediomeryx
†PelagornisLife restoration of the Oligocene-Pleistocene false-toothed bird Pelagornis - Pelecanus
- †Pelecanus schreiberi – type locality for species
- Perotrochus
- Petaloconchus
- Petricola
- Phalacrocorax
- Phalium
- †Phocageneus – or unidentified related form
- †Phocanella
- †Phoebastria
- †Phoebastria albatrus – or unidentified related form
- †Phoebastria immutabilis – or unidentified related form
- †Phoebastria nigripes – or unidentified related form
PhoenicopterusTwo Phoenicopterus, or flamingos - Pholadomya
- Phyllonotus
- Physeter – or unidentified comparable form
- †Physeterula – or unidentified comparable form
- Picea
- †Pinguinus
- †Pinguinus alfrednewtoni – type locality for species
- Pinna – tentative report
- Pinus
- †Pinus palustris – or unidentified comparable form
- Pisania
- Pitar
- Placopecten
- †Placopecten magellanicus – or unidentified related form
- †Platyphoca
†Plesiocetus – or unidentified comparable formFossilized vertebra of the Miocene-Pleistocene baleen whale Plesiocetus - Pleurofusia
- Pleuromeris
- Pleurotomaria
- Plicatula
- Pluvialis
- †Pluvialis squatarola – or unidentified related form
- Podiceps
- Pogonias
- †Pogonias cromis – or unidentified comparable form
- Polinices
- Polydora
- Polygireulima
- Polygonum
- Polymesoda
- Pomatomus
†PontederiaLiving Pontederia pickerel weeds - Pontoporia – or unidentified comparable form
- Populus
- †Potamogeton
- Prionotus
- †Prionotus evolans – or unidentified comparable form
- Pristiophorus
- Pristis
- Procellaria
- †Procellaria aequinoctialis – or unidentified comparable form
- †Procellaria parkinsoni – or unidentified comparable form
- †Procolpochelys
- †Protosiren
- Prunum
- Psammechinus
- †Psephophorus
†PseudhipparionReplica of a fossilized cranium of the Miocene horse Pseudhipparion - Pseudochama
- Pseudorca
- Pseudotorinia
- Pteria
- Pterodroma
- †Pterodromoides
- Pteromeris
- Pteromylaeus
PterothrissusIllustration of a living Pterothrissus gissu, or Japanese gissu - †Ptychosalpinx
- Puffinus
- †Puffinus gravis – or unidentified related form
- †Puffinus lherminieri
- †Puffinus pacificoides – or unidentified related form
- †Puffinus puffinus – or unidentified comparable form
- †Puffinus tenuirostris – or unidentified related form
- Pugnus
- Puncturella
- Purpura
- Purpurellus
- Pusula
- Pycnodonte
- Pyramidella
- †Quadrans
QuercusA living Quercus, or oak tree - Raja
- Rangia
- Ranina – type locality for genus
- Ranunculus
- Retilaskeya
- Rhincodon
- Rhinobatos
- Rhinoptera
- Rhizoprionodon – tentative report
- Rhynchobatus
†RhynchotheriumRestoration of the Miocene-Pliocene elephant relative Rhynchotherium - Ringicula
- Rissoina
- †Robinia – type locality for genus
- Rosalina
- Sagittaria
- †Sanguisorba
- †Sarda
- †Sarda sarda – or unidentified related form
†Scaldicetus – or unidentified comparable formFossilized teeth of the Neogene sperm whale Scaldicetus - Scaphella
- Schizaster
- Sciaenops
- †Scoliodon
- Sconsia
- †Scutella
- Scyliorhinus
- Seila
- Semele
- Semicassis
SeriolaA living Seriola, or amberjack - Serpulorbis
- †Sheldonia – type locality for genus
- Siliqua
- Sinum
- Siphonalia
- Siphonochelus
- Solariella
- Solen
- Solenosteira
- Somateria
†Somateria mollissima – or unidentified related formA living Somateria mollissima, or common eider
- Sphagnum
- †Sphoeroides
- Sphyraena
- †Sphyraena barracuda – or unidentified comparable form
- Sphyrna
- †Sphyrna lewini
- †Sphyrna media – or unidentified comparable form
- †Sphyrna zygaena
- Spisula
- Spondylus
†SqualodonLife restoration of the Oligocene-Miocene shark-toothed dolphin Squalodon - Squalus
- Squatina
- Stellatoma – report made of unidentified related form or using admittedly obsolete nomenclature
- †Stelletta
- Stenella
- †Stenotomus chrysops – or unidentified comparable form
- Stercorarius
- †Stercorarius longicaudus – or unidentified related form
- †Stercorarius parasiticus – or unidentified related form
- †Stercorarius pomarinus – or unidentified related form
- Sterna
†Sterna maxima – or unidentified related formA living Thalasseus maximus, or royal tern - †Sterna nilotica – or unidentified related form
- Stewartia
- †Striatolamia
- Strioterebrum
- Strombiformis
- Strombina
- Strombus
- †Syllomus
- Symphurus
- Syntomodrillia
- Tagelus
TapirusA living Tapirus, or tapir - Tautoga
- †Tautoga onitis – or unidentified comparable form
- Taxodium
- Tectonatica
- Teinostoma
- Tellina
TenagodusShell in multiple views of a Tenagodus sea snail - Terebra
- Terebratula
- †Tetraedron
- †Tetrapturus
- Thais
- †Thalassinoides
- †Thalassiosira
- †Thalictrum
†ThecachampsaFossilized skeleton of the Oligocene-Miocene gavial relative Thecachampsa - Thracia
- Thunnus
- Timoclea
- Trachycardium
- †Triaenodon
†Triaenodon obesusA living Triaenodon obesus, or whitetip reef shark
- Trigonostoma
- †Trinacria
- Tringa
- †Tringa ochropus – or unidentified related form
- Trionyx
- Triphora
- Trochita
- Tucetona
- Turbo
- Turbonilla
- Turritella
TursiopsA living Tursiops, or bottlenose dolphin - Typha
- Typhis
- Urophycis
- Urosalpinx
- Vasum
- Venericardia
- Vermicularia
- †Vermicularia knorrii – or unidentified comparable form
- †Vermicularia spirata
- Verticordia
- Vexillum
- †Viburnum
- Viviparus – tentative report
- Volutifusus
- Volvarina
- Xenophora
†XiphiacetusFossilized skeleton of the Miocene whale Xiphiacetus - Xiphias
- †Xiphiorhynchus
- Yoldia
- Ziphius
- †Ziphius cavirostris – or unidentified comparable form
References
[edit]- Various Contributors to the Paleobiology Database. "Fossilworks: Gateway to the Paleobiology Database". Retrieved 17 December 2021.