Mammals of the Ardis Local Fauna 23 



Synaptomys australis - Florida Bog Lemming 

 Material: 1 right Ml (.156). 



Remarks: This species, though morphologically similar to S. cooperi, 

 was distinguished by its significantly larger occlusal surface length of 

 3.4 mm than S. cooperi (Simpson 1928, Olsen 1958). Apparently this 

 is the first sympatric occurrence of S. cooperi and S. australis in a 

 fauna known to be contemporaneous. Both species were recovered 

 from Ladds quarry, Georgia, but may have come from strata of two 

 different ages in the deposit (Kurten and Anderson 1980). 



There has been some debate over whether or not the extinct 

 S. australis is a full species, represents a cline for greater body size, 

 or a large subspecies of S. cooperi. Their sympatric occurrence in the 

 Ardis Local Fauna suggests that they were distinct. 



This is the first fossil record of this species from South Carolina. 



Microtus pennsylvanicus - Meadow Vole 

 Material: 2 right dentaries one complete (.158) and the other containing 

 only the ml (.159); 2 left dentaries, one missing its proximal third 

 and the m3 (1 USNM), and one fragment containing only the ml 

 (.160); 2 palatines, one with right Ml and M2 along with zygomatic 

 arch (.161) and one with right Ml and the left M2 (.162). 



Remarks: The meadow vole today inhabits a wide variety of habitats 

 including upland grasslands, meadows, swamps, stream borders, salt 

 marshes, and forests (Webster et al. 1985). 



M. pennsylvanicus is commonly collected from Pleistocene sites 

 in North America (Kurten and Anderson 1980), and now occurs in the 

 Piedmont and in isolated populations near Charleston, South Carolina, 

 and Cedar Key, Florida (Webster et al. 1985, Woods et al. 1982). 

 M. pennsylvanicus does not currently occur in the vicinity of the 

 Ardis fauna. 



This is the first fossil record of this species from South Carolina. 



Microtus pinetorum - Woodland Vole 

 Material: 1 right dentary with a complete dentition (.163); 1 right ml 

 (.164); 2 left dentaries, one missing proximal third and m3 (.165), 

 one missing proximal third and m2 and m3 (.166); 1 maxilla with left 

 Ml and the right M3 (.167). 



Remarks: Identification was based on criteria established by Martin 

 and Webb (1974) and Martin (1991). The woodland vole typically 



