A Late Pleistocene Vertebrate Assemblage from 
Edisto Island, South Carolina 
Janet A. Roth 
Department of Geology, 
University of Georgia 
AND 
Joshua Laerm 1 
. Museum of Natural History, 
University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia 30602 
ABSTRACT. — Edisto Island, South Carolina, was discovered as a ver- 
tebrate fossil locality during the early 1900s. Fossils collected by 
amateurs and professionals comprise an extensive, predominantly Late 
Pleistocene assemblage (approximately 10,000 to 120,000 years B. P.). 
The 37 genera present represent 9 orders of mammals and 3 orders of 
reptiles. Although the fossiliferous rock unit(s) from which the ver- 
tebrate material is derived remains unidentified, original deposition is 
considered to be alluvial and extensive regionally. The fauna gives 
evidence of a nearshore environment, including streams and marshes, 
and adjacent open savannah with scattered wooded areas. Several 
species, including the giant tortoise, Geochelone, indicate a probable 
frost-free climate. In additon, the occurence of Palaeolama mirifica, 
Glyptotherium floridanum, and Geochelone sp. at Edisto, extends the 
known geographic range of these species 322 kilometers (200 miles) 
northward. 
INTRODUCTION 
Terrestrial Pleistocene biostratigraphic zones are most clearly 
defined in western North America, and the mammal ages that serve as 
subdivisions within the Pleistocene are based on faunas from classic 
western localities (Fig. 1). In addition, the geologic ranges of many 
Pleistocene vertebrate species have been determined predominantly on 
the basis of their western occurrences (Hibbard 1958). 
In contrast to the relatively clear picture of western North America, 
Pleistocene vertebrate paleontology in the southeastern United States is 
less well defined, and correlation with western localities has proved dif- 
ficult (Hay 1923; Simpson 1929a; Hibbard 1958). However, Webb (1974) 
argued that the western mammal ages can be extended to include Florida. 
In all probability, the same applies to the rest of the Southeast. 
Recently, interest in the Pleistocene vertebrates of the Southeast has 
increased, and several important contributions have been made. These 
include Webb’s (1974) summary of the Florida Pleistocene, a substantial 
'Address for correspondence and reprint requests. 
Brimleyana No. 3: 1-29 July 1980. 
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