24 C. C. Bentley, J. L. Knight, and M. A. Knoll 



inhabits woodland and old-field habitats and is well known for build- 

 ing extensive shallow tunnels (Webster et al. 1985). M. pinetorum 

 can be found throughout South Carolina and is common in the pine 

 forests of the South and in eastern deciduous forests (Kurten and 

 Anderson 1980). 



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



Subfamily Sigmodontinae 

 Oryzomys palustris. - Marsh Rice Rat 

 Material: 1 left dentary lacking dentition (.175). 



Remarks: Identification was based on several features, including 

 double rooted molars, mental foramen at base of Ml, diastema short 

 and robust (compared to Peromyscus), anterior root of Ml ventral and 

 offset from other roots, foramen next to M3 much larger than Peromyscus, 

 and over-all size correlation to Oryzomys, and direct comparisons to 

 recent specimens. 



The marsh rice rat inhabits marshlands, meadows, and wet grass- 

 lands on the Coastal Plain of South Carolina and has been recorded 

 along a mountain stream in South Carolina (Webster et al. 1985). 



This specimen represents the first fossil record of this species 

 from the State. 



Peromyscus sp. 

 Material: 1 right dentary containing only the incisor (.168). 



Remarks: Identification was based on the alveolar length of the tooth 

 row, and similarities in morphology and size when compared to recent 

 Peromyscus. The tooth row is longer than that of Reithrodontomys. 



Several species of Peromyscus inhabit the northwestern portion 

 of South Carolina. P. gossypinus, the largest member of this genus 

 inhabiting the State, is the only species of Peromyscus that can be 

 found today in the area of the Ardis site. The robustness of the fossil 

 specimen suggests this species, but, given the presence of numerous 

 extralimital species in the fauna, it is not possible to assign the fossil 

 to a particular species of Peromyscus with any certainty. 



Neotoma floridana - Eastern Woodrat 

 Material: 1 left Ml (.169); 1 right innominate bone (.170). 



Remarks: Woodrats are notorious collectors of natural history ob- 

 jects. Apparent rarity of this species in the Ardis local fauna notwith- 



