The Pliocene Horse Nannippus Minor in Georgia: Geologic Implications

Abstract

Two upper cheek teeth of the diminutive horse Nannippus minor (Sellards) were collected from "upland gravel" deposits of previously unknown age in eastern Taylor County, Georgia. The known geographic and geologic range of the species is restricted to the Hemphillian (middle Pliocene on the North American land mammal time scale) of the southeastern United States, all previous specimens having been collected from the Bone Valley Gravels in Florida. Major downcutting of Piedmont and Coastal Plain streams, at least in the vicinity of the fossiliferous expo sure, began no earlier than 10 million years ago. The fossils provide the first definite evidence of Pliocene rocks in Georgia.