Stratigraphy, mammalian paleontology, paleoecology, and age correlation of the Wasatch Formation, Fossil Butte National Monument, Wyoming

Abstract

Fieldwork conducted in the Wasatch Formation in and around Fossil Butte has yielded a diverse assemblage of early Eocene vertebrates. Fossil vertebrates are distributed through three discrete stratigraphic intervals within the uppermost 180 m of the main body of the Wasatch Formation underlying the Green River Formation. These assemblages were derived primarily from fluvial overbank mudstone units overprinted with variably well-developed paleosols. The lowest (20 m) and highest (60 m) sections are characterized by less mature and more hydromorphic paleosols, whereas the middle section (100 m) is typified by more mature paleosols and more abundant channel sandstones.

The combined assemblages contain at least 46 species of mammals. Faunal characteristics include high abundances of equid perissodactyls and a relatively high abundance and diversity of notharctines primates, an apparent absence of omomyid primates, relatively high rodent diversity, and relatively diverse and abundant artiodactyls. One new genus (Eoictops new genus) and three new species (Eoictops novaceki new species, Palaeosinopa lacus new species, and ?Notoparamys blochi new species) are included in the Fossil Butte assemblage. Also recorded are late occurrences of two hyopsodontid condylarths and an early occurrence of a rare phenacodontid condylarth. The relatively high abundances of equids and notharctines suggest that vertebrate samples were derived from relatively open paleohabitats that included forested areas along water courses.

All three assemblages contain characteristic Lysitean (Wasatchian biochron Wa-6) elements, but the occurrence of the palaeotheriid perissodactyl Lambdotherium in the uppermost horizon indicates a Lostcabinian (Wa-7) age for at least the top of the Wasatch Formation. The overlying predominantly fish-bearing Fossil Butte Member of the Green River Formation also contains Lambdotherium and is therefore Wa-7 in age as well.

Introduction

Fossil vertebrates from Fossil Butte National Monument (FBNM), Wyoming were first discovered in the mid-1800s (Leidy, 1856; Hayden, 1871). Thinly bedded micrite layers in the lacustrine Green River Formation in the central part of Fossil Basin have produced an amazing variety of fish, crocodylians, turtles, birds, rare mammals, and invertebrates (including ostracodes, decapods, gastropods, pelecypods, and insects) (Grande, 1984, 2001, 2013; Buchheim, 1994; Buchheim and Eugster, 1998; Buchheim et al., 2011). Despite numerous reports on the paleontology of aquatic vertebrate assemblages in the Green River Formation (particularly the fish; e.g., Leidy, 1856; Thorpe, 1938; Grande, 1984, 2013; Grande and Bemis, 1998), little attention has been given to fossils in the alluvial strata with which the lacustrine beds are interstratified.

This study documents the mammalian faunal assemblage of the Eocene Wasatch Formation in the area of Fossil Butte collected by a joint Albion College-University of Michigan-University of Alberta expedition in conjunction with Fossil Butte National Monument. These fossils are important as they provide insight into the ecology and environment of the lowlands adjacent to Fossil Lake during the early Eocene. Additionally, they provide well-defined age constraints on Eocene fluvial-lacustrine strata in Fossil Basin and firmly establish the middle to late early Eocene age (Wa-6–Wa-7) of the Wasatch Formation (Gingerich, 2001; Gunnell et al., 2009).

Geologic setting

Eocene strata at Fossil Butte National Monument were deposited in Fossil Basin, a small, north-south trending, structurally controlled sedimentary basin within the Wyoming Overthrust Belt (Fig. 1). Fossils mammals reported here were recovered from the uppermost 180 m of the main body of the Wasatch Formation (Fig. 2), which stratigraphically underlies the Fossil Butte Member of the Green River Formation (Oriel and Tracy, 1970). In Fossil Basin, the Wasatch Formation consists primarily of brightly variegated mudstone with subordinate interbedded siltstone, sandstone, and conglomerate (Hayden, 1869; Oriel and Tracy, 1970) and represents deposition on an intermontane alluvial plain (Oriel and Tracy, 1970; Zonneveld et al., 2006).

Figure 1 Map showing fossil vertebrate localities and measured sections in the Wasatch Formation at Fossil Butte National Monument, Lincoln County, southwestern Wyoming.

Figure 2 Composite measured sections at Fossil Butte National Monument and stratigraphic distribution of important Fossil Butte (FB) fossil localities. Sections were measured in the three main areas of Wasatch outcrop exposure: (1) near the historic quarry trail on the south face of Fossil Butte (Quarry); (2) through the valley on the north side of Fossil Butte (Valley Wall, Valley Center); and (3) near the head of Chicken Creek (arrow indicates position of Chicken Creek section below Valley section). General locations of composite sections are shown on Figure 1.

Distribution of vertebrate fossils in the Wasatch Formation

Eocene vertebrates are well known from Fossil Basin. Most of these fossils come from the Green River Formation (Grande, 1984, 2001, 2013); however, fossil vertebrates are also known from the Wasatch and Fowkes formations (Gazin, 1952, 1961, 1962; Nelson, 1973).

Within the Wasatch Formation at FBNM, vertebrate fossils are known only from the lower member, main body, and Bullpen Member. A single tooth of the condylarth Meniscotherium cf. M. robustum was collected from the lower member near the northwestern margin of the Monument. Fish bones and scales (Asineops and Lepisosteus), common in the Green River Formation, also occur in the lower and Bullpen members.

Fossil vertebrates are considerably more common in the main body of the Wasatch Formation in and around FBNM. Small faunal assemblages have been described from Knight Station (near Evanston), Elk Mountain (~20 km south of FBNM) and from the Monument itself (Hayden, 1869; Cope, 1872, 1873; Gazin, 1952, 1961, 1962). Recent fieldwork at FBNM has resulted in a diverse collection of mammal fossils from 29 localities in the 180 m of the main body of the Wasatch Formation (Fig. 1, Table 1).

Table 1 Wasatch Formation mammalian faunal list – Fossil Butte National Monument.

Materials and methods

Repositories and institutional abbreviations

Most of the fossil materials described in this paper are housed and cataloged at storage facilities of the National Park Service, Fossil Butte National Monument, near Kemmerer, Wyoming, USA (FBF = old Fossil Butte catalog number; FOBU = new Fossil Butte catalog number). Those few specimens not housed at Fossil Butte can be found in the collections at the University of Michigan, Museum of Paleontology, Ann Arbor (UM); the United States National Museum, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC (USNM); or the Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History, Princeton Collection, Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut, USA (YPM-PU).

Systematic paleontology

Nomenclature abbreviations

Wa = Wasatchian biochronologic zone; FB = Fossil Butte field number (for specimen references); FB = University of Michigan Fossil Butte field locality (for locality references). Lower teeth are indicated by a lowercase letter and tooth position number (e.g., m1 = lower first molar), upper teeth by an uppercase letter and tooth position number (e.g., P3 = upper third premolar). All measurements are provided in millimeters.

Class Mammalia Linnaeus, 1758

Order Didelphimorphia Gill, 1872

Family Didelphidae Gray, 1821

Tribe Didelphini Crochet, 1979

Genus Copedelphys Korth, 1994a

Type species

Peratherium titanelix Matthew, 1903, Renova Formation, Montana.

Copedelphys innominata (Simpson, 1928)

Figure 3.1–3.2

Figure 3 Images 3 and 7 are SEM photographs; others are standard photographs. (1–2) FOBU 6338, Copedelphys innominatum, left dentary p3-m2 in occlusal (top) and lateral (bottom) views. (3–4) YPM-PU 16171, Eoictops novaceki n. gen. n. sp. (Holotype), left dentary with p5 (erupting), m1-2, and broken m3 in occlusal (top, m3 not shown in this view) and lateral (bottom) views. (5–6) FOBU 6094, Palaeoryctid sp. indet., left broken m1 in occlusal (top) and buccal (bottom) views. (7) FOBU 6189, Apatemys cf. A. whitakeri, right I1 in lateral view. Scale bars=2mm, except for images 5 and 6 where scale bars=1mm.

1928 Peratherium innominatum Simpson, p. 6, fig. 5

Holotype

AMNH 11493, left dentary m1-4, Bridgerian biochron Br2, Bridger Formation, Millersville, Uinta County, Wyoming.

Occurrence

Locality FB-19, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FOBU 6338, left dentary p3-m2.

Remarks

The referred specimen is in the size range of both Copedelphys innominatum and Peradectes chesteri. It differs from Peradectes in having a distinct lower molar entoconid and well-developed entoconid notch with a low hypoconulid. It also has p3 smaller than m1 and m1 with a widely open trigonid lingually. This combination of characters differentiates FOBU 6338 from both Peradectes and Herpetotherium (Korth, 2008).

Rothecker and Storer (1996) moved the species Peratherium innominatum, from Peratherium to Copedelphys based mostly on its very small size, upper molars with tiny conules and similar sized stylar cusps, and open lower molar trigonids, especially on m1. The specimen referred here is even smaller than those from Lac Pelletier described by Rothecker and Storer (1996), but the lower molars do have open trigonids lingually. This specimen could conceivably represent a new species of Copedelphys, but given the lack of any known upper molars at present a new name seems premature. Nonetheless this record represents one of the earlier known occurrences of this tiny marsupial outside of the seemingly anomalous earliest Wasatchian record at Castle Gardens in the Bighorn Basin (see Strait, 2001).

Measurements

FOBU 6338: p3 = 1.29 x 0.72, m1 = 1.36 x 0.79; m2 = 1.40 x 0.89

Order Leptictida McKenna, 1975

Family Leptictidae Gill, 1872

Genus Eoictops new genus

Type species

Eoictops novaceki new species by monotypy.

Diagnosis

As for type species by monotypy.

Etymology

Eos, Greek for early or dawn and Ictops (= Leptictis), a common North American Oligocene leptictid genus, in reference to the earlier occurrence of a related species (and in keeping with Palaeictops, another related taxon, as proposed by Matthew, 1899).

Remarks

Recognition of true Diacodon as an erinaceomorph (Novacek, 1982; Novacek et al., 1985) necessitates a new generic name for Fossil Butte a specimen once assigned to Diacodon since it is clear (see below) that this specimen is a leptictid that differs from all previously known North American members of this order.

Eoictops novaceki new species

Figure 3.3–3.4

1952 Diacodon, cf. alticuspis; Gazin, p. 20

1962 Diacodon, cf. alticuspis; Gazin, p. 22

Holotype

Type and only specimen, YPM-PU 16171, left dentary with p5 (erupting), m1-2, and broken m3, found “Three miles northwest of Fossil, Wyoming, Wasatch Formation, about 100 feet below the Green River Formation” Gazin, 1952, p. 20 (approximately equivalent to UM Localities FB-7, FB-8, FB-13, FB-19, and FB-24).

Diagnosis

Differs from all other North American leptictids in having p5 the same length as m1 (other leptictids have p5 longer to much longer than m1), p5 with more trenchant talonid exhibiting a very reduced, anteriorly shifted and low entoconid connected via a postentocristid to a small hypoconulid that is appressed to the posterolingual aspect of the hypoconid, and m3 relatively smaller than other lower molars; further differs from Palaeictops by having relatively higher and anteriorly angled molar trigonids and relatively shorter molar talonids.

Occurrence

Late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Description

p5 is in its crypt, but the crown is fully formed. It had a prominent protoconid, the tip of which is now broken away. The p5 paraconid is robust, isolated from the anterior flank of the protoconid, centered on the tooth and positioned very low, forming the anterior base of the tooth. The metaconid appears as if it is somewhat smaller relative to the protoconid, but was probably nearly as tall and distinct. The protoconid and metaconid are positioned directly opposite each other and together form a high and prominent loph. The p5 talonid is trenchant and is dominated by a distinct and robust hypoconid that is placed just labial of center. A much lower and smaller entoconid is present as is a small hypoconulid. A weakly formed postcristid extends from the hypoconid to the hypoconulid and then continues as a curving postentocristid to reach the entoconid. The prehypocristid is steep and does not reach the postvallid, leaving the talonid open labially. Similarly, the preentocrisitd is absent, leaving the talonid open lingually through the entoconid notch. The talonid is shallowly basined due to the presence of the postcristid. There are no cingulids developed on p5.

The lower m1-2 of Eoictops novaceki n. sp. are nearly identical morphologically with m2 being only slightly smaller than m1. Both have tall and acute protoconids and metaconids with the metaconid being somewhat more robust than the protoconid and both being nearly equal height. These cusps are aligned labiolingually and are separated from each other by a fairly deep, v-shaped postprotocristid. The paraconid is much lower and relatively much smaller. It is placed just lingual of center on the prevallid, has an acute tip, and juts slightly anteriorly. A small precingulid is formed just labial and beneath the paraconid and constitutes the only cingulid developed on either tooth. Both teeth have high talonid cusps (not as high as the protoconid and metaconid, however) that are aligned in a slight arc along the posterior margin of the talonid. The hypoconid and hypoconulid are equally as tall and robust with the entoconid being only somewhat lower and smaller. Unlike p5, the prehypocristid extends to the base of the postvallid, joining that surface centrally and closing the talonid labially. The talonid is open lingually through a relatively broad entoconid notch. The talonid is narrowly basined with its occlusal surface sloping rather severely from labial to lingual (as it does in p5).

The lower third molar crown is damaged, but it is clear that m3 would have been smaller than either m1 or m2.

Etymology

Specific name for Michael J. Novacek who untangled the confusing systematics of Cenozoic leptictids and additionally for his many contributions towards the understanding of early insectivorans and the origins of placental mammals.

Remarks

Gazin (1952, 1962) noted the presence of a leptictid dentary from near Fossil Butte in the collections at Princeton University (now housed at the Yale Peabody Museum). He did not figure or describe this specimen in detail, but assigned it to Diacodon, cf. alticuspis. Novacek (1977) placed Diacodon, Gazin, 1952 in synonymy with Prodiacodon Matthew, 1929, although he did not specifically mention the Fossil Butte specimen under any of the synonymies he provided for Prodiacodon (also see Gunnell et al., 2008b). Novacek (1977) did specifically place Diacodon pineyensis Gazin, 1952 within Prodiacodon tauri-cinerei (Jepsen, 1930).

Following detailed analyses by Novacek (1982) and Novacek et al. (1985), Diacodon alticuspis is now recognized as an erinaceomorph (McKenna and Bell, 1997; Gunnell et al., 2008c). Gazin (1952) had previously stated that D. alticuspis was unlike other species of the genus in its p4 (= p5) morphology, suggesting that perhaps Palaeictops should be resurrected to accommodate the species of Diacodon other than D. alticuspis (Gazin identified these specimens as Palaeictops in 1962). While Gazin (1952) assigned YPM-PU 16171 to Diacodon, cf. alticuspis, it is clear from his discussion that he viewed this specimen to be a leptictid.

While similar to Diacodon alticuspis in some ways (e.g., simpler p5 talonid, anteriorly sloping molar trigonids, especially notable on m2), YPM-PU 16171 is clearly distinguishable from this New Mexican taxon. Eoictops novaceki differs from Diacodon alticuspis in the following ways: (1) m3 smaller relative to m1-2 (m3 larger in D. alticuspis); (2) lower molar paraconids relatively higher, more cuspate and distinct (not lower, loph-like and less distinct); (3) p5 paraconid larger, higher, and more distinct; (4) p5 metaconid relatively larger and higher; and (5) p5 talonid more sloping (labially to lingually), less basined, and with a very tiny and low entoconid and a small hypoconulid that is positioned close to the posterior aspect of the hypoconid.

As Gazin noted (1952), YPM-PU 16171 has relatively high molar trigonids, which is one of the characters cited by Novacek (1977) distinguishing Prodiacodon from Palaeictops, but the differences in p5 structure cited above clearly differentiate this specimen from both Prodiacodon and Palaeictops.

Measurements

YPM-PU 16171: p5 = 3.0 x 1.7, m1 = 3.0 x 2.1, m2 = 2.8 x 1.9.

Order Cimolesta McKenna, 1975

Family Palaeoryctidae Winge, 1917

Palaeoryctid indet.

Figure 3.5–3.6

Occurrence

Locality FB-16, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FOBU 6094, left m1.

Remarks

This slightly broken m1 represents a palaeoryctid based on its relatively high and compressed trigonid and low, lingually open talonid (Gunnell et al., 2008a). It differs from Eoryctes (Thewissen and Gingerich, 1989) in having a broader talonid basin that is open lingually and in having a more lingually placed entoconid. It differs from Palaeoryctes in having a less compressed trigonid with relatively larger and more inflated protoconid and metaconid, a more mesially directed and stronger paracristid, a relatively lower trigonid, and in having a small but distinct hypoconulid centered between the hypoconid and entoconid. This specimen differs from Pararyctes (Van Valen, 1966) in having a relatively higher trigonid, a less distinct entoconid, and in lacking an entocristid. It is similar to Ottoryctes (Bloch et al., 2004) in having a relatively broad talonid and may represent that genus, but definitive identification awaits better specimens.

Measurements

FOBU 6094: m1 = 2.4 x 1.5.

Suborder Apatotheria Scott and Jepsen, 1936

Family Apatemyidae Matthew, 1909

Genus Apatemys Marsh, 1872

Type species

Apatemys bellus Marsh, 1872, Bridger Formation, Henrys Fork, Wyoming.

Apatemys cf. A. whitakeri (Simpson, 1954)

Figure 3.7

1954 Teilhardella whitakeri Simpson, p. 1, fig. 1

Holotype

AMNH 48004, left dentary p4-m2, Wasatchian Biochron Wa7, San Jose Formation, Almagre Facies, San Juan Basin, New Mexico.

Occurrence

Locality FB-8, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FOBU 6189, right I1.

Remarks

Apatemys is relatively rare in biochrons Wa-6 and Wa-7 (Gunnell et al., 2008a). A. whitakeri apparently is the only valid species of the genus now recognized from Wa-6 (Guthrie, 1967), therefore FB 96-093 is tentatively assigned to that taxon.

Suborder Pantolesta McKenna, 1975

Family Pantolestidae Cope, 1884

Genus Palaeosinopa Matthew, 1901

Type species

Palaeosinopa veterrima Matthew, 1901, Willwood Formation, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming.

Palaeosinopa lacus new species

Figure 4.1–4.3

Figure 4 (1–3) FOBU 6205, Palaeosinopa lacus n. sp. (Holotype), left dentary with roots of p2 and slightly broken p3-m1 in occlusal (top), lateral (middle) and medial (bottom) views. (4) UM 102585, Esthonyx cf. E. bisulcatus, left Mx (labial portion missing) in occlusal view. (5) FOBU 6389, Esthonyx cf. E. bisulcatus, right mx trigonid in occlusal view. (6–7) FOBU 6361, Ectoganus sp. indet., incisor fragment (left) and isolated molar (right) in lateral views. (8) FOBU 6356, Coryphodon sp. indet., upper molar fragment in occlusal view. (9) FOBU 6097, Palaeanodon sp. indet., right distal radius in distal view. (10) FOBU 6198, Palaeanodon sp. indet., left broken astragalus in dorsal view. Scale bars=5 mm for images 1–5 and 9–10; 1 cm for images 6–8.

Holotype

FOBU 6205, left dentary p2-m1, only known specimen, from Locality FB-5.

Diagnosis

Differs from all other species of Palaeosinopa in having a very broad and bulbous P/4 with a basined talonid possessing small but distinct hypoconid and entoconid cusps. Further differs from other species of Palaeosinopa in having a relatively smaller (but still distinct) mental foramen placed beneath p4 rather than a larger foramen beneath m1. Palaeosinopa lacus n. sp. is intermediate in size between Palaeosinopa lutreola and Palaeosinopa didelphoides (?= Palaeosinopa veterrima), being larger (about 25%) than the former and smaller (about 30%) than the latter.

Occurrence

Late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Description

The p2 is broken, preserving only its posterior-most part. This tooth is long and relatively narrow and has a tiny, centered talonid cuspule. The talonid is very short and narrow. Compared to P. didelphoides, the p2 of P. lacus is more elongate.

The p3 is broken posteriorly. It has no paraconid or metaconid and lacks an anterior basal cuspule (unlike P. didelphoides). The p3 paracristid is weakly defined and curves antero-lingually. The postvallid is flat and lacks a central ridge unlike P. didelphoides. Overall, p3 is relatively robust and heavily constructed with a blunt, rounded protoconid.

The p4 is broken anteriorly, so the disposition of the paraconid and paracristid cannot be determined. The protoconid is bulbous and robust with a flattened postvallid (lacking the central ridge present in P. didelphoides). There is no metaconid developed. The buccal and lingual margins of the postvallid are more vertical and less flared and sloping compared to P. didelphoides. Overall, p4 has a short and broad talonid with small, but distinct, hypoconid and entoconid cusps, the latter being slightly larger. There is a small basined area developed between these two cusps and the postvallid. Like all of the premolars of P. lacus, p4 lacks cingulid development.

The enlarged p4 of P. lacus is superficially similar to those seen in Paleocene pentacodontines (Gunnell et al., 2008a), but it differs from these taxa in being relatively less bulbous and enlarged, in lacking a metaconid, and in having a shorter, less well-developed talonid basin.

The lower first molar is somewhat broken and worn. It differs from other species of Palaeosinopa in having the talonid distinctly broader than the trigonid. The cristid obliqua joins the postvallid centrally as in most other Palaeosinopa species, but unlike the other species, nearly reaches the crest of the postvallid. The trigonid is worn into a flat triangle, the typical wear pattern exhibited by many pantolestids.

The dentary of P. lacus lacks the enlarged mental foramen beneath m1 typical of many pantolestids, instead having a relatively small mental foramen placed under the p4. The dentary, as in most pantolestids, is relatively shallow and tapers anteriorly.

Etymology

Specific name from “lacus”, Latin for lake, in reference to Fossil Lake, the shores of which provided the habitat for the mammals from Fossil Butte.

Remarks

Matthew (1909, 1918) recognized three (perhaps four) species of Palaeosinopa and five species of Pantolestes. Gazin (1962) named an additional early Eocene pantolestid, Amaramnis (based on a single lower jaw with m2-3). While all three genera are probably valid, it seems nearly certain that there were fewer species present than have been previously recognized (Rose, 2006; Gunnell et al., 2008a). Matthew (1918) hinted at this when he tentatively suggested that Palaeosinopa didelphoides and P. veterrima may be conspecific. Further work is required to sort out the diversity of North American Eocene pantolestids.

Measurements

FOBU 6205: p2 = 4.2 x 1.7, p3 = 4.4 x 2.6, p4 = 4.6 x 3.2, m1 = 3.9 x 3.3.

Suborder Tillodontia Marsh, 1875

Family Esthonychidae Cope, 1883

Genus Esthonyx Cope, 1874

Type species

Esthonyx bisulcatus Cope, 1874, San Jose Formation, New Mexico.

Esthonyx cf. E. bisulcatus Cope, 1874

Figure 4.4–4.5

1874 Esthonyx bisulcatus Cope, p. 6

Holotype

USNM 1103, left dentary p3, m1-3, from Arroyo Blanco, Wasatchian Biochron Wa7, San Juan Basin, New Mexico.

Occurrence

Localities FB-6, 7, 16, 19, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-6: FOBU 6190, left p4 trigonid; FB-7: UM 102585, left Mx fragment; UM 108144, left m1-2 (broken). FB-16: FOBU 6419, right mx fragment. FB-19: FOBU 6389, right mx trigonid.

Remarks

These fragmentary teeth confirm the presence of Esthonyx at Fossil Butte. Estimating tooth size from the fragments preserved indicates that these specimens are in the size range of E. bisulcatus and probably represent that species.

Measurements

All of these teeth are too broken to provide accurate measurements.

Suborder Taeniodonta Cope, 1876

Family Stylinodontidae Marsh, 1875

Genus Ectoganus Cope, 1874

Type species

Ectoganus gliriformis Cope, 1874, San Jose Formation, New Mexico.

Ectoganus sp. indet.

Figure 4.6–4.7

1962 Ectoganus sp. Gazin, p. 44, Pl. 12, fig. 7

Occurrence

Locality FB-16, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FOBU 6361, incisor and molar fragments.

Remarks

While fragmentary, this specimen confirms the presence of Ectoganus in the Fossil Butte sample.

Measurements

FOBU 6361 is too fragmentary to be certain of tooth position or to provide accurate measurements. Gazin (1962) figured three fragmentary teeth (USNM 22785) of Ectoganus sp. from Fossil Butte.

Suborder Pantodonta Cope, 1873

Family Coryphodontidae Marsh, 1876

Genus Coryphodon Owen, 1845

Type species

Coryphodon eocanus Owen, 1845, London Clay, Essex, United Kingdom.

Coryphodon sp. indet.

Figure 4.8

1952 Coryphodon, cf. radians (in part); Gazin, p. 63, Pl. 9

1962 Coryphodon radians (in part); Gazin, p. 70, Pl. 11, figs. 1–5, Pl. 12, figs. 1–2

Occurrence

Localities FB-6, 7, 9–12, 18, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-6: FOBU 6135, associated teeth and tooth fragments; FB 96-014, canine. FB-7: UM 102582, tooth fragments; UM 102586, tooth fragments; UM 102592, tooth fragments. FB-9: FB 96-062, canine; FB 96-067, tooth fragments; FB 96-068, canine; FB 97-023, tooth fragments. FB-10: FB 96-082, canine fragments. FB-11: FOBU 6356, upper molar fragment; FOBU 6363, tooth fragments; FB 96-086, postcrania; FB 96-088, tooth fragments. FB-12: FB 96-091, ulna. FB-18: FOBU 6286, postcrania.

Remarks

There are two species of Coryphodon recognized from Wa-6 in Wyoming (Uhen and Gingerich, 1995), the larger C. lobatus and the smaller C. armatus. Most of the Fossil Butte Coryphodon specimens are too fragmentary to assign to either of these species. The relatively large size of the one measurable specimen, FOBU 6135, indicates that this individual probably represents Coryphodon lobatus. In a table (p. 9) published in 1952, Gazin indicated that Coryphodon sp. was present at Fossil Butte, but he did not mention any specific specimens in his discussion (Gazin, 1952, p. 63). Gazin (1962, p. 70) noted the presence of scattered, fragmentary remains of Coryphodon from the lower slopes at Fossil Butte and included these specimens under his discussion of Coryphodon radians, a taxon now recognized as being restricted to Wasatchian biochron Wa-3 (Uhen and Gingerich, 1995).

Measurements

FOBU 6135: p4 = 26.1 x 20.8.

Order Pholidota Weber, 1904

Suborder Palaeanodonta Matthew, 1918

Family Metacheiromyidae Wortman, 1903

Genus Palaeanodon Matthew, 1918

Type species

Palaeanodon ignavus Matthew, 1918, Willwood Formation, Wyoming.

Palaeanodon sp. indet.

Figure 4.9–4.10

Occurrence

Localities FB-1, 9, 19, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6 (FB-9, 19) and late early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-7 (FB-1), main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-1: FOBU 6163, right metacarpal II fragment; FOBU 6198, left astragalus. FB-9: FOBU 6097, right distal radius. FB-19: FOBU 6315, right dentary.

Remarks

There are two different sizes of palaeanodonts present at Fossil Butte. The small sample size and fragmentary nature of the remains preclude specific determinations.

Order ?Primates Linnaeus, 1758

Suborder Plesiadapiformes Simons and Tattersall in Simons, 1972

Superfamily Microsyopoidea Osborn and Wortman, 1892

Family Microsyopidae Osborn and Wortman, 1892

Genus Microsyops Leidy, 1872

Type species

Limnotherium elegans Marsh, 1871, Bridger Formation, Wyoming.

Microsyops latidens (Cope, 1882a)

Figure 5.1–5.2

Figure 5 (1) FOBU 6366, Microsyops latidens, left dentary m1 in occlusal view. (2) FOBU 6287, Microsyops latidens, left dentary m2-3 in occlusal view. (3) FOBU 10011, Phenacolemur sp., left I1 in postero-occlusal view. (4) FOBU 6362, Cantius frugivorus, right dentary m2-3 in occlusal view. (5) UM 102587, Copelemur australotutus, right dentary p4-m3 in occlusal view. (6) FOBU 6193, Copelemur tutus, right dentary with p3 talonid, p4-m1, and partial trigonid of m2 showing distinct paraconid in occlusal view. Scale bars=5 mm for images 1–2 and 4–6; 2 mm for image 3.

1882a Cynodontomys latidens Cope, p. 151

Holotype

AMNH 4195, left dentary p4, right dentary m1-2, from Wasatchian Biochron Wa6, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming.

Occurrence

Localities FB-9, 16, 18, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-9: FB 97-020, left m1; FB-16: FOBU 6281, left dentary m1-2 talonids; FOBU 6366, left dentary m1-m/2 talonid. FB-18: FOBU 6287, left dentary m2-3.

Remarks

Microsyops latidens is the most common species of Microsyops from Wa-6 (Gunnell, 1989). All of these specimens fall in the size range of M. latidens.

Measurements

FOBU 6366: m1 = 3.4 x 2.6; FOBU 6287: m2 = 3.2 x 2.5, m3 = 3.7 x 2.4.

Microsyops knightensis (Gazin, 1952)

1952 Cynodontomys knightensis Gazin, p. 20, Pl. 2, fig. 1

Holotype

USNM 19314, left dentary p4-m3, from Knight Beds (=Wasatch Formation), LaBarge Fauna, Green River Basin, Wyoming.

Occurrence

Locality FB-16, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FOBU 6199, left dentary m1-3 (teeth fragmentary; includes associated miscellaneous fragments cataloged as FOBU 6198).

Remarks

This single specimen represents a species of Microsyops larger than M. latidens. It can be identified as the common Wa-7 species of Microsyops—M. knightensis. As such, it represents the earliest known (Lysitean = Wa6) occurrence of this species.

Measurements

FOBU 6199: m2 = 4.2 x 3.3.

Superfamily Paromomyoidea Simpson, 1940

Family Paromomyidae Simpson, 1940

Genus Phenacolemur Matthew, 1915b

Type species

Phenacolemur praecox Matthew, 1915b, Willwood Formation, Wyoming.

Phenacolemur sp.

Figure 5.3

Occurrence

Horizon equivalent to locality FB-11 late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FOBU 10011, left I1.

Remarks

There is a single specimen representing Phenacolemur from Fossil Butte. It is not currently possible to identify this isolated upper incisor to the species level.

Order Primates Linnaeus, 1758

Infraorder Adapiformes Szalay and Delson, 1979

Family Notharctidae Trouessart, 1879

Subfamily Notharctinae Trouessart, 1879

Genus Cantius Simons, 1962

Type species

Protoadapis eppsi Cooper, 1932, Blackheath beds, Abbey Wood, Woolwich, Kent, United Kingdom.

Cantius frugivorus (Cope, 1875)

Figure 5.4

1875 Pelycodus frugivorus Cope, p. 14

1962 Pelycodus, near P. jarrovii; Gazin, p. 28

Holotype

Unnumbered (specimen now lost), right dentary m2-3, from San Jose Formation, San Juan Basin, New Mexico (Neotype designated by Beard, 1988: CM 37448, right dentary p3-m3, CM Almagre Locality 2, Sandoval County, New Mexico).

Occurrence

Localities FB-1, 4, 6, 7, 11, 19, 25, 26, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6 (FB-4, 6-7, 11, 19, 25-26) and late early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-7 (FB-1), main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-1: FB 95-002, right m2 trigonid; FB 96-048, right m2; FB 97-006, navicular. FB-4: FOBU 6362, right dentary p4, m2-3; FOBU 9864, right maxilla M3. FB-6: FB 97-062, right M2. FB-7: UM 102588, right dentary m2, left m1. FB-11: FOBU 6373, left dentary m2-3; FOBU 6381, right dentary m2-3; FOBU 6391, right dentary p4-m3; FOBU 9895, left dentary p4-m2. FB-19: FOBU 6114, right dentary m3. FB-25: FOBU 6116, right dentary p3-m3. FB-26: FOBU 6112, right dentary m2-3.

Remarks

Cantius frugivorus is the most common species of Wa-6 adapiform known from southern Wyoming (Gunnell, 2002). These referred specimens agree in size and morphology with that species. Gazin (1962, p 28) noted the presence of five adapiform specimens in the USNM collections from the “slopes of Fossil Butte” (including USNM 22259) that are larger than “Pelycodus” trigonodus. One of these specimens (USNM 22261) is the holotype of Copelemur australotutus (see below), while the others likely represent Cantius frugivorus.

Measurements

FOBU 6362: p4 = 3.9 x 2.7, m2 = 4.2 x 3.7, m3 = 5.1 x 3.4; FOBU 6373: m2 = 4.0 x 3.5; FOBU 6381: m2 = 4.6 x 4.2, m3 = 6.8 x 3.7; FOBU 6391: m3 = 5.2 x 3.5; FB 96-048: m2 = 4.5 x 3.6; FOBU 6114: m3 = 5.4 x 3.3; FOBU 6116: p3 = 3.5 x 2.5, p4 = 3.8 x 3.0, m1 = 4.1 x 3.6, m2 = 4.3 x 3.8; FOBU 6112: m3 = 5.5 x 3.4; UM 102588: m2 = 4.4 x 4.1.

Genus Copelemur Gingerich and Simons, 1977

Type species

Tomitherium tutum Cope, 1877, San Jose Formation, New Mexico.

Copelemur australotutus Beard, 1988

Figure 5.5

Holotype

USNM 22261, left dentary p3-m1, from north face of Fossil Butte, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Wyoming.

Occurrence

Localities FB-1, 7, 8, 11, 19, 21, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6 (FB-7-8, 11, 19, 21) and late early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-7 (FB-1), main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-1: FB 96-042, left m3 (enamel eroded); FB 96-096, right m1 fragment. FB-7: UM 102587, right dentary p4-m3; UM 102589, left maxilla M2-3, C1, right dentary m3; UM 108138, left m1. FB-8: FB 96-026, left m1 trigonid. FB-11: FOBU 9893, right dentary m1-2. FB-19: FB 97-089, left dentary m2. FB-21: FBF 150, right dentary m2-3.

Remarks

Beard (1988) named C. australotutus based on a relatively poorly preserved specimen from Fossil Butte (USNM 22261). These newly referred specimens corroborate Beard’s recognition of C. australotutus as a distinct species of Copelemur. Relatively large samples of C. australotutus from the Washakie Basin (Gunnell, 2002), in combination with those from Fossil Butte, make C. australotutus the best-known species of the genus.

Measurements

FB 97-089: m2 = 4.5 x 3.7; UM 102587: p4 = 4.1 x 3.0, m1 = 4.5 x 3.6, m2 = 4.8 x 4.0; UM 102589: M2 = 4.6 x 6.4, M3 = 4.8 x 5.7, m3 = 6.0 x 4.0.

Copelemur tutus (Cope, 1877)

Figure 5.6

1877 Tomitherium tutum Cope, p. 141, Pl. 39, fig. 19

1881 Pelycodus tutus (in part); Cope, p. 187

1915b Pelycodus tutus; Matthew, p. 441, fig. 15

1962 Pelycodus? tutus; Gazin, p. 29

1977 Copelemur tutus; Gingerich and Simons, p. 271, Pl. 1, fig. 3, text fig. 6b

1988 Copelemur tutus; Beard, p 454, Fig. 8, 9

Holotype

Unnumbered (specimen now lost), right dentary p3-m1, from San Jose Formation, San Juan Basin, New Mexico (Neotype designated by Beard, 1988: UALP 10233, right dentary p3-m2, UALP Locality 7745, Regina Member, Sandoval County, New Mexico).

Occurrence

Locality FB-13, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FOBU 6193, right dentary p4-m1.

Remarks

Copelemur tutus is relatively common in the San Juan Basin in New Mexico but is rare from southern Wyoming (Gingerich and Simons, 1977; Gunnell, 2002). While this specimen is somewhat worn and broken, the clear presence of a distinct paraconid on m2, the presence of a short, lingually bowed entocristid and entoconid notch on m1, and the presence of a distinct, high metaconid and a strong paracristid on p4 identify it as Copelemur. Its large size confirms its identification as C. tutus.

Measurements

FOBU 6193: p4 = 5.0 x 3.8, m1 = 5.6 x 4.0.

Order Condylarthra Cope, 1881

Family Hyopsodontidae Trouessart, 1879

Genus Hyopsodus Leidy, 1870

Type species

Hyopsodus paulus Leidy, 1870, Bridger Formation, Wyoming.

Hyopsodus minor Loomis, 1905

Figure 6.1–6.2

Figure 6 (1) FOBU 6213, Hyopsodus minor, left dentary m1-3 in occlusal view. (2) FOBU 6370, Hyopsodus minor, left maxilla M1-2 in occlusal view. (3) FOBU 6129, Hyopsodus powellianus, left dentary m2-3 in occlusal view. (4) FOBU 6297, Apheliscus cf. A. insidiosus, right p4 in occlusal (top) and buccal (bottom) views. (5) FOBU 6318, Haplomylus cf. H. scottianus, left dentary p3-4 in occlusal view. (6) FOBU 6437, Haplomylus cf. H. scottianus, right m2 in occlusal view. (7) FOBU 6365, Phenacodus trilobatus, left lower molar fragment (most of trigonid and a portion of the lingual margin missing) in occlusal view. (8–9) FOBU 6229, Ectocion superstes, left broken P4 (left, labial edge missing) and M1 (right, broken labially) in occlusal views. Scale bars=5 mm.

1962 Hyopsodus, cf. H. miticulus (in part); Gazin p. 63

Holotype

AC 3492, right dentary m1-3, from Wasatchian Biochron Wa6, Wind River Formation, Wind River Basin, Wyoming.

Occurrence

Localities FB-4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 15, 16, 18, 19, 24-27, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-4: FOBU 6370, left maxilla M1-2; FOBU 6412, left dentary m1-2; FOBU 6434, right mx fragment. FB-5: FB 97-015, right P3. FB-6: FB 96-006, right dentary m2-3; FB 96-013, left mx talonid. FB-7: UM 102594, right M2. FB-9: FB 96-063, right dentary m2-3; FOBU 6213, left dentary m1-3. FB-10: FB 96-078, right m1. FB-15: FB 97-026, left maxilla P4-M1; FB 97-028, right dentary m1-3; FB 97-068, left dentary p4. FB-16: FB 97-033, right m3; FOBU 6392, left maxilla M1-2. FB-18: FB 97-075, right M2; FB 97-076, right dentary p4-m1; FB 97-081, right m2. FB-19: FB 97-095, right dentary m3; FB 97-099, left M2. FB-24: FB 97-108, right dentary m1-3. FB-25: FB 97-110, left M2. FB-26: FB 97-115, right dentary m2-3. FB-27: FOBU 6398, left M2.

Remarks

These specimens are consistent in size and morphology with the relatively small species of Hyopsodus, H. minor, documented from several areas in the Green River Basin (Gazin, 1968), other areas in Wyoming, the San Juan Basin in New Mexico, and the Piceance Basin in Colorado (Redline, 1997). Gazin tentatively referred several specimens in the USNM collections from Fossil Butte (numbers not cited) to a relatively small species of Hyopsodus, H. miticulus but it is more likely, given the size of these specimens, that they represent H. minor instead.

Measurements

FOBU 6370: M1 = 3.1 x 3.8, M2 = 3.2 x 4.4; FOBU 6398: M2 = 3.6 x 5.0; FOBU 6412: m1 = 3.2 x 2.5, m2 = 3.3 x 2.7; FOBU 6392: M1 = 3.4 x 4.3, M2 = 3.6 x 4.7; FB 96-063: m2 = 3.5 x 3.1, m3 = 3.6 x 2.7; FB 96-078: m1 = 3.2 x 2.6; FOBU 6213: m1 = 3.2 x 2.7, m2 = 3.5 x 3.0, m3 = 3.7 x 2.8; FB 97-026: P4 = 3.3 x 4.3, M1 = 3.7 x 4.9; FB 97-033: m3 = 3.9 x 2.6; FB 97-068: p4 = 3.8 x 2.6; FB 97-076: p4 = 3.1 x 2.8, m1 = 3.5 x 3.2; FB 97-081: m2 = 3.4 x 3.1; FB 97-099: M2 = 3.2 x 4.8; FB 97-108: m1 = 3.0 x 2.6, m2 = 3.3 x 2.9, m3 = 3.6 x 2.6; FB 97-110: M2 = 3.4 x 4.6; UM 102594: M2 = 3.6 x 5.1.

Hyopsodus powellianus Cope, 1884

Figure 6.3

1962 Hyopsodus browni (in part); Gazin, p. 65

Lectotype

AMNH 4147, dentary m1-3, from unknown locality, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming.

Occurrence

Localities FB-1, 15 late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6 (FB-15) and late early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-7 (FB-1), main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-1: FOBU 6129, left dentary m2-3; FB 96-035, left maxilla P4-M2. FB-15: FB 97-066, left maxilla M2-3.

Remarks

These teeth are intermediate in size between Hyopsodus powellianus and Hyopsodus paulus (Redline, 1997). The M2 is within the size range of Hyopsodus paulus, but P4 is larger than the observed range for this species (Redline, 1997), falling instead within the size range of H. powellianus. The lower teeth are within the lower size range for H. powellianus, therefore we identify all of these specimens as that species. Large species of Hyopsodus are relatively rare from biochron Wa-6 in the Green River Basin (Gazin, 1962). Gazin (1962, p. 65) identified two large Hyopsodus specimens as H. browni, a maxilla with partial M2 and M3 from “high on the southwest slope of Fossil Butte,” in the deeper red beds just beneath the Green River (near UM Localities FB-1 and FB-27) and a dentary with m2 and part of m3 from “the saddle on the north side of Fossil Butte” (near UM Locality FB-22). We consider these specimens to represent H. powellianus.

Measurements

FOBU 6129: m2 = 5.1 x 4.1, m3 = 5.9 x 3.7; FB 96-035: P4 = 4.0 x 4.7; FB 97-066: M2 = 4.1 x 5.5.

Genus Apheliscus Cope, 1875

Type species

Prototomus insidiosus Cope, 1874, San Juan Basin, New Mexico.

Apheliscus cf. A. insidiosus (Cope, 1874)

Figure 6.4

1874 Prototomus insidiosus Cope, p. 14

Holotype

Unnumbered, dentary p4-m3 (specimen lost), from unknown locality, Biochron Wa7, San Jose Formation, New Mexico.

Occurrence

Locality FB-16, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FOBU 6297, right dentary p4.

Remarks

This p4 is in the size range of A. insidiosus but differs from that species by possessing a small, anterior basal cuspule. Apheliscus is never especially abundant and is exceedingly rare in Wa-6, being represented in this biochron only by: (1) the type specimen of A. insidiosus from the San Juan Basin in New Mexico (the type has been lost for over 80 years, and no other specimens of Apheliscus have been reported from the San Juan Basin; see Rose, 1981); (2) the above specimen from Fossil Butte; (3) a few specimens from the Bighorn Basin in northwestern Wyoming (personal communication, K.D. Rose, 2015); and (4) a single reported specimen from the Wind River Basin in south-central Wyoming (Guthrie, 1967). Apheliscus apparently disappeared by the end of Wa-6 elsewhere (Woodburne et al., 2009).

Measurements

FOBU 6297: p4 = 3.1 x 1.7.

Genus Haplomylus Matthew, 1915a

Type species

Microsyops sperianus Cope, 1880, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming.

Haplomylus cf. H. scottianus Gingerich, 1994

Figure 6.5–6.6

1994 Haplomylus scottianus Gingerich, p. 126, figs. 3c, 3g, 4

Holotype

UM 92489, left dentary p4-m3, Wasatchian Biochron Wa5, Willwood Formation, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming.

Occurrence

Localities FB-11, 18, 19, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-11: FOBU 6437, right dentary m2. FB-18: FOBU 6304, right dentary with talonid of p4 and m1 with broken trigonid. FB-19: FOBU 6318, left dentary p3-4.

Remarks

These specimens are in the size range of H. scottianus (Gingerich, 1994), but differ from that species in having a simpler, relatively shorter p4 talonid, a weaker paracristid on m2, and a much weaker hypoconulid on m1-2. These specimens may prove to represent a species distinct from H. scottianus when better samples are discovered. These records (Wa-6) of Haplomylus are the latest known occurrences of the genus, whereas it apparently disappears by the end of Wa-5 elsewhere (Gazin, 1962; Gingerich, 1994).

Measurements

FOBU 6437: m2 = 2.7 x 2.5; FOBU 6304: m1 = 2.6 x 2.1; FOBU 6318: p3 = 3.2 x 1.6, p4 = 3.4 x 1.9.

Family Phenacodontidae Cope, 1881

Genus Phenacodus Cope, 1873

Type species

Phenacodus primaevus Cope, 1873, Green River Basin, Wyoming.

Phenacodus trilobatus Cope, 1882b

Figure 6.7

Holotype

AMNH 4679, left dentary m1-3, locality unknown, middle to late Wasatchian, Willwood Formation, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming.

Occurrence

Locality FB-11, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FOBU 6365, left lower molar trigonid (worn).

Remarks

This specimen preserves only enough morphology to indicate that it represents a relatively large species of Phenacodus. Phenacodus trilobatus is similar in size and is known from the late Wasatchian (Thewissen, 1990), therefore this specimen is accordingly identified as that species.

Measurements

No standard measurements are possible on this broken specimen.

Genus Ectocion Cope, 1882c

Type species

Oligotomus osbornianus Cope, 1882c, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming.

Ectocion superstes Granger, 1915

Figure 6.8–6.9

Holotype

AMNH 233A, dentary c1, p3-m3, Bridgerian Biochron Br1a, Wind River Formation, Wind River Basin, Wyoming.

Occurrence

Locality FB-16, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FOBU 6229, left P4 and M1, both broken.

Remarks

Besides these two fragments of E. superstes from Fossil Butte, the only other known sample of this rare phenacodontid comes from the earliest Bridgerian (Br1a) in the Wind River Basin of Wyoming (Thewissen, 1990). These two fragmentary teeth from Wa-6 at Fossil Butte represent the earliest known occurrence of this species.

Measurements

No measurements are possible.

Family Meniscotheriidae Cope, 1882d

Genus Meniscotherium Cope, 1874

Type species

Meniscotherium chamense Cope, 1874, San Juan Basin, New Mexico.

Meniscotherium cf. M. robustum Thorpe, 1934

1934 Mensicotherium robustum Thorpe, p. 401, figs. 1–4

1962 Meniscotherium robustum (in part); Gazin, p. 68

Holotype

YPM 10101, skull, dentary, Knight beds (= Wasatch Formation), middle to late Wasatchian, near Aspen, Wyoming.

Occurrence

Locality FB-15, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-15: FBF 155 (= USNM 22670), left dentary p4-m2, right dentary m1, left maxilla M1-2, associated postcranial fragments.

Remarks

As discussed by Gazin (1962), Meniscotherium is extremely rare in Fossil Basin, which seems odd given that it is abundant from correlative beds in the adjacent Green River Basin. Gazin (1962, p. 68) noted the presence of this one specimen of Meniscotherium from “high on Fossil Butte” (UM FB-15) that he hesitantly assigned to M. robustum.

Measurements

FBF 155: p4 = 8.0 x 5.5, m1 = 8.0 x 5.8, m2 = 9.0 x 6.8.

Order Mesonychia Matthew, 1937

Family Mesonychidae Cope, 1875

Mesonychid sp. indet.

Occurrence

“Low on slope of Fossil Butte” (Gazin, 1962, p. 51; probably in the vicinity of UM localities FB-4, FB-11, and FB-26), late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Remarks

Gazin (1962, p. 51) noted the presence of a fragmentary lower cheek tooth of a mesonychid from Fossil Butte. He identified this tooth as Pachyaena gracilis, but noted that it seemed rather small and reminiscent of Dissacus as well. In either case, it represents the only known record of a mesonychid from Fossil Butte.

Order Rodentia Bowdich, 1821

Family Ischyromyidae Alston, 1876

Subfamily Reithroparamyinae Wood, 1962

Genus Reithroparamys Matthew, 1920

Type species

Paramys delicatissimus Leidy, 1871, Green River Basin, Wyoming.

Reithroparamys cf. R. debequensis Wood, 1962

1962 Reithroparamys debequensis Wood, p. 134, fig. 45D–G

1962 Reithroparamys sp., Gazin, p. 46

Holotype

FMNH (CNHM) P-26726, left dentary i1, m1-3, Wasatchian Biochron Wa6, Debeque Formation, near Rifle, Colorado.

Occurrence

Saddle north of Fossil Butte (near UM Localities FB-22 and FB-28), late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

USNM 22380, left dentary i1, m1.

Remarks

A single specimen of Reithroparamys is represented at Fossil Butte, questionably identified as R. debequensis by Wood (1962). He noted that it was similar to R. debequensis but that the molar was much narrower than other specimens.

Subfamily Paramyinae Haeckel, 1895

Genus ?Notoparamys Korth, 1984

Type species

Leptotomus costilloi Wood, 1962, Huerfano Basin, Colorado.

?Notoparamys blochi new species

Figure 7.1–7.4

Figure 7 (1–2) FOBU 6092, ?Notoparamys blochi n. sp. (Holotype), left m1 (left) and right dentary m1-2 (right) in occlusal view. (3–4) FOBU 6092, ?Notoparamys blochi n. sp. (Holotype), left maxilla M2-3 (top) and right M1 (bottom) in occlusal view. (5) FOBU 6182, Paramys excavatus, left maxilla P4-M1 in occlusal view. (6–7) FOBU 6161, Knightomys depressus, right m2 (left) and FOBU 6408, Knightomys depressus, left m1 (right) in occlusal view. Scale bars=5 mm.

Holotype

Holotype and only specimen, FOBU 6092, associated left dentary m1, right dentary m1-2, left maxilla M2-3, right maxilla M1, and postcranial fragments, found by Jonathan I. Bloch, July 30, 1997, from locality FB-15, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Diagnosis

?Notoparamys blochi n. sp. differs from Notoparamys costilloi in having an unreduced M3, a less transversely elongate hypoconulid on lower molars, an m1-2 mesoconid that is connected to the base of the protoconid and to the anterolingual base of the hypoconid (i.e., complete ectolophid), in lacking a protoconid loph that extends into the trigonid basin, and in lacking full development of the distinctive double-ridged connection between the hypoconulid and entoconid that is apparently typical of Notoparamys (Korth, 1984 and discussion below); differs from N. arctios in being substantially larger in tooth dimensions (on average 25% larger in linear dimensions), but does resemble this species in lacking a protoconid extension into the trigonid basin.

Description

The holotype (and only) specimen of ?Notoparamys blochi n. sp. is known from upper and lower molars. Lower m1 and m2 are similar in having bulbous and marginally placed proto-, meta-, hypo-, and entoconids, with the hypoconid being the most robust cusp, followed by the metaconid. The hypoconid bulges buccally towards its base and is essentially separated from the protoconid by a distinct, low mesoconid (the mesoconid is connected to both the proto- and hypoconid on m1). There is a distinct, crescentic hypoconulid present that is centered on posterolophid of each tooth (not more lingually placed as noted for Notoparamys by Korth, 1984) and separated from both the hypoconid and entoconid by narrow valleys. There is a short crest that extends from the buccal base of the entoconid posterobuccally toward the hypoconulid but does not reach that cusp. The hypoconulid is not connected to the entoconid by an additional crest posterior to the one from the entoconid, instead being separated posteriorly from the entoconid by a tiny cuspule. Lower m2 differs from m1 in being slightly larger with a slightly more anteroposteriorly compressed metalophid.

Upper molars are all similar to one another and share the following morphological features. Protocones are rounded and robust and paracones. Metacones are distinct and relatively smaller than the protocone, especially on M1-2. A distinct hypocone is present on M1 and M2 (absent on M3) that is separated from the protocone by a sharply defined groove as in Notoparamys . Hypocones do not extend as far lingually as the protocones. Robust and bulbous mesostyles are present on all molars, with M3 having at least three small mesostylar cusps. Incipiently doubled potoconules (best seen on M2-3) and distinctly doubled metaconules are found on all three molars, the latter feature being shared with Notoparamys (and other paramyines as well, see Rose and Von Koenigswald, 2007 for discussion). Pre- and postcingula are well developed and anteroposteriorly broad.

M1 differs from M2 in being somewhat smaller and anteroposteriorly narrower with a less broad trigon fovea (basin). M3 differs from both M1 and M2 in lacking a hypocone and in having a more robust and relatively larger protocone. It also differs from the other molars in having a rounded and posteriorly directed metacone, a double-crested metaloph with the posterior branch reaching the postcingulid and forming a small cuspule there, and in being somewhat more triangular in shape rather than more rhomboidal like M1-2.

Etymology

For Jonathan I. Bloch, who discovered the type specimen and for his many contributions to the recovery and study of fossil mammals from Wyoming and elsewhere.

Remarks

Rose and Von Koenigswald (2007) discussed the complicated history of Notoparamys and described a highly variable sample of what they referred to as N. costilloi from Wa-6 in the Bighorn Basin of northwestern Wyoming. They noted that many (most) of the distinctive characters used to diagnose this genus (hypocone distinct and adjacent to metaconule on M1-2, M3 smaller than M1-2, mesoconid large and isolated on lower molars, hypoconulid wide and connected to entoconid by a pair of ridges enclosing a tiny basin that may be open posteriorly, accessory lophid extends from metaconid into trigonid fovea, low incisor flattened medially, rounded laterally, see Korth, 1984, 1994b; Anderson, 2008) are variably present or absent and variably developed or not in the Bighorn Basin sample.

?Notoparamys blochi n. sp. is no exception, with only a distinct hypocone and an accessory lophid extending from the metaconid into the trigonid fovea on the lower molars being definitively shared in common with the genotype species, N. costilloi. The double-ridge connection of the hypoconulid to the entoconid is only incipient (see description above) on the m1-2 of ?N. blochi. Korth (1984) indicated that both of these ridges originated from the lingual end of the hypoconulid in Notoparamys but it is apparent from the m1-2 of ?N. blochi that the more mesial of these ridges likely originated from the entoconid and extended posterobucally to eventually reach the hypoconulid. The more posterior of these ridges is described as being “broken at its center by narrow valley” (Korth, 1984, p. 21). In ?N. blochi, the posterior ridge is clearly differentiated from the entoconid by a rather distinct valley on m1 while that valley is partially bridged by a small cuspule located between the entoconid and hypoconulid on m2.

We tentatively assign this new species to ?Notoparamys. However, we note that, aside from the type sample from Huerfano (Wood, 1962; Robinson, 1966; Korth, 1984), it is questionable whether or not any of the other specimens assigned to Notoparamys (Korth, 1984; Rose and Chinnery, 2004; Rose and Von Koenigswald, 2007) actually belong to that genus, and if they do, whether or not the genus can be sustained as defined given that virtually every character cited in the diagnosis is so variable as to often be completely absent. We believe that, at the generic level especially, diagnostic characters must be those that are present in all specimens whether or not they are weakly or more strongly formed.

Measurements

FOBU 6092: M1 = 3.7 x 4.3, M2 = 3.8 x 4.3, M3 = 4.3 x 3.9, m1 = 4.1 x 3.5, m2 = 4.5 x 3.8.

Genus Paramys Leidy, 1871

Type species

Paramys delicatus Leidy, 1871 (as designated by Wood, 1962), Green River Basin, Wyoming.

Paramys excavatus Loomis, 1907

Figure 7.5

Holotype

ACM 327, right dentary p4-m3, Wasatchian Biochron a6, Wind River Formation, Bridger Creek, Wyoming.

Occurrence

Localities FB-1, 10, 18, 19, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6 (FB-10, 18-19) and late early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-7 (FB-1), main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-1: FB 96-038, left dentary i1; FB 96-039, left m1. FB-10: FOBU 6182, left maxilla P4-M1. FB-18: FB 97-079, left p4. FB-19: FB 97-096, left maxilla P4.

Remarks

These specimens are in the size range of the relatively common taxon Paramys excavatus (Wood, 1962) and probably all represent that species.

Measurements

FB 96-039: m1 = 3.1 x 3.0; FOBU 6182: P4 = 2.7 x 3.3, M1 = 2.7 x 3.3; FB 97-079: p4 = 2.6 x 2.1.

Paramyinae sp. indet.

Occurrence

Locality FB-16, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FOBU 6283, right M2.

Remarks

This tooth represents a small paramyine, larger than Microparamys, but smaller than other known paramyines. M2 is almost square with a relatively small, indistinct, posteriorly placed hypocone, a relatively strong, isolated metaconule, and a tiny mesostyle. This tooth may represent a new paramyine genus, but more complete specimens are required to be certain.

Measurements

FB 6283: M2 = 2.1 x 2.2

Family Sciuravidae Miller and Gidley, 1918

Genus Knightomys Gazin, 1961

Type species

Tillomys senior Gazin, 1952, Green River Basin, Wyoming.

Knightomys depressus Loomis, 1907

Figure 7.6–7.7

Holotype

ACM 432, skull with right M1-3, left I1, Wasatchian Biochron Wa6, Wind River Formation, Wyoming.

Occurrence

Localities FB-1, 4, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6 (FB-4) and late early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-7 (FB-1), main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-1: FOBU 6161, right m2. FB-4: FOBU 6408, left m1.

Remarks

These two specimens represent a sciuravid larger than Knightomys senior (Gazin, 1952) and are similar in size to K. depressus (Loomis, 1907). The type sample of K. depressus is from the Wa-6 horizon in the Wind River Basin (Wood, 1965), but the species may range into the Bridgerian (Korth, 1994b).

Measurements

FOBU 6161: m2 = 2.0 x 1.9; FOBU 6408: m = 2.0 x 1.7.

Knightomys huerfanensis (Wood, 1962)

1962 Paramys huerfanensis Wood, p. 62

1966 Paramys huerfanensis; Robinson, p. 45

Holotype

AMNH 55114, right dentary p4-m3, Bridgerian Biochron Br1a, Locality II, Huerfano Formation, Colorado.

Occurrence

Locality FB-19, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FOBU 6397, left M2.

Remarks

This single tooth represents a relatively large species of Knightomys. It is of similar size to K. huerfanensis and, like that species, has relatively robust and rounded cusps, especially the protocone and hypocone (Korth, 1984). This specimen represents the earliest known occurrence (Wa-6) of K. huerfanensis, otherwise only known from the latest Wasatchian (Wa-7) and earliest Bridgerian (Br-1a).

Measurements

FOBU 6397: M2 = 2.3 x 2.5.

Order Oxyaenodonta Van Valen, 1971

Family Oxyaenidae Cope, 1877

Subfamily Oxyaeninae Cope, 1877

Genus Oxyaena Cope, 1874

Type species

Oxyaena lupina Cope, 1874, San Juan Basin, New Mexico.

Oxyaena forcipata Cope, 1874

Figure 8.1–8.2

Figure 8 (1–2) UM 102584, Oxyaena forcipata, left dp4 with broken labial trigonid and lingual talonid in occlusal (top) and lingual (bottom) views. (3) FOBU 6380, Prototomus secundarius, right P4 in occlusal view. (4) FOBU 6380, Prototomus secundarius, left broken M1 in occlusal view. (5) FOBU 6385, Didymictis cf. D. protenus, left m2 in occlusal view. (6) UM 108143, Didymictis cf. D. protenus, left M1 (broken) in occlusal view. Scale bars=5 mm.

Holotype

USNM 1029, left and right dentaries, Wasatchian Biochron Wa7, San Jose Formation, San Juan Basin, New Mexico.

Occurrence

Locality FB-7, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

UM 102584, left dp4.

Remarks

This specimen represents a relatively large species of Oxyaena. The Wa-6 form, O. forcipata, is of the right size and morphology, and we identify UM 102584 as this species.

Measurements

UM 102584: dp4 length = 13.9 mm (a width measurement is not possible on this broken specimen).

Order Hyaenodonta Van Valen, 1967

Genus Prototomus Cope, 1874

Type species

Prototomus viverrinus Cope, 1874, San Juan Basin, New Mexico.

Prototomus secundarius Cope, 1875

Figure 8.3–8.4

1962 Sinopa, cf. S. multicuspis (in part); Gazin, p. 55

Holotype

USNM 1025, left and right dentary fragments, Wasatchian Biochron Wa7, San Jose Formation, San Juan Basin, New Mexico.

Occurrence

Locality FB-27, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FOBU 6380, right P4, left maxilla P3-M1.

Remarks

These specimens represent an intermediate-sized hyaenodontid and are of appropriate size and morphology to be identified as P. secundarius. An additional specimen, probably referable to P. secundarius, from “high on Fossil Butte” (Gazin, 1962, p. 55; near UM Localities FB-1 and FB-27), is USNM 22460, a fragmentary right maxilla with two broken molars.

Measurements

FOBU 6380: P3 = 5.0 x 2.7, P4 = 5.5 x 5.0, M1 = 6.0 x 7.2.

Hyaenodontid sp. indet.

Occurrence

Localities FB-13, 18, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-13: FB 97-004, right maxilla, P2 fragment. FB-18: FB 97-077, postcrania.

Remarks

These two specimens represent hyaenodontids, but it is not possible to identify either to genus or species.

Order Carnivora Bowdich, 1821

Family Viverravidae Wortman and Matthew, 1899

Genus Viverravus Marsh, 1872

Type species

Viverravus gracilis Marsh, 1872, Green River Basin, Wyoming.

Viverravus sp. indet.

Occurrence

Localities FB-8, 9, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-8: FOBU 6148, right P4 fragment. FB-9: FOBU 6177, left dentary p4-m2, teeth broken.

Remarks

These two specimens confirm the presence of Viverravus at Fossil Butte. They are too fragmentary for specific determination.

Genus Didymictis Cope, 1875

Type species

Limnocyon protenus Cope, 1874, San Juan Basin, New Mexico.

Didymictis cf. D. protenus (Cope, 1874)

Figure 8.5–8.6

1874 Limnocyon protenus Cope, p. 15

1882a Didymictis curtidens Cope, p. 160

1962 Didymictis altidens (in part); Gazin, p. 57

Holotype

USNM 1092, left and right dentaries, Wasachian Biochron Wa7, San Jose Formation, San Juan Basin, New Mexico.

Occurrence

Localities FB-1, 5, 7, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6 (FB-5, 7) and late early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-7 (FB-1), main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-1: FOBU 6120, left m1 trigonid. FB-5: FOBU 6385, left m2. FB-7: UM 108143, left M1.

Remarks

These specimens represent a medium-sized species of Didymictis. They are similar in size to D. protenus and smaller than D. altidens. Gazin (1962, p. 57) tentatively assigned some tooth fragments from the “higher slopes of Fossil Butte” (probably near UM Localities FB-1 and FB-27) to D. altidens. We believe it is more probable that they represent D. protenus.

Measurements

FOBU 6385: m2 = 8.0 x 4.7; UM 108143: M1 = 7.0 x 9.9.

Family Miacidae Cope, 1880

Genus Vulpavus Marsh, 1871

Type species

Vulpavus palustris Marsh, 1871, Green River Basin, Wyoming.

Vulpavus australis Savagea

1962 cf. Vulpavus australis; Gazin, p. 60

Holotype

AMNH 16226, left dentary p4-m3, Wasatchian Wa7, San Jose Formation, San Juan Basin, New Mexico.

Occurrence

“High on the slope of Fossil Butte” (Gazin, 1962, p. 60; probably near UM Localities FB-1 and FB-27), late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6 (FB-27) or late early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-7 (FB-1), main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

USNM 22474, right M1.

Remarks

Gazin (1962, p. 60) noted the presence of a single tooth of Vulpavus from Fossil Butte. This specimen conforms in size and morphology with V. australis.

Miacid sp. A & B indet.

Occurrence

Localities FB-1, 5, 7, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6 (FB-5, 7) and late early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-7 (FB-1), main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-1: FOBU 6109, right m1 trigonid. FB-5: FOBU 6110, right m2 talonid. FB-7: UM 102593, left m2 talonid.

Remarks

These fragmentary specimens represent two different miacid carnivorans, but are too incomplete to be assigned to any particular genus or species.

Order Perissodactyla Owen, 1848

Family Equidae Gray, 1821

Genus Protorohippus Wortman, 1886

Type species

Hyracotherium venticolum Cope, 1881, Wind River Basin, Wyoming.

Protorohippus venticolum (Cope, 1881)

Figure 9.1–9.2

Figure 9 (1) FOBU 6378, Protorohippus venticolum, left dentary p4-m3 in occlusal view. (2) FOBU 6325, Protorohippus venticolum, left maxilla M2-3 in occlusal view. (3) FOBU 6179, Heptodon calciculus, left M1 in occlusal view. (4) FOBU 6154, Lambdotherium popoagicum, left m1 trigonid in occlusal view. (5) DPC 14810, Lambdotherium popoagicum, left m1 in occlusal view. Scale bars=5 mm.

1881 Hyracotherium venticolum Cope, p. 198

1886 Protorohippus venticolus; Wortman, p. 105

1908 Eohippus venticolus; Granger, p. 244

1952 Hyracotherium index (in part); Gazin, p. 66

1956 Hyracotherium vasacciense venticolum; Kitts, p. 50

1962 Hyracotherium vasacciense (in part); Gazin, p. 73

1967 Hyracotherium vasacciense; Guthrie, p. 43

2002 Protorohippus venticolum; Froehlich, p. 180

Holotype

AMNH 4832, skull and skeleton, Wasatchian Biochron Wa7, Wind River Formation, Wind River Basin, Wyoming.

Occurrence

Localities FB-4, 5, 7–9, 11, 14–16, 18, 19, 21, 22, 26, 27, 29, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Referred specimens

FB-4: FOBU 6387, left Mx. FB-5: FB 95-006, left m1-2; FOBU 6404, right Mx. FB-7: UM 102583, right maxilla dP3-4-M1; UM 102590, right P3; UM 108137, left P2; UM 108139, right p4; UM 108140, left p3; UM 108141, right P4; UM 108142, right maxilla P2-M1. FB-8: FB 96-017, right dentary m2; FB 96-020, right P3, Mx. FB-9: FB 96-064, right p4; FB 96-073, left M3; FB 96-074, right P4; FB 97-019, left m2. FB-11: FOBU 6358, right dentary m3 (broken); FOBU 6374, left dp4, m2; FOBU 6375, left dentary, postcrania; FOBU 6378, left and right dentaries, right maxilla; FOBU 6383, left m3. FB-14: FB 97-025, left m1. FB-15: FB 97-027, left M3, left m3; FB 97-067, right M1. FB-16: FB 97-031, left maxilla M1-2, right m1; FB 97-032, right dentary m3; FB 97-034, left p4; FB 97-042, right dentary p3-m2, Mx; FB 97-071, left dentary m2; FOBU 6372, right dentary m1-2 (teeth broken); FOBU 6418, left m1. FB-18: FB 97-078, right m1. FB-19: FB 97-084, left dentary m2; FB 97-087, left maxilla M1-3; FB 97-090, right maxilla M1; FB 97-093, right dentary dp4-m3; FOBU 6382, right dentary p3-4, m2-3. FB-21: FB 97-103, left M3. FB-22: FOBU 6325, palate. FB-26: FB 97-114, left dentary m1; FB 97-117, right M2-3. FB-27: FOBU 6428, left p3. FB-29: FB 97-124, left dentary m1.

Remarks

Equids are by far the most common mammals found at Fossil Butte. While there is some variation in tooth size, all of these specimens can be accommodated in Protorohippus venticolum, the most common Wa-6–Wa-7 species of North American equid (Froehlich, 2002). Gazin (1952, p 66) referred YPM-PU 16172 from three miles north of Fossil, Wyoming to Hyracotherium index. In 1962, Gazin noted that Kitts (1956) synonymized H. index with H. vasacciense. Gazin (1962, p. 73) reallocated all of the specimens he had assigned to H. index in 1952 to H. vasacciense, but noted that he still believed that two species were included within these samples and that H. index was still valid even though he was uncertain how to definitively separate the samples into two distinct species. Froehlich (2002) assigned this species to Protorohippus, and we follow that designation here. It seems clear that P. venticolum is a highly variable species, both in size and morphology. We concur with Gazin (1962) that two species probably are represented within the various samples, but we have chosen to include all of the Fossil Butte specimens referred above in this single species given the fragmentary nature of most specimens and the difficulty in isolating trends in either size or morphology.

Measurements

See Table 2 for tooth measurements of Protorohippus venticolum.

Table 2 Tooth measurements of Protorohippus venticolum; L=maximum length, W=maximum width, d indicates deciduous tooth.

Genus Xenicohippus Bown and Kihm, 1981

Type species

Xenicohippus grangeri Bown and Kihm, 1981, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming.

Xenicohippus craspedotum (Cope, 1880)

1880 Hyracotherium craspedotum Cope, p. 747

1908 Eohippus craspedotum; Granger, p. 244

1952 Hyracotherium, cf. H. venticolum (in part); Gazin, p. 66

1962 Hyracotherium, cf. H. craspedotum (in part); Gazin, p. 74, Pl. 13, fig. 11

1966 Hyracotherium craspedotum; Robinson, p. 61, Pl. IV, fig. 3

Holotype

AMNH 4830, left and right dentaries, Wasatchian Biochron Wa6, Wind River Formation, Wind River Basin, Wyoming.

Occurrence

Localities FB-1, 6, 25.

Materials

FB-1: FB 96-040, left p2. FB-6: FB 96-008, right dentary p3-m1. FB-25: FB 97–111, left dentary p3-4, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6 (FB-6, 25) and late early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-7 (FB-1), main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Remarks

Three equid specimens from Fossil Butte are outside the tooth size range of H. vasacciense (=P. venticolum) as documented by Kitts (1956). They can be recognized as the larger Wa-6–Wa-7 equid species, Xenicohippus craspedotum. Gazin (1952) identified YPM-PU 16173 from near Fossil, Wyoming as Hyracotherium cf. H. venticolum. In 1962, Gazin moved this specimen into Hyracotherium cf. H. craspedotum a decision with which we concur. Froehlich (2002) assigned this species to Xenicohippus, and we follow that designation here.

Measurements

FB 96-040: p2 = 6.6 x 3.4; FB 96-008: p3 = 6.5 x 4.3, p4 = 7.4 x 5.9, m1 = 8.2 x 6.2; FB 97-111: p3 = 6.6 x 3.9, p4 = 7.5 x 4.9.

Equid sp. indet.

Occurrence

Localities FB-1, 4–9, 11, 16, 19, 27, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6 (FB-4–9, 11, 16, 19, 27) and late early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-7 (FB-1), main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-1: FB 96-028, left Mx fragment; FB 96-031, left maxilla P4; FB 96-034, left Mx; FB 96-036, postcrania; FB 96-043, postcrania; FB 96-047, left P4; FB 96-050, postcrania. FB-4: FB 97-009, right Mx fragment. FB-5: FB 96-056, postcrania; FB 96-060, right Mx. FB-6: FB 96-004, left astragalar body; FB-7: UM 108136, postcrania. FB-8: FB 96-016, tooth fragments. FB-9: FB 96-066, postcrania. FB-11: FB 96-087, postcrania; FB 96-089, left Mx; FOBU 6357, postcrania; FOBU 6364, left m3 talonid; FOBU 6450, postcrania. FB-16: FB 97-035, tooth fragments; FOBU 6367, left astragalus; FOBU 6431, right mx trigonid. FB-19: FB 97-085, left dentary dp3; FB 97-086, left maxilla dP3; FB 97-091, right astragalus. FB-27: FOBU 6369, left and right Mx (broken), canine fragment; FOBU 6411, postcrania.

Remarks

These equid specimens are not complete enough for further identification.

Family Helaletidae Osborn and Wortman, 1892

Genus Heptodon Cope, 1882e

Type species

Lophiodon ventorum Cope, 1880, Wind River Basin, Wyoming.

Heptodon calciculus (Cope, 1880)

Figure 9.3

1880 Lophiodon calciculus Cope, p. 747

1952 Heptodon cf. H. ventorum (in part); Gazin, p. 70

1962 Heptodon ventorum (in part); Gazin, p. 78, Pl. 13, fig. 12

Holotype

AMNH 4858, left and right dentaries p3-m3, Wasatchian Biochron Wa7, Wind River Formation, Wind River Basin, Wyoming.

Occurrence

Localities FB-9, 12, 26, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-9: FOBU 6179, left M1; FOBU 6291, right dP4. FB-12: FB 96-092, left M1. FB-26: FOBU 6333, left dentary mx fragment.

Remarks

Heptodon is the most common tapiroid known from Wa-6–Wa-7 in Wyoming and Colorado. These specimens agree in size and morphological detail with H. calciculus and are smaller than Heptodon posticus (Radinsky, 1963). Gazin (1952) tentatively identified YPM-PU 16174, a dP/4 from near Fossil, Wyoming, as Heptodon ventorum. In 1962, Gazin again identified this specimen, along with four lots of fragmentary teeth from Fossil Butte (no specimen numbers cited), as H. ventorum, although he noted that all of these specimens corresponded more closely to the holotype of H. calciculus. We recognize all specimens of Heptodon from Fossil Butte as H. calciculus.

Measurements

FOBU 6179: M1 = 10.9 x 12.3; FOBU 6291: dP4 = 11.0 x 11.2.

Family Palaeotheriidae Bonaparte, 1850

Genus Lambdotherium Cope, 1880

Type species

Lambdotherium popoagicum Cope, 1880, Wind River Basin, Wyoming.

Lambdotherium popoagicum Cope, 1880

Figure 9.4

Holotype

AMNH 4863, left dentary p2-m3, Wasatchian Biochron Wa7, Wind River Formation, Wind River Basin, Wyoming.

Occurrence

Locality FB-1, late early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-7 (FB-1), main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FOBU 6154, left m1 trigonid.

Remarks

Although this specimen is fragmentary, it can be confidently identified as Lambdotherium. Lambdotherium is the primary index taxon of the Lostcabinian, indicating that the top of the Wasatch section at Fossil Butte represents Wa-7.

Order Artiodactyla Owen, 1848

Family Dichobunidae Turner, 1849

Genus Bunophorus Sinclair, 1914

Type species

Mioclaenus etsagicus Cope, 1882a, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming.

Bunophorus grangeri (Sinclair, 1914)

Figure 10.1–10.2

Figure 10 (1) FOBU 6441, Bunophorus grangeri, left P3 in occlusal view. (2) FOBU 6410, Bunophorus grangeri, right M1 in occlusal view. (3) FOBU 6122, Diacodexis secans, left dentary m2-3 in occlusal view. (4) FOBU 6123, Hexacodus uintensis, right dentary p4-m2 in occlusal (top) and lingual (bottom) views. Scale bars=5 mm.

1914 Wasatchia grangeri Sinclair, p. 269

Holotype

AMNH 15516, left and right dentaries, Gray Bull beds, middle Wasatchian (Wa3-5), Willwood Formation, Bighorn Basin, Wyoming.

Occurrence

Localities FB-11, 13, 16, 19, 27, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-11: FOBU 6394, left m2 fragment. FB-16: FOBU 6280, left m2 fragment, M/3. FB-19: FOBU 6441, left P3. FB-27: FOBU 6410, right M1. Also FOBU 6194, a right dentary fragment with c1 from FB-13 is questionably assigned to Bunophorus.

Remarks

These specimens represent a relatively small species of Bunophorus. They agree in size and morphology with B. grangeri (Stucky and Krishtalka, 1990).

Measurements

FOBU 6410: M1 = 5.8 x 6.8; FOBU 6441: P3 = 5.4 x 4.6.

Genus Diacodexis Cope, 1882e

Type species

Pantolestes secans Cope, 1881, Wind River Basin, Wyoming.

Diacodexis secans (Cope, 1881)

Figure 10.3

1881 Pantolestes secans Cope, p. 187

Holotype

AMNH 4899, left and right dentaries p4-m3, Wasatchian Biochron Wa6, Wind River Formation, Wind River Basin, Wyoming.

Occurrence

Localities FB-1, 5, 16, 19, 27, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6 (FB-5, 16, 19, 27) and late early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-7 (FB-1), main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-1: FOBU 6182, left mx trigonid. FB-5: FOBU 6421, left M1. FB-16: FOBU 6122, left dentary m2-3; FOBU 6226, right dentary m3; FOBU 6279, left M1; FOBU 6432, left Mx (worn); FOBU 6447, left dentary m1 fragment. FB-19: FOBU 6416, left m1; FOBU 6446, right M3. FB-27: FOBU 6337, left M1.

Remarks

Diacodexis secans is the most common dichobunid artiodactyl known in Wa-6–Wa-7 (Krishtalka and Stucky, 1985). These specimens agree in size and morphology with this species.

Measurements

FOBU 6122: m2 = 4.2 x 3.5; FOBU 6279: M1 = 4.1 x 4.9; FOBU 6337: M1 = 4.2 x 5.2; FOBU 6416: m1 = 4.2 x 3.5; FOBU 6421: M1 = 4.3 x 5.3; FOBU 6446: M3 = 3.4 x 5.1.

Family Homacodontidae Marsh, 1894

Genus Hexacodus Gazin, 1952

Type species

Hexacodus pelodes Gazin, 1952, Green River Basin, Wyoming.

Hexacodus uintensis Gazin, 1952

Figure 10.4

1952 Hexacodus uintensis Gazin, p. 76, Pl. 11, fig. 4

1962 Hexacodus uintensis, Gazin, p. 85, Pl. 14, fig. 5

Holotype

USNM 16175, left dentary m1-2, Wasatchian Biochron Wa6, Wasatch Formation, Green River Basin, 3 miles NW of Fossil Station, Wyoming.

Occurrence

Localities FB-11, 16, 19, 24, 27, late middle early Eocene, Wasatchian biochronologic zone Wa-6, main body, Wasatch Formation, Fossil Basin, Lincoln County, Wyoming.

Materials

FB-11: FOBU 6449, right dentary m1 talonid-m2. FB-16: FOBU 6228, left M1. FB-19: FOBU 6123, right dentary p4-m2. FB-24: FOBU 6327, left maxilla M1. FB-27: FOBU 6402, right mx (broken).

Remarks

Hexacodus uintensis was described by Gazin (1952) based on a single specimen (YPM-PU 16175) from three miles northwest of Fossil, Wyoming. Gazin (1962) later described another specimen of H. uintensis (USNM 22250) from Fossil Butte and noted that two other specimens, one from Knight Station and the other from the Bighorn Basin, might represent this species as well. The specimens assigned here expand the sample of this rare artiodactyl.

FOBU 6123 includes the first p4 known for H. uintensis. It differs from p4 in H. pelodes in being laterally compressed anteriorly, with the talonid being broader than the anterior part of the tooth. It also has a stronger paracristid that developed a small accessory cuspule close to the anterior flank of the protoconid unlike H. pelodes. The p4 of H. uintensis has a small anterobuccal cingulid, which is lacking in H. pelodes. Unlike that species, the p4 of H. uintensis lacks an entoconid cusp.

Measurements

FOBU 6449: m2 = 4.4 x 3.6; FOBU 6228: M1 = 4.2 x 5.1; FOBU 6123: p4 = 4.9 x 2.7, m1 = 4.4 x 3.1; FOBU 6327: M1 = 4.6 x 5.6.

Faunal comparisons, paleoecology and age

The mammalian assemblage from the Wasatch Formation at Fossil Butte (Table 1) presents interesting similarities and contrasts with other Wa-6 and Wa-7 samples from Wyoming. Figure 11.1 compares diversity as expressed by species per order between the Fossil Butte sample, a Wa-6 sample from the Bighorn Basin in northwestern Wyoming (UM collections), and a Wa-7 sample from the Pinnacles area of the northeastern Green River Basin, southwestern Wyoming (Gunnell et al., 2004; UM collections). Although a limited Wa-7 fauna occurs 30 km to the southeast, on Little Muddy Creek near the hamlet of Cumberland Gap (Zonneveld et al., 2000), this fauna is too limited, in both diversity and abundance to facilitate useful comparison to the Fossil Butte material.

Figure 11 (1) Mammalian species-level diversity (number of species per selected orders) at Fossil Butte compared to a Wa-6 sample from the Bighorn Basin in northwestern Wyoming and a Wa-7 sample from the Pinnacles area near South Pass, southwestern Wyoming. (2) Mammalian abundance (percent total number of specimens representing selected orders) at Fossil Butte compared with same faunal samples as in 1.

The Fossil Butte sample is similar to the Wa-6 sample in having relatively high diversity of Cimolesta, Condylarthra, and Carnivora, but differs in having a lower diversity of Primates, “Creodonta”, and Perissodactyla, and a much higher diversity of Rodentia. In comparison to the Wa-7 sample, Fossil Butte exhibits higher diversity of Cimolesta, Condylarthra, Rodentia, and Carnivora, but lower diversity of Primates and Perissodactyla. Perhaps the most unusual aspect of Fossil Butte mammalian diversity is the relatively low diversities of primates and perissodactyls (especially given the high abundance of perissodactyls, see below) and the very high diversity of rodents.

Relative abundances of Fossil Butte mammals can be compared to assemblages from the Bighorn Basin and the Pinnacles in northwestern and southwestern Wyoming, respectively. Since sample size for the Fossil Butte assemblage is relatively low, these comparisons will be made using percent of specimens in each sample. Figure 11.2 compares relative abundance for eight orders of Fossil Butte mammals with assemblages from the Bighorn Basin and the Pinnacles. Compared to Fossil Butte, both the Bighorn Basin and Pinnacles samples have higher abundances of condylarthans, almost entirely due to the very high abundance of Hyopsodus in the latter two basins. While relatively common at Fossil Butte, Hyopsodus only represents 14% of the mammalian sample compared to 21.5% in the Bighorn Basin and 22.3% at the Pinnacles. Both of these samples also have higher abundances of plesiadapiforms compared to Fossil Butte, almost entirely represented by Microsyops.

In contrast to the Bighorn and Pinnacles samples, perissodactyls are more common at Fossil Butte, almost entirely due to the high abundance of equids. At Fossil Butte, Xenicohippus and Protorohippus account for 32.7% of all mammal specimens, while in the Bighorn Basin the relative abundance of equids is at 23% and 17.6% at the Pinnacles.

Primates exhibit similar specimen abundance in all three samples, but there are substantial differences in the taxonomic composition of primates among the three areas. Primate taxonomic composition at Fossil Butte consists entirely of notharctid primates—there are no omomyid primates yet known from any Fossil Butte locality. Omomyids make up 36% of all primate specimens from Wa-6 localities in the Bighorn Basin and 26.7% of Wa-7 primate specimens from the Pinnacles.

The apparent absence of omomyid primates at Fossil Butte is probably at least partly because of the relatively poor preservation in the Wasatch Formation locally. Specimens are fragmentary with few documented associations. There are no vertebrate bone concentrations and screen washing for smaller members of the vertebrate community has proven unproductive. Omomyids are all relatively small and are difficult to find by surface prospecting. However, paleoecological factors also may be partially responsible for the lack of Fossil Basin omomyids.

Early Eocene (Wasatchian) omomyid primates from both the Fossil and greater Green River basins are extremely rare. Outside of a single series of localities in the Washakie Basin (Savage and Waters, 1978), published records of omomyids from the rest of the early Eocene of southwestern Wyoming consist of fewer than 75 specimens (Gazin, 1952, 1958, 1962; West, 1973; Szalay, 1976; Stucky, 1984; Bown and Rose, 1987; Zonneveld et al., 2000; Muldoon and Gunnell, 2002; Holroyd and Strait, 2008; Nachman et al., 2010). The paucity of omomyids from early Eocene strata in the greater Green River Basin suggests that ecological conditions were not suitable for anaptomorphine omomyids, the subfamily most common in the Wasatchian (Gunnell, 1997). However, by the middle Eocene (Bridgerian biochrons Br1b–Br3), omomyine omomyids are common elements in mammalian faunal assemblages of the Bridger Formation in the Green River Basin.

Overall, mammalian faunal community structure at Fossil Butte, combined with geological evidence, suggests paleohabitats consisting of both forested and more open areas. The extremely high abundance of the equid perissodactyls Protorohippus and Xenicohippus argue for open, broken forest habitats. The modestly high abundance of artiodactyls also suggests the presence of some open habitats. The relatively high abundance of notharctine primates indicates that forested areas occurred nearby, perhaps along river and stream courses.

The abundant presence of hydromorphic paleosols (sensu Kraus and Aslan, 1993) at the base of the exposed main body of the Wasatch Formation at Fossil Butte suggests that the lower portion of the section was deposited during relatively wet and poorly drained conditions. The middle part of the section (with better developed paleosols) was probably deposited during an interval with better drainage deposition. The upper part of the section was deposited under more poorly drained conditions and was followed by the onset of lake-sediment deposition as Fossil Lake formed during the Lostcabinian (Grande, 1984, 2013; Lillegraven and Ostresh, 1988).

Differences between the mammalian faunal sample at Fossil Butte and those in other areas are almost certainly due to the differing paleoecological condition. The fact that Fossil Basin was geomorphically isolated from other areas to the east by the Wyoming Overthrust Belt and to the west by the Tunp Range, may have contributed to some of the unusual occurrences in the Fossil Butte sample. The presence of Knightomys huerfanensis, Copelemur tutus, and Reithroparamys debequensis, all more common from southern areas (Colorado and New Mexico), suggests some interchange between Fossil Basin and these southern communities. Meniscotherium, which is common in both New Mexico and the adjacent Green River Basin, is nearly absent from Fossil Basin, suggesting that Meniscotherium preferred habitats different from those available in the Fossil Basin.

Given the location of Fossil Basin within the Overthrust Belt, it might be expected that the sample would include faunal indications of basin-margin habitats (Gunnell and Bartels, 2001). Included among basin-margin faunal indicators are the presence of unique species, such as the rodent Adaetoparamys blochi, the artiodactyl Hexacodus uintensis, the leptictid Eoictops novaceki, and the pantolestid Palaeosinopa lacus. The occurrences of the rare Wa-6 taxa Apheliscus and Haplomylus, and the anachronistically early appearance of the very rare Ectocion superstes may also suggest basin-margin influences.

Figure 12 summarizes the stratigraphic ranges of mammalian taxa in the Fossil Butte Wasatch Formation sequence. The Wa6 index taxon Heptodon calciculus is first found 135 m below the base of the Fossil Butte Member of the Green River Formation at locality FB-26. There is only one locality (FB-6) below the level of FB-26 that has yielded any identifiable mammals. None of the taxa recovered from this level suggests any pre-Wa-6 Eocene horizons existing at Fossil Butte. Lambdotherium appears at locality FB-1, within 15 m of the base of the Fossil Butte Member of the Green River Formation. This indicates that the top of the Fossil Butte section of the Wasatch Formation represents the Lostcabinian (Wa-7), as does the Fossil Butte Member of the Green River Formation, wherein Lambdotherium has also been found (Froehlich and Breithaupt, 1997). Based on the ranges of mammalian taxa at Fossil Butte, all of the Wasatch Formation represents at least Wa-6, with the top 15 m of the section representing Wa-7.

Figure 12 Stratigraphic ranges of mammalian taxa in the Wasatch Formation at Fossil Butte, not including specimens found previous to this work (Mesonychid indet., Reithroparamys cf. R. debequensis, Vulpavus australis) because it was not possible to precisely fit them into proper stratigraphic position. Left axis shows the distribution of fossil localities in the Fossil Butte section. Right axis shows section measured in m below the base of the overlying Fossil Butte Member of the Green River Formation.

Summary

The mammalian faunal assemblage from the Wasatch Formation at Fossil Butte National Monument consists of 36 genera and as many as 46 species. Two genera and three species are new and, along with Hexacodus uintensis, are unique to the Fossil Butte sample. Most of the other members of the assemblage are well known from other Wa-6 sediments in Wyoming and New Mexico. The top 15 m of the local section samples the beginning of the succeeding Wasatchian biochron (Wa-7), as indicated by the first appearance of the immigrant perissodactyl Lambdotherium. However, some taxa represent relatively rare forms (Ectocion superstes) or unusually late Wasatchian occurrences (Apheliscus, Haplomylus), suggesting that Fossil Basin may have provided a refugium for some taxa. Also, some taxa are more common from southern basins within North America (Knightomys huerfanensis, Copelemur tutus, and Reithroparamys debequensis), indicating that Fossil Basin exchanged faunal elements with these areas during the early Eocene. The most abundant mammals living in Fossil Basin during Wa-6 were equid perissodactyls representing over 30% of the total number of specimens. The relatively high percentage occurrence of fossil horses at Fossil Butte suggests that well-drained, open-forest habitats were common in the area during the early Eocene.