Mammals of the Ardis Local Fauna 13 



canine (.229); 1 partial maxilla with P3 and Ml and partial zygomatic 

 arch (.231); 2 canines (.232, .233); 1 left dentary with p3 and ml 

 (.230); 1 left dentary with alveoli p2-m2 (.234); 1 left dentary (in the 

 private collection of Lee Hudson, Florence, S.C.); 2 right ulnae (.235, 

 .236); 1 thoracic vertebra (.237); 1 lumbar vertebra (.238); 1 right 3rd 

 metatarsal (.239); 1 left 2nd metatarsal (.240); 1 rib (.241). 



Remarks: Mink remains are generally uncommon in Pleistocene deposits 

 (Kurten and Anderson 1980), but it was the most common carnivore 

 at the Ardis site. This abundance might be explained by its relatively 

 small size and ability to enter cavities that may have excluded larger 

 carnivores. Mink may have also been attracted to favored prey items, 

 in particular a large muskrat population which was using the cavities 

 for various reasons. Muskrats are commonly fed upon by mink, and 

 during certain times of the year, depending on availability, make up 

 the bulk of their diet (Proulx et al. 1987). Mink are good indicators of 

 nearby bodies of water and are found in a variety of habitats bordering 

 water including rivers and streams, swamps, drainage ditches, marshes, 

 and lakes (Webster et al. 1985). Mink are not abundant in South 

 Carolina today, although they probably occur in the area of the Ardis 

 site. 



This is the first reported fossil record of this species from South 

 Carolina. 



Family Procyonidae 

 Subfamily Procyoninae 

 Procyon lotor - Raccoon 

 Material: 1 left dentary with m3 present and ml alveoli (.255); 1 left 

 dentary with p4-m2 alveoli (.256); 1 left ml (.257); 1 right proximal 

 end of dentary with m2 alveoli (.258); 1 left humerus shaft with 

 partial distal end (.259); 1 left humerus distal end (.260); 1 right ulna 

 proximal end (.261); 1 right humerus partial distal end (.263); 1 radius 

 distal half (.262). 



Remarks: The distribution of the raccoon is from Panama north through 

 Mexico and the United States into the central portions of Canada 

 (Hall 1981). Its habitat is ubiquitous, but is generally in or near 

 forested wetlands such as stream and river bottoms, marshes, swamps, 

 ponds, and lakes as well as upland and agricultural areas (Webster et 

 al. 1985). Fossil remains of P. lotor are generally common in the 

 United States during the late Pleistocene, especially in sinkhole and 

 cave deposits (Kurten and Anderson 1980). The first South Carolina 

 fossil of the raccoon was reported from Edisto Island (Roth and Laerm 



