The Hawthorn Group is a Late Oligocene to Pliocene

Pliocene

The Pliocene Epoch is the period in the geologic timescale that extends from 5.332 million to 2.588 million years before present. It is the second and youngest epoch of the Neogene Period in the Cenozoic Era. The Pliocene follows the Miocene Epoch and is followed by the Pleistocene Epoch...

 grouping of several geologic formation

Geologic formation

A formation or geological formation is the fundamental unit of lithostratigraphy. A formation consists of a certain number of rock strata that have a comparable lithology, facies or other similar properties...

s and members in North Florida

North Florida

North Florida refers to the northernmost part of the U.S. state of Florida, including some counties that border the state of Georgia. It also borders the Big Bend with Madison County and Taylor County to the east and the Central Florida region to its south....

, United States

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

.

The Hawthorn Group was originally called the Waldo Formation in 1887 by L. C. Johnson of the USGS and became Hawthorne beds for sediments being quarried and ground up as fertilizer near Hawthorne, Florida

Hawthorne, Florida

Hawthorne is a city in Alachua County, Florida, United States. The population was 1,417 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Hawthorne is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of...

.

Age

Period: Neogene

Neogene

The Neogene is a geologic period and system in the International Commission on Stratigraphy Geologic Timescale starting 23.03 ± 0.05 million years ago and ending 2.588 million years ago...

Epoch

Epoch (geology)

An epoch is a subdivision of the geologic timescale based on rock layering. In order, the higher subdivisions are periods, eras and eons. We are currently living in the Holocene epoch...

: Miocene

Miocene

The Miocene is a geological epoch of the Neogene Period and extends from about . The Miocene was named by Sir Charles Lyell. Its name comes from the Greek words and and means "less recent" because it has 18% fewer modern sea invertebrates than the Pliocene. The Miocene follows the Oligocene...

Faunal stage

Faunal stage

In chronostratigraphy, a stage is a succession of rock strata laid down in a single age on the geologic timescale, which usually represents millions of years of deposition. A given stage of rock and the corresponding age of time will by convention have the same name, and the same boundaries.Rock...

: Chattian

Chattian

The Chattian is, in the geologic timescale, the youngest of two ages or upper of two stages of the Oligocene epoch/series. It spans the time between and . The Chattian is preceded by the Rupelian and is followed by the Aquitanian .-Stratigraphic definition:The Chattian was introduced by Austrian...

 through early Blancan

Blancan

The Blancan North American Stage on the geologic timescale is the North American faunal stage according to the North American Land Mammal Ages chronology , typically set from 4,750,000 to 1,808,000 years BP, a period of .. It is usually considered to start in the early-mid Pliocene epoch and end...

 ~28.4 to ~2.588 mya, calculates to a period of

Location

The Hawthorn Group extends from Suwannee County

Suwannee County, Florida

Suwannee County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 34,844. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county was 38,624 . Its county seat is Live Oak, Florida. Suwannee County was a dry county until August, 2011.....

 in the north and southward to Hernando County

Hernando County, Florida

Hernando County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 130,802. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 165,409 . Its county seat is Brooksville, Florida. The majority of the county's population is in Spring Hill, west portion of Hernando...

. It encompasses in part the counties of Gilchrist

Gilchrist County, Florida

Gilchrist County is a rural county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 14,437. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 16,402. Gilchrist County has only one traffic light in the entire county and has no road with more than one lane of traffic...

, Levy

Levy County, Florida

Levy County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 34,450. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 37,998. Its county seat is Bronson, Florida. Levy is pronounced lee vee.- History :...

, Dixie

Dixie County, Florida

Dixie County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 13,827. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 14,647 . Its county seat is Cross City, Florida.- History :...

, Citrus

Citrus County, Florida

Citrus County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 118,085. The U.S. Census Bureau 2008 estimate for the county was 141,416 . Its county seat is Inverness, Florida...

, Sumter

Sumter County, Florida

Sumter County is a county located in the state of Florida, United States. As of the 2000 Census, the population was 53,345. The 2006 Census estimate puts its population at 68,768 . Its county seat is Bushnell, Florida and the largest incorporated municipality is Wildwood, Florida. The Villages,...

, Alachua

Alachua County, Florida

Alachua County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 227,120. Its county seat is Gainesville, Florida. Alachua County is the home of the University of Florida and is also known for its diverse culture, local music, and artisans...

 and Marion County

Marion County, Florida

Marion County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county is 316,183. Its county seat is Ocala....

. The Hawthorn is also present below undifferentiated sediments (TQu) as well as the Tamiami Formation

Tamiami Formation

The Tamiami Formation is a Late Miocene to Pliocene geologic formation in the southwest Florida peninsula.-Age:Period: NeogeneEpoch: Late Miocene to Pliocene...

 from Polk County

Polk County, Florida

Polk County is located in central Florida between the Tampa Bay and Greater Orlando metropolitan areas. The county was established by the state government in 1861 on the eve of the American Civil War and named after former United States president James K. Polk. The county seat is Bartow and its...

 south through Highlands

Highlands County, Florida

Highlands County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the population was 97,346. Its county seat is Sebring, Florida. The county comprises the Sebring, Florida, Micropolitan Statistical Area.- History :...

, Glades

Glades County, Florida

Glades County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 10,576. The U.S. Census Bureau 2005 estimate for the county is 11,252 . Its county seat is Moore Haven, Florida.- History :...

, Hendry

Hendry County, Florida

Hendry County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 36,210. The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 estimate for the county is 39,611 . Its county seat is La Belle. The county comprises the Clewiston, Florida, Micropolitan Statistical Area.-History:Hendry County...

, Dade, Collier

Collier County, Florida

Collier County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 251,377. The U.S. Census Bureau 2007 estimate for the county is 315,839...

, and Monroe County

Monroe County, Florida

Monroe County is a county located in the state of Florida. As of 2000, the population was 79,589. The U.S. Census Bureau 2006 estimate for the county was 74,737....

 at depths ranging from mean sea level near Polk to below 600 meters in Monroe Co. The Hawthorn overlies Ocala Limestone

Ocala Limestone

The Ocala Limestone is a late Eocene geologic formation of exposed limestones near Ocala, Marion County, Florida.-Age:Period: PaleogeneEpoch: Late EoceneFaunal stage: Late Clarkforkian through early Orellan...

Sub-units

• Arcadia Formation
  Arcadia Formation
  The Arcadia Formation and its sub-unit, the Tampa Member, are Late Oligocene geologic formations in North Florida, United States. It is part of the Hawthorn Group.-Age:Period: Paleogene to Neogene...
  
  
• Coosawhatchie Formation
  Coosawhatchie Formation
  The Coosawhatchie Formation is a Miocene geologic formation with an outcrop in North Florida. It is within the Hawthorn Group.-Age:Period: NeogeneEpoch: Miocene ~23.03 to 5.33 mya, calculates to a period of...
  
   (Miocene-Pliocene)
• Peace River Formation
  Peace River Formation (Florida)
  The Peace River Formation is a Late Oligocene to Early Miocene geologic formation in the west-central Florida peninsula.-Age:Period: NeogeneEpoch: Miocene to Pliocene...
  
   (Miocene-Pliocene)
• Statenville Formation
  Statenville Formation
  The Statenville Formation is a geological formation of northern Florida, USA.-Age:Period: NeogeneEpoch: MioceneFaunal stage: Chattian through early Blancan ~28.4 to ~2.588 mya, calculates to a period of -Location:...
  
   (Miocene)
• Torreya Formation
  Torreya Formation
  The Torreya Formation is a Miocene geologic formation with an outcrop in North Florida. It is within the Hawthorn Group.-Age:Period: NeogeneEpoch: Early Miocene...
  
   (Miocene)

Paleofauna

Reptiles

• Apalone ferox (Florida Softshell Turtle)
• Pseudemys
  Pseudemys
  Pseudemys is a genus of large, herbivorous, freshwater turtles of the eastern United States. They are often referred to as cooters, which stems from kuta, the word for turtle in the Bambara and Malinké languages, brought to America by African slaves....
  
   caelata (Pond Turtle)
• Terrapene (Box Turtle)
• Deirochelys carri]] (Chicken Turtle)
• Geochelone
  Geochelone
  Geochelone is a genus of tortoises.Geochelone tortoises, which are also known as typical tortoises or terrestrial turtles, can be found in Africa and Asia. They primarily eat plants.The genus consists of three extant species:...
  
   (Tortoise)
• Alligator mississippiensis (American Alligator)
• †Gavialosuchus
  Gavialosuchus
  Gavialosuchus is an extinct tomistomine from the late Oligocene and Miocene of eastern North America and early Miocene of Europe. Three species have been named: the type species G. eggenburgensis from the early Miocene of Austria; G. americanus, from the late Miocene to early Pliocene of Florida;...
  
   americanus or Thecachampsa antiqua (American Crocodile)
• Typhlops
  Typhlops
  Typhlops is a genus of blind snakes found in Europe, Africa, Asia and Central and South America. Currently, 120 species are recognized.-Geographic range:...
  
   (Blind snake)
• Xenodontinae
  Xenodontinae
  Xenodontinae is a subfamily of the Colubridae family of snakes. It encompasses a number of genera, which include species such as mud snakes and New World hognose snakes.- Genera :Other genera are often placed here but may actually belong elsewhere:...
  
   (Mud Snake)
• Heterodon
  Heterodon
  Heterodon is a genus of harmless colubrids found in North America. They are stout with upturned snouts and are perhaps best known for their characteristic threat displays. Three species are currently recognized.-Description:...
  
   (Hognose Snake)
• Elaphe
  Elaphe
  Elaphe is one of the main genera of the rat snakes, which are found in many regions of the northern hemisphere. Elaphe are medium to large constrictors by nature....
  
   (Rat Snake)
• Lampropeltis getulus (Kingsnake)
• Nerodia
  Nerodia
  Nerodia is a genus of nonvenomous colubrid snakes commonly referred to as water snakes.- Description :Nerodia species vary greatly, but all are relatively heavy-bodied snakes, sometimes growing to 1.2 m or larger. They have flattened heads, with small eyes that have round pupils, and keeled...
  
   (Water snake)
• Thamnophis (Garter Snake)
• Crotalinae
  Crotalinae
  The Crotalinae, commonly known as "pit vipers" or crotaline snakes, are a subfamily of venomous vipers found in Asia and the Americas. They are distinguished by the presence of a heat-sensing pit organ located between the eye and the nostril on either side of the head...
  
   (Lancehead, Rattlesnake)
• Sistrurus
  Sistrurus
  Sistrurus is a genus of venomous pit vipers found in Canada, the United States and Mexico. The name is a Latinized form of the Greek word for "tail rattler" and shares its root with the ancient Egyptian musical instrument, the sistrum, a type of rattle...
  
   (Rattlesnake)

Birds

• Anserinae
  Anserinae
  The Anserinae is a subfamily in the waterfowl family Anatidae. It includes the swans and true geese. Under alternative systematical concepts , it is split into two subfamilies, the Anserinae containing the geese , while the Cygninae contain the swans.A number of other waterbirds, mainly related to...
  
   (Swan)
• Podicipedidae (Grebe)
• Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorant)
• Anhinga
  Anhinga
  The Anhinga , sometimes called Snakebird, Darter, American Darter, or Water Turkey, is a water bird of the warmer parts of the Americas. The word "anhinga" comes from the Brazilian Tupi language and means devil bird or snake bird.It is a cormorant-like bird with an average body length of , a...
  
   grandis (Snakebird)
• Ciconiidae (Stork)
• Phoenicopteridae (Flamingo)
• Ardea
  Ardea (genus)
  Ardea is a genus of herons. Linnaeus named this genus as the Great Herons, referring to the generally large size of these birds, typically 80–100 cm or more in length....
  
   (Heron)
• Egretta
  Egretta
  Egretta is a genus of medium-sized herons, mostly breeding in warmer climates. Representatives of this family are found in most of the world, and the Little Egret, as well as being widespread throughout much of the Old World, has now started to colonise the Americas.These are typical egrets in...
  
   (Egret)
• Ardeola
  Ardeola
  Ardeola is a genus of small herons, typically 40–50 cm long with 80–100 cm wingspan. Most breed in the tropical Old World, but the migratory Squacco Heron occurs in southern Europe and the Middle East and winters in Africa....
  
   (Heron)
• Aramidae (Limpkin)
• Gruidae (Crane-like)
• Rallidae
  Rallidae
  The rails, or Rallidae, are a large cosmopolitan family of small to medium-sized birds. The family exhibits considerable diversity and the family also includes the crakes, coots, and gallinules...
  
   (Crakes & Coots)
• Cathartidae (New World Vulture)
• Pandionidae (Osprey)
• Accipitridae
  Accipitridae
  The Accipitridae, one of the two major families within the order Accipitriformes , are a family of small to large birds with strongly hooked bills and variable morphology based on diet. They feed on a range of prey items from insects to medium-sized mammals, with a number feeding on carrion and a...
  
   (Eagle)
• Passeriformes (Songbird)

Mammals

• †Metaxytherium
  Metaxytherium
  Metaxytherium is an extinct genus of dugong that lived from the Miocene to the Pleistocene. Its remains have been found in Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, and South America.- Sources :*Manatees and Dugongs of the World by Jeff Ripple...
  
   floridanum (Sea Cow)
• †Gomphotherium
  Gomphotherium
  Gomphotherium is an extinct genus of proboscid which evolved in the Early Miocene of North America from 13.650—3.6 Ma, living about .The genus emigrated into Asia, Europe and Africa after a drop in sea level allowed them to cross over...
  
   (Elephant)
• †Tapirus simpsoni (Tapir)
• †Teleoceras
  Teleoceras
  Teleoceras is an extinct genus of grazing rhinoceros that lived in North America during the Miocene epoch, which ended about 5.3 million years ago, all the way to the early Pliocene epoch....
  
   proterum (Rhinoceros)
• †Aphelops
  Aphelops
  Aphelops is an extinct genus of rhinoceros endemic to North America during the Miocene through the Pliocene, living from 20.43—5.330 mya, existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
  
   malacorhinus (Rhinoceros)
• †Pseudhipparion skinneri (Horse)
• †Hipparion
  Hipparion
  Hipparion is an extinct genus of horse living in North America, Asia, Europe, and Africa during the Miocene through Pleistocene ~23 Mya—781,000 years ago, existing for...
  
   tehonense (Horse)
• †Neohipparion trampasense (Horse)
• †Nannippus
  Nannippus
  Nannippus is an extinct genus of horse endemic to North America during the Miocene through Pliocene, ~13.3—3.3 Ma, living approximately .Nannippus lived as far south as Central Mexico to as far north as Canada , to California in the west, North Carolina and Florida Nannippus is an extinct genus...
  
   westoni (Horse)
• †Hippotherium
  Hippotherium
  Hippotherium is an extinct genus of horse endemic to North America, to Asia, Europe, and Africa during the Miocene through Pliocene ~13.65—3.3 Mya, existing for .- Taxonomy :...
  
   ingenuum and H. plicatile (Horse)
• †Calippus
  Calippus
  Calippus may refer to:* Calippus of Syracuse, a student of Plato and Syracusean tyrant.* Callippus, a Greek astronomer and mathematician.* Calippus , a small lunar crater.* Calippus, an extinct relation of the modern horse....
  
   cerasinus and C. elachistus (Horse)
• †Protohippus
  Protohippus
  Protohippus is an extinct genus of horse....
  
   gidleyi (Horse)
• Microchiroptera (Microbat)
• †Leptarctus (Mustilidae)
• †Hoplictis (Mustildae)
• †Plionictis (Mustilidae)
• †Sthenictis
  Sthenictis
  Sthenictis is an extinct genus in the weasel family endemic to North America during the Miocene epoch living from ~13.5—9.2 Ma existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:Sthenictis was named by Peterson...
  
   lacota (Mustilidae)
• †Arctonasua
  Arctonasua
  Arctonasua is an extinct genus of raccoon-like procyonid of the Miocene, endemic to North America living from ~17.3—8.4 Mya, existing for approximately ....
  
   floridana (Raccoon)
• †Paranasua biradica
• †Leptocyon
  Leptocyon
  Leptocyon is a small extinct genus of canidae endemic to North America during the Oligocene through Miocene living from 24.8—10.3 mya, existing for approximately .Leptocyon was a small bodied, fox-like animal with a slender jaw.-Taxonomy:...
  
  
• †Epicyon
  Epicyon
  Epicyon is a large extinct canid genus of the subfamily Borophaginae , native to North America. It lived from the Hemingfordian age of the Early Miocene to the Hemphillian of the Late Miocene Epicyon ("near dog") is a large extinct canid genus of the subfamily Borophaginae ("bone-crushing dogs"),...
  
   haydeni and E. saevus (Proto-dog)
• †Nimravides
  Nimravides
  Nimravides was a prehistoric saber-toothed felid that lived in North America during the middle and late Miocene. Despite its scientific name Nimravides does not belong to the Nimravidae, but is a true felid, belonging to the family Felidae....
  
   galiani (False Saber-tooth cat)
• †Barbourofelis
  Barbourofelis
  Barbourofelis is an extinct genus of large, mostly carnivorous mammals of the family Barbourofelidae endemic to North America, during the Miocene living from 13.6—5.3 Ma and existed for approximately .-Taxonomy:...
  
   loveorum (False Saber-tooth cat)
• †Antilocaprinae (Antilope)
• †Pseudoceras (Early horse-type ungulate)
• †Yumaceras
  Yumaceras
  Yumaceras is an extinct genus of horse-like Artiodactyla, of the family Palaeomerycidae, endemic to North America, Europe and Asia from the Miocene epoch, 13.6—5.33 Ma, existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:Yumaceras was named by Frick...
  
   hamiltoni (Camel-like)
• †Cetacea
  Cetacea
  The order Cetacea includes the marine mammals commonly known as whales, dolphins, and porpoises. Cetus is Latin and is used in biological names to mean "whale"; its original meaning, "large sea animal", was more general. It comes from Ancient Greek , meaning "whale" or "any huge fish or sea...
  
   (Whale)
• †Aepycamelus
  Aepycamelus
  Aepycamelus is an extinct genus of camelid, formerly called Alticamelus which lived during the Miocene 20.6-4.9 Ma existing for approximately ....
  
   major (Camel)
• †Procamelus
  Procamelus
  Procamelus is an extinct genus of terrestrial herbivore the family Camelidae, endemic to North America from the Oligocene through Miocene 20.6—4.9 mya, existing for approximately .-Taxonomy:Priscocamelus was named by Leidy . It is not extant...
  
   grandis (Camel)
• †Hemiauchenia
  Hemiauchenia
  Hemiauchenia is a genus of lamine camelids that evolved in North America in the Miocene period approximately 10 million years ago. This genus diversified and moved to South America in the early Pleistocene as part of the Great American Interchange, giving rise to modern lamines...
  
   minima (Camel)
• Talpidae
  Talpidae
  The family Talpidae includes the moles, shrew moles, desmans, and other intermediate forms of small insectivorous mammals of the order Soricomorpha...
  
   (Mole)
• Soricidae (Shrew)
• †Archaeolaginae (Rabbit)
• Sciuridae (Squirrel)
• †Eucastor planus (Beaver)
• Abelmoschomys simpsoni (Vole)
• †Mylagaulus elassos (Horned gopher)