The Devil's Ranch Fossil Site is a layer of Miocene-era rocks located near Ashfall, Nebraska. The Fossil Site is located within the grounds of Fossil Quarry Zoo and Aquarium.
History
TBA
Paleoenvironment
20 million years ago the Devil's Ranch site was a sprawling wetland, dominated by cypresses, and redwoods. Similar to the Great Cypress Swamp or Big Cypress National Reserve of the modern era
Biota
Mammals
Rodents present in Devil's Ranch Collapse
| Genus
|
Species
|
Material
|
Notes
|
| Agnotocastor
|
A. sp.
|
|
Castorid Rodent, related to modern beavers
|
| Antecalomys
|
A. sp.
|
|
Cricetid Rodent
|
| Castor
|
C. sp.
|
|
Castorid Rodent
|
| Ceratogaulus
|
C. sp.
|
|
Mylagaulidae
|
| Dipoides
|
D. sp.
|
|
Castorid Rodent
|
| Eutamias
|
E. sp.
|
|
Sciuridae
|
| Miopetaurista
|
M. sp.
|
|
A Flying Squirrel
|
| Neotoma sp.
|
N. sp.
|
|
Cricetidae
|
| Palaeocastor
|
P. sp.
|
|
Castorid Rodent
|
| Postcopemys
|
P. reppeningi
|
|
Cricetidae
|
| Repomys
|
R. sp.
|
|
Cricetidae
|
| Symmetrodontomys
|
S. daamsi
|
|
Cricetidae
|
Insectivores present in Devil's Ranch Collapse
| Genus
|
Species
|
Material
|
Notes
|
| Achlyoscapter
|
A. sp.
|
|
A Talpid
|
| Alluvisorex
|
A. arcadentes
|
|
A Soricid Shrew
|
| A. sp.
|
|
|
| Anouroneomys
|
A. magnus
|
|
A Soricid Shrew
|
| Bizarrotherium
|
B. sp.
|
|
An Epoicotheriid
|
| Chimaeratalpa
|
C. sp.
|
|
Talpidae
|
| Dynamoerinaceus
|
D. atrox
|
|
A giant macropredatory Erinaceid
|
| Horridogalerix
|
H. monstrosus
|
|
A large macropredatory Erinaceid
|
| Lemoynea
|
L. biradicularis
|
|
Talpidae
|
| Limnoecus
|
L. sp.
|
|
Soricidae
|
| Magnatalpa
|
|
|
Talpidae
|
| Megaleptictis
|
M. horridus
|
|
A Giant macropredatory Leptictid. with a bizarre structure on its neck that it could extend and retract at will, when fully extended it completely changes the silhouette and appearance of the creature. Common Name: Pantherapod.
|
| Miocondylura
|
|
|
Talpidae, related to the Kraken-Moles of Anaho Island
|
| Mioscalops
|
|
|
Talpidae
|
| Neurotrichus
|
|
|
Talpidae
|
| Paenelimneocus
|
P. sp.
|
|
Soricidae
|
| Parascalops
|
|
|
Talpidae
|
| Petenyia
|
P. sp.
|
|
Soricidae
|
| Proterix
|
P. sp.
|
|
A fossorial Erinaceid, lacking eyes and limbs.
|
| Sorex
|
edwardsi
|
|
Soricidae
|
| yatkolai
|
|
| sp.
|
|
| Talpinae sp. 1
|
|
|
Moles
|
| Talpinae sp. 2
|
|
|
| Talpinae sp. 3
|
|
|
| Teuthidotalpoides
|
T. eokraken
|
|
A giant macropredatory relative of the Kraken-Moles
|
| Thanatogalerix
|
T. rex
|
|
A large macropredatory Erinaceid
|
| Tregosorex
|
T. sp.
|
|
Soricidae
|
| Xenocranium
|
X. sp.
|
|
An Epoicotheriid
|
| Xenotalpa
|
X. sp.
|
|
Talpidae
|
Chiroptera
Bats of Devil's Ranch
| Genus
|
Species
|
Material
|
Notes
|
| Lasiurus
|
L. sp.
|
|
A Vesper Bat
|
| Myotis
|
M. sp.
|
|
A Vesper Bat
|
| Vespertilionidae spp. 1
|
|
|
|
| Vespertilionidae spp. 2
|
|
|
|
| "Viperbats"
|
Indet.
|
Hundreds of Specimens
|
Dozens of different species
|
Perissodactyls
Perissodactyls of Devil's Ranch Collapse
| Genus
|
Species
|
Material
|
Notes
|
| Cormohipparion
|
C. fricki
|
|
A Horse
|
| Moropus
|
M. elatus
|
|
A Chalicothere
|
| Menoceras
|
M. arikarense
|
|
A Rhinoceros
|
| M. barbouri
|
|
A Rhinoceros
|
| Neohipparion
|
N. affine
|
|
A Horse
|
| Parahippus
|
P. leonensis
|
|
A Horse
|
| Pliohippus
|
P. pernix
|
|
A Horse
|
| Pseudhipparion
|
P. skinneri
|
|
A Three-toed Horse
|
| Protohippus
|
P. perditus
|
|
A Three-toed Horse
|
| Teleoceras
|
T. aepysoma
|
|
A Hippopatmus-like Rhinoceros
|
Artiodactyls
Artiodactyls of Devil's Ranch Collapse
| Genus
|
Species
|
Material
|
Notes
|
| Daeodon
|
D. shoshonensis
|
15 skeletons
|
A large Entelodont
|
| "Lake Zeuglodonts"
|
Dozens
|
100+ Skeletons
|
|
| Longirostromeryx
|
|
|
A Musk Deer
|
| Pediomeryx
|
|
|
A Dromomerycid
|
| Procamelus
|
|
|
A Camel
|
| Promerycochoerus
|
|
|
A Merycoidodontid
|
| Protolabis
|
|
|
A Camel
|
| Stenomylus
|
|
|
A Camel
|
| Syndyoceras
|
|
|
A Protoceratid
|
| "Transitional Terracetes
|
Dozens
|
100+ Skeletons
|
|
Carnivora
Carnivorans of Devil's Ranch Collapse
| Genus
|
Species
|
Material
|
Notes
|
| Aelurodon
|
A. taxoides
|
|
A Canid
|
| Barbourofelis
|
B. fricki
|
|
A Barbourofelid
|
| B. whitfordi
|
|
| Daphoenodon
|
D. sp.
|
|
A Bear-Dog
|
| Epicyon
|
E. haydeni
|
|
A Canid
|
| Hemicyon
|
|
|
A Bear
|
| Ischyrocyon
|
I. gidleyi
|
|
A Bear-Dog
|
| Leptarctus
|
L. wortmani
|
|
A Mustelid
|
| Leptocyon
|
L. matthewi
|
|
A Canid
|
| Megalictis
|
|
|
A Mustelid
|
| Metalopex
|
M. merriami
|
|
A Canid
|
| Paratomarctus
|
P. temerarius
|
|
A Canid
|
| Vulpes
|
V. stenognathus
|
|
A Fox
|
Birds
Birds of Devil's Ranch
| Genus
|
Species
|
Material
|
Notes
|
| Aix
|
A. sp.
|
|
A Duck, related to the modern Wood Duck
|
| Anas
|
A. sp.
|
|
A Duck, related to the modern Mallard
|
| Anchigyps
|
|
|
A Vulture
|
| Apatosagittarius
|
|
|
An accipitrid similar to the African Secretarybird
|
| Ardea
|
sp.
|
|
A Heron
|
| Ardeola
|
sp. 1
|
|
A Heron
|
| sp. 2
|
|
| Balearica
|
B. exigua
|
|
A Crowned Crane
|
| Bathornis
|
B. sp.
|
|
A Bathornid, closely related to the South American Terror Birds
|
| Egretta
|
sp. 1
|
|
An Egret
|
| sp. 2
|
|
| sp. 3
|
|
| Elephanser
|
E. sp.
|
|
A giant flightless Elephant Goose
|
| Eoardeola
|
E. magnifiscens
|
|
An Egret with peacock-like plumage
|
| Eobutorides
|
E. sp.
|
|
A Bittern
|
| Mioherodius
|
M. sp.
|
|
A Heron
|
| Nettapus
|
N. sp.
|
|
A Goose
|
| Nycticorax
|
N. fidens
|
|
A Night Heron
|
| Paractiornis
|
P. sp.
|
|
A Pratincole
|
| Phasmagyps
|
P. patritus
|
|
A Vulture
|
| Protobruinus
|
P. sp.
|
|
A Bruineen
|
Reptiles
Archosaurs of Devil's Ranch
| Genus
|
Species
|
Material
|
Notes
|
| Alligator
|
A. mcgrewi
|
|
|
| A. mefferdi
|
|
|
| A. thomsoni
|
|
|
| Ammondosaurus
|
Dozens
|
Hundreds of Skeletons
|
|
| Ammondosauridae
|
Dozens
|
Hundreds of Skeletons
|
|
| Chimaericoides
|
C. sp.
|
|
A Glossid
|
| Draconidae
|
Hundreds
|
Thousands of Skeletons
|
|
| "Glowblights"
|
100+
|
Thousands of Skeletons
|
|
| Horridophoneus
|
H. tyrannis
|
|
A macropredatory Glossid
|
| Lake Serpents
|
|
Hundreds of Skeletons
|
|
| Microdragons
|
|
Thousands of Skeletons
|
|
| Panultimaphoneus
|
P. rex
|
|
A Glossid that was among the apex predators in North America
|
| Protochimaeridae
|
|
Hundreds of Skeletons
|
|
| Pseudochimaerahydrus
|
|
|
A mysterious thyreophoran of unknown placement
|
| "Pterocrocs"
|
|
Hundreds of Skeletons
|
|
Squamates of Devil's Ranch
| Genus
|
Species
|
Material
|
Notes
|
| Ankyloglyptosaurus
|
A. sp.
|
|
|
| Boidae
|
B. sp.
|
|
A Boa, reaching 6 feet in length
|
| Flattekkos
|
|
Hundreds of Seletons
|
|
| Helodermatidae
|
H. sp.
|
|
A Beaded Lizard
|
| Jawed Gekkos
|
|
Hundreds of Skeletons
|
|
| Lake Mosasaurs
|
|
Hundreds of Skeletons
|
|
| Pantherophis
|
P. sp.
|
|
|
| Pterovaranidae
|
|
Hundreds of Skeletons
|
|
| Retrosauridae
|
|
Hundreds of Skeletons
|
|
| Scincidae
|
S. spp.
|
|
|
| Slurpsasauridae
|
|
Hundreds of Skeletons
|
|
| Thamnophis
|
Sp. 1
|
|
|
| Sp. 2
|
|
|
| Sp. 3
|
|
|
| Sp. 4
|
|
|
Other Reptiles of Devil's Ranch
| Genus
|
Species
|
Material
|
Notes
|
| Chelydra
|
C. sp.
|
|
A Snapping Turtle
|
| Chrysemys
|
C. sp.
|
|
A Painted Turtle
|
| Lake Ichthyosaurs
|
|
Hundreds of Skeletons
|
|
| Lake Plesiosaurs
|
|
Hundreds of Skeletons
|
|
| Lake Pliosaurs
|
|
Hundreds of Skeletons
|
|
| Sternotherus
|
S. sp.
|
|
A Musk Turtle
|
| Trachemys
|
T. sp.
|
|
A Slider Turtle
|
| Trionychidae
|
T. sp. 1
|
|
A Softshell Turtle
|
| T. sp. 2
|
|
Amphibians
Amphibians of Devil's Ranch
| Genus
|
Species
|
Material
|
Notes
|
| Ambystoma
|
A. sp.
|
|
A Mole Salamander
|
| Andrias
|
A. colossaeus
|
|
A Giant Salamander
|
| Butterfly Poison Frogs
|
|
Thousands of Skeletons
|
|
| Cephalopodanurans
|
|
Thousands of Impressions
|
|
| Desmognathus
|
D. sp.
|
|
A Dusky Salamander
|
| Eocryptobranchus
|
E. sp.
|
|
A Giant Salamander
|
| Frogbats
|
|
Thousands of Skeletons
|
|
| Frogflies
|
|
Thousands of Skeletons
|
|
| Hyla
|
H. sp.
|
|
A tree frog
|
| Invertebranurans
|
|
Thousands of Fossils
|
|
| Jellyphrogs
|
|
Hundreds of Fossils
|
|
| Liquid Toads
|
|
Thousands of Fossils
|
|
| Plethodon
|
P. sp.
|
|
A Woodland Salamander
|
| Scaphiopus
|
S. sp.
|
|
A Spadefoot Toad
|
| Variable Lake Monsters
|
|
Hundreds of Skeletons
|
|
Fishes
Fish of Devil's Ranch
| Genus
|
Species
|
Material
|
Notes
|
| Atractosteus
|
A. sp.
|
|
An Alligator Gar
|
| Centrarchidae
|
C. sp. 1
|
|
A Freshwater Sunfish
|
| C. sp. 2
|
|
| Miopolydon
|
M. grandis
|
|
A Paddlefish, 12 feet in length
|
Invertebrates
Invertebrates of Devil's Ranch
| Genus
|
Species
|
Material
|
Notes
|
| Dendrobranchus
|
D. sp.
|
|
A Freshwater Prawn
|
|
|
|
|
A Dung Beetle
|
|
|
|
|
Ostracods
|
|
|
|
|
Wood-boring Beetles
|
|
|
|
|
Pea Clams
|
| Unionidae
|
|
|
Freshwater Mussels
|
Plants
Plants of Devil's Ranch
| Genus
|
Species
|
Material
|
Notes
|
| Blechnum
|
B. sp.
|
|
A Fern
|
| Glyptostrobus
|
G. sp.
|
|
A Swamp Cypress
|
| Metasequoia
|
M. sp.
|
|
A Dawn Redwood
|
| Sequoia
|
S. sp.
|
|
A Redwood
|
| Sequoiadendron
|
S. chaneyi
|
|
A Sequoia
|
| S. sp.
|
|
| Taxodium
|
T. sp.
|
|
A Swamp Cypress
|
