St. Marks River Fauna 25 



Synaptomys australis Simpson 

 Florida Bog Lemming 



Material— Left mandible with M b UF21295. 



Remarks — The specimen referred to in Gillette's (1976b) review 

 of the St. Marks River is the only record of this species at the site. 

 In Florida it is known primarily from Sangamonian and 

 Wisconsinan assemblages, although elsewhere it is known from the 

 Illinoian through the Wisconsinan (Kurten and Anderson 1980). Its 

 presence at Devils Den suggests it might have persisted until about 

 8,000 years B.P. (Martin and Webb 1974), although this radiocarbon 

 date is considered suspect. The Florida bog lemming is similar 

 morphologically to S. cooperi, the northern bog lemming, but differs 

 considerably in size; it is about 35% larger than S. cooperi. Kurten 

 and Anderson (1980) suggest it might represent a clinal variate of S. 

 cooperi. It was an inhabitant of moist bogs and damp meadows (Burt 

 1928). 



Order Carnivora 

 cf. Order Carnivora, gen. et sp. indet. 

 Material— A left coronoid, UGAMNH1881. 



Remarks — This specimen, though carnivore-like, could not be identified 

 to the familial level. 



Family Mustelidae 

 Mustela sp. indet. 

 cf. Weasel 

 Material— A single left humerus, UGAMNH1738 and right P 3 , 

 UGAMNH1736. 



Remarks — Two species of weasel, Mustela frenata and M. vison, 

 are common to the region today. Both are known from the 

 Irvingtonian to Recent and are represented in regional fossil sites 

 (Webb 1974a). However, fossil weasels have been reported from very 

 few sites in Florida (Martin 1974, Webb 1974a). 



Lutra canadensis (Shreber) 

 River Otter 

 Material— Left humerus, UGAMNH1741. 



Remarks — This material compares well to modern Lutra 

 canadensis. The stratigraphic range includes early Irvingtonian to Recent, 

 and the species is represented in numerous regional sites (Kurten 

 and Anderson 1980). The species occurs in woodlands near rivers 

 and streams but is also known from tidal creeks and marshlands 

 (Lowery 1974). 



