Late Quaternary Herpetofauna 



97 



Fig. 5. Right ilium in lateral view of Rana pipiens group frog (USNM 404736) 

 from Unit W3. Line equals 5 mm. 



frCTBBSjWgSM 



■\'y-:M:Z 



{g^T»y/roWtoWa;y«^ 



Fig. 6. Third right costal in dorsal view of Chrysemys picta Schneider (USNM 

 404721) from Unit W2 (?) or W4 (?). Line equals 10 mm. 



Deposits associated with the early history of Lake Totten (ca. 

 14,000 to 12,000 B.P.) include ostracods, pelecypods, gastropods, fish, 

 and mammal remains as well as those of Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, 

 Bufo woodhousei fowled, Chelydra serpentina, and (?) Chrysemys picta. 

 Most of the aquatic fauna of Lake Totten probably was residual from 

 that of the Saltville River, although the change in local hydrology 

 caused a shift in the dominant taxa and altered the collecting bias of the 

 depositional environment. The kinds of turtles represented are compati- 

 ble with the postulated lake environment, and the remains of Fowler's 

 Toad could easily have been deposited following death in or alongside 

 the lake. The environmental implication of the Hellbender is more 

 equivocal; it could have occupied a spring-fed brook entering Lake Tot- 

 ten near SV-1 (as does a small stream today), or it could represent feed- 

 ing residue dropped by a predator or scavenger. The middle and upper 

 parts of Unit W2 yield very few faunal remains. The reasons for this are 

 unclear, but could include any or all of the following: change in water 

 quality, water level fluctuation, and infilling of Lake Totten near SV-1. 



