# Dove Spring Formation

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The **Dove Spring Formation** (formerly the **Ricardo Formation**) is a [geologic formation](/source/Formation_(geology)) in the western [Mojave Desert](/source/Mojave_Desert) of [California](/source/California).[1] It preserves [fossils](/source/Fossils) dating back to the [Miocene](/source/Miocene) epoch of the [Neogene](/source/Neogene) [period](/source/Period_(geology)).

## Fossil content

### Mammals

#### Bats

Bats reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images Chiroptera Gen. et. sp. undetermined Kern County, California.[1] A bat.

#### Carnivorans

Carnivorans reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images Barbourofelis B. osborni Kern County, California.[1] Junior synonym of B. whitfordi. B. whitfordi Red Canyon & other localities, Kern County, California.[2] Teeth & mandible.[2] A barbourofelid. B. sp. LACM localities 6260 & 1108, Kern County, California.[2] Left partial humerus (LACM 140853) & left distal humerus (LACM 59336).[2] A barbourofelid also found in the Green Valley Formation. Bassariscus B. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A procyonid. Borophagus B. littoralis Red Rock Canyon, Kern County, California.[3] Left maxillary (LACM 143520).[3] A borophagine dog also found in the Green Valley, Santa Margarita & Chanac formations. Carpocyon C. robustus Kern County, California.[3] Partial skeleton (UCMP 33569).[3] A borophagine dog. cf. Eomellivora cf. E. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A large mustelid similar to the honey badger. Epicyon E. aphobus Kern County, California.[1] Junior synonym of E. haydeni. E. haydeni Ricardo Fauna, Kern County, California.[3] Skull elements.[3] A borophagine dog. E. saevus Ricardo Fauna, Kern County, California.[1][3] Ramal elements.[3] A borophagine dog. "Felis" "F." sp. Kern County, California.[1] A small felid. Ischyrocyon I. gidleyi Last Chance Gulch, Kern County, California.[4] A bear-dog. I. mohavensis Kern County, California.[1] Junior synonym of I. gidleyi. Leptocyon L. vafer Kern County, California (lower & upper parts of the formation).[1][5] Skull elements.[5] A canine dog. Martinogale M. faulli Red Rock Canyon, Kern County, California.[6] A nearly-complete skull (LACM 56230).[6] A skunk. M. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A skunk. "Mephitis" "M." sp. Kern County, California.[1] A skunk. Metalopex M. macconnelli Red Rock Canyon, Kern County, California.[5] Skull elements.[5] A fox also found in the Milk Creek Formation & Malheur County, Oregon. Mustela ?M. buwaldi Kern County, California.[1] A weasel. Osteoborus O. diabloensis Kern County, California.[1] Junior synonym of Borophagus littoralis.[3] Pseudaelurus P. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A felid. Tomarctus T. robustus Kern County, California.[1] Moved to the genus Carpocyon.[3] T. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A borophagine dog. "Vulpes" "V." sp. Kern County, California.[1] A fox.

#### Eulipotyphlans

Eulipotyphlans reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images Alluvisorex A. chasseae Kern County, California.[1] A shrew. Erinaceidae Erinaceidae "A" Kern County, California.[1] An erinaceid. Lanthanotherium L. sp. Kern County, California.[1] An erinaceid. Limnoecus L. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A shrew. Scapanus S. (Xeroscapheus) shultzi Kern County, California.[1] A mole. "Sorex" "S." sp. Kern County, California.[1] A shrew.

#### Lagomorphs

Lagomorphs reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images Hesperolagomys H. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A pika. Hypolagus H. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A leporid.

#### Proboscideans

Proboscideans reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images Gomphotherium G. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A gomphothere. Serbelodon S. burnhami Ricardo, Kern County, California.[1][7] Anterior portion of a mandible (F:AM 18228) & 2 tusk fragments (F:AM 18228A & 18228B).[7] An amebelodontid.

#### Rodents

Rodents reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images Acrolophomys A. rhodopetros Teeth & dentary.[8] A cricetid. Ammospermophilus A. sp. Kern County, California.[1] An antelope squirrel. Antecalomys A. coxae Many teeth.[8] A sigmodontine. Bensonomys B. sp. Kern County, California.[8] Maxillae, a dentary & teeth.[8] A sigmodontine. Copemys C. dentalis Kern County, California.[1] Dentaries & teeth.[8] A cricetid. C. cf. C. longidens Kern County, California.[1] A cricetid. C. russelli Kern County, California.[1] A cricetid. C. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A cricetid. C. sp., cf. C. dentalis Teeth & jaw elements.[8] A cricetid. Cupidinimus C. avawatzensis Kern County, California.[1] A heteromyid also found in the Avawatz Formation. C. tertius Kern County, California.[1] A heteromyid. C. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A small heteromyid. Eucastor E. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A castorid. Leptodontomys L. sp. Kern County, California.[1] An eomyid. Lindsaymys L. takeuchii Kern County, California.[8] Multiple specimens.[8] A cotton rat. L. sp., cf. L. takeuchii Kern County, California.[8] Multiple teeth.[8] A cotton rat. L. sp. A Kern County, California.[8] Molars.[8] A cotton rat. L. sp. B Kern County, California.[8] Molars.[8] A cotton rat. Parapliosaccomys P. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A gopher. Paronychomys P. spp. Kern County, California.[1] A cricetid. Perognathus P. furlongi Kern County, California.[1] A pocket-mouse. P. minutus Kern County, California.[1] A pocket-mouse. Postcopemys P. sp., cf. P. valensis Teeth & dentary.[8] A cricetid. Protospermophilus P. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A squirrel. Repomys "R." sp. Kern County, California.[1] A cricetid. cf. R. sp. M2 (LACM 156378).[8] A cricetid. Tamias T. ateles Kern County, California.[1] A chipmunk. "Thomomys" "T." sp. Kern County, California.[1] A gopher.

#### Ungulates

Ungulates reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images Aphelops A. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A rhinoceros. Cormohipparion C. occidentale Kern County, California.[1] Isolated teeth & a lower mandible.[9] Remains reassigned to C. sp.[9] C. sp. El Paso Basin.[9] Isolated teeth & a lower mandible.[9] An equid. Cosoryx C. sp. Kern County, California.[1] An antilocaprid. Dinohippus D. cf. D. leardi Kern County, California.[1] An equid. ?Hemiauchenia ?H. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A camelid. Hipparion H. forcei Kern County, California.[1] An equid. H. tejonensis Kern County, California.[1] An equid. Ilingoceros I. sp. Kern County, California.[1] An antilocaprid. Megahippus M. cf. M. matthewi Kern County, California.[1] An equid. ?Megatylopus ?M. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A camelid. ?Michenia ?M. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A camelid. Paracosoryx P. furlongi Kern County, California.[1][10] An antilocaprid. Peraceras P. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A rhinoceros. Plioceros P. sp. Kern County, California.[1] An antilocaprid. Pliohippus P. tantulus Kern County, California.[1] An equid. P. tejonensis Kern County, California.[1] An equid. ?Procamelus ?P. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A camelid. ?Prosthennops ?P. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A peccary. Teleoceras T. cf. T. meridianum Kern County, California.[1] A rhinoceros. Ustatochoerus U. californicus Kern County, California.[1] A merycoidodontid. U. cf. U. profectus Kern County, California.[1] A merycoidodontid.

### Reptiles

#### Birds

Birds reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images Branta B. howardae Kern County, California.[1] A goose. Neophrontops N. ricardoensis Kern County, California.[1] A gypaetine vulture.

#### Squamates

Squamates reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images Anguidae Gen. indet. Kern County, California.[1] A very large anguid lizard. Callisaurus C. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A zebra-tailed lizard. Gerrhonotus G. cf. G. kingi Kern County, California.[1] An alligator lizard. Lichanura L. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A rosy boa. Paleoheterodon P. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A colubrid snake. Paracoluber P. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A colubrid snake. Paragerrhonotus P. ricardensis Kern County, California.[1] An anguid lizard. Proptychophis P. achoris Red Rock Canyon State Park, Kern County, California.[1][11] Numerous vertebrae & the posterior portion of a right maxilla.[11] A colubrid snake. Sceloporus S. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A large spiny lizard. "Thamnophis" "T." sp. Kern County, California.[1] A garter snake. Uma U. sp. Locality LACM 4702.[12] A partial & fused premaxilla (LACM 159892).[12] A fringe-toed lizard. ?Uta ?U. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A side-blotched lizard. Xantusia X. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A night lizard.

#### Testudines

Testudines reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images Clemmys C. sp. Kern County, California.[1] An emydine turtle. Geochelone G. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A tortoise. ?Gopherus ?G. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A gopher tortoise.

### Amphibians

Amphibians reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images Batrachoseps B. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A lungless salamander. Bufonidae Kern County, California.[1] A true toad. cf. Ensatina cf. E. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A lungless salamander. Ranidae Kern County, California.[1] A true frog.

### Fish

Fish reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images Empetrichthys E. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A splitfin.

### Plants

Plants reported from the Dove Spring Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images Acacia A. sp. Kern County, California.[1] An acacia. Ceanothus C. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A buckbrush. Cupressus C. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A cypress tree. Lycium L. sp. Kern County, California.[1] A box thorn. Palmoxylodon P. mohavensis Kern County, California.[1] A palm. Pinus P. kelloggii Kern County, California.[1] A pine. Quercus Q. ricardensis Kern County, California.[1] An oak tree. Robinia R. alexanderi Kern County, California.[1] A legume.

## See also

- [List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in California](/source/List_of_fossiliferous_stratigraphic_units_in_California)
- [Paleontology in California](/source/Paleontology_in_California)

## References

1. Whistler, David P. & Burbank, D. (1992). "Miocene biostratigraphy and biochronology of the Dove Spring Formation, Mojave Desert, California, and characterization of the Clarendonian mammal age (late Miocene) in California". *Geological Society of America Bulletin*. **104** (6): 644–658. [Bibcode:1992GSAB..104..644W](https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/1992GSAB..104..644W). [doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1992)104<0644:MBABOT>2.3.CO;2](https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1992)104%3C0644:MBABOT%3E2.3.CO;2). [S2CID 130575409](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:130575409)

1. Tseng, Zhijie J.; Takeuchi, Gary T.; Wang, Xiaoming (2010-01-29). ["Discovery of the upper dentition of *Barbourofelis whitfordi* (Nimravidae, Carnivora) and an evaluation of the genus in California"](https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236961603). *Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology*. **30** (1): 244–254. [doi:10.1080/02724630903416001](https://doi.org/10.1080/02724630903416001). [ISSN 0272-4634](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0272-4634). [S2CID 21713508](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:21713508)

1. Wang, Xiaoming; Tedford, Richard H.; Taylor, Beryl E. (1999). ["Phylogenetic systematics of the Borophaginae (Carnivora, Canidae)."](https://digitallibrary.amnh.org/handle/2246/1588). *Bulletin of the AMNH*. '***(243): 9–391. [hdl:2246/1588](https://hdl.handle.net/2246/1588)***

1. Hunt, Robert (1998-01-01). ["Amphicyonidae"](https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/museummammalogy/275). *Mammalogy Papers: University of Nebraska State Museum*

1. Tedford, Richard H.; Wang, Xiaoming; Taylor, Beryl E. (2009). [*Phylogenetic systematics of the North American fossil Caninae (Carnivora, Canidae). (Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, no. 325)*](https://digitallibrary.amnh.org/handle/2246/5999). [New York] : American Museum of Natural History. [hdl:2246/5999](https://hdl.handle.net/2246/5999)

1. Wang, Xiaoming; Whistler, David P.; Takeuchi, Gary T. (2005). ["A New Basal Skunk Martinogale (Carnivora, Mephitinae) from Late Miocene Dove Spring Formation, California, and Origin of New World Mephitines"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/4524520). *Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology*. **25** (4): 936–949. [doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2005)025\[0936:ANBSMC](https://doi.org/10.1671/0272-4634(2005)025%5B0936:ANBSMC%5D2.0.CO;2)2.0.CO;2]. [ISSN 0272-4634](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0272-4634). [JSTOR 4524520](https://www.jstor.org/stable/4524520). [S2CID 21747985](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:21747985)

1. Osborn, Henry Fairfield; Blick, John C.; Frick, Childs (June 1933). ["Serbelodon burnhami, a new shovel-tusker from California."](https://digitallibrary.amnh.org/handle/2246/2061). *American Museum Novitates*. '***(639): 1–5. [hdl:2246/2061](https://hdl.handle.net/2246/2061)***

1. Thomas S. Kelly & David P. Whistler (2014). ["New late Miocene (latest Clarendonian to early Hemphillian) cricetid rodents from the upper part of the Dove Spring Formation, Mojave Desert, California"](https://paludicolavertpaleo.files.wordpress.com/2018/05/10-1-kelly-and-whistler-2014.pdf). *Paludicola*. **10** (1): 1–48.

1. Woodburne, Michael O. (2007). ["Phyletic diversification of the Cormohipparion occidentale complex (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Equidae), late Miocene, North America, and the origin of the Old World Hippotherium datum ; Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, no. 306"](https://digitallibrary.amnh.org/handle/2246/5872). [hdl:2246/5872](https://hdl.handle.net/2246/5872)

1. Prothero, Donald R. & Foss, Scott E. (2007-12-17). [*The Evolution of Artiodactyls*](https://books.google.com/books?id=qO8H_alEofAC&dq=paracosoryx+furlongi&pg=PA229). JHU Press. p. 229. ISBN 978-0-8018-8735-2.

1. Whistler, David P. & Wright, John W. (1989). ["A Late Miocene Rear-Fanged Colubrid Snake from California with Comments on the Phylogeny of North American Snakes"](https://www.jstor.org/stable/3892892). *Herpetologica*. **45** (3): 350–367. [ISSN 0018-0831](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/0018-0831). [JSTOR 3892892](https://www.jstor.org/stable/3892892)

1. Scarpetta, Simon G. (2019-09-06). "The first known fossil Uma: ecological evolution and the origins of North American fringe-toed lizards". *BMC Evolutionary Biology*. **19** (1): 178. [doi:10.1186/s12862-019-1501-5](https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-019-1501-5). [ISSN 1471-2148](https://www.worldcat.org/issn/1471-2148). [PMC 6729053](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6729053). [PMID 31492110](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/31492110)

- ((Various Contributors to the Paleobiology Database)). ["Fossilworks: Gateway to the Paleobiology Database"](https://www.fossilworks.org). Retrieved 17 December 2021.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Dove Spring Formation](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dove_Spring_Formation) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dove_Spring_Formation?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.