Lompoc Quarry: Tortonian, California

List of taxa
Where & when
Geology
Taphonomy & methods
Metadata & references
Taxonomic list
Osteichthyes
Osteichthyes indet. Huxley 1880
Kellogg 1925
Reptilia
Aves indet. Linnaeus 1758
Kellogg 1925
Reptilia - Procellariidae
Puffinus diatomicus n. sp. Miller 1925
Miller 1925 1 specimen
misspelling Puffinus (Puffinus) diatomicus
Reptilia - Suliformes - Sulidae
Sula lompocana n. sp. (Miller 1925)
Miller 1925 1 specimen
recombined as Moris lompocana
Sula willetti n. sp. Miller 1925
Miller 1925 1 specimen
Miosula media n. gen., n. sp. Miller 1925
Miller 1925 1 specimen
Reptilia - Charadriiformes - Scolopacidae
Limosa vanrossemi n. sp. Miller 1925
Miller 1925 1 specimen
Reptilia - Charadriiformes - Alcidae
Cerorhinca dubia n. sp. Miller 1925
Miller 1925 1 specimen
Uria brodkorbi n. sp. Howard 1981
Howard 1981 1 specimen
Mammalia - Sirenia - Dugongidae
Metaxytherium jordani n. sp. Kellogg 1925
Kellogg 1925 1 specimen
recombined as Dusisiren jordani
Mammalia - Carnivora - Odobenidae
Imagotaria downsi Mitchell 1968
Mitchell 1968
Mammalia - Carnivora - Otariidae
Otariidae indet. (Gray 1825)
Reese 1976 1 specimen
Pithanotaria starri Kellogg 1925
Kellogg 1925
Mammalia - Cetacea
Mysticeti indet. Cope 1891
Reese 1976 1 specimen
Megaptera miocaena n. sp. Kellogg 1922
1 specimen
recombined as Norrisanima miocaena
unclassified
Atkinsonella strigilis n. gen., n. sp. Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Stanford University 511
Actinopteri - Scorpaeniformes
Ophiodon ozymandias n. sp. Jordan 1921
Jordan 1921
Stanford University 332 (redescribed, not included in Ozymandias gilberti)
Actinopteri - Lampriformes - Lampridae
Dasceles dassurus n. gen., n. sp. Jordan 1925
Jordan 1925
Diatomoeca zatima n. gen., n. sp. Jordan and Gilbert 1919
Jordan and Gilbert 1919
Actinopteri - Stomiatiformes - Sternoptychidae
Argyropelecus bullockii David 1943
David 1943
Actinopteri - Stomiatiformes - Stomiidae
Eostomias eximius n. gen., n. sp. Jordan 1925
Jordan 1925
recombined as Chauliodus eximius
Actinopteri - Stomiatiformes - Gonostomatidae
Cyclothone sp. Goode and Bean 1883
David 1943
Actinopteri - Aulopiformes - Paralepididae
Drimys defensor n. gen., n. sp. Jordan 1925
Jordan 1925
Actinopteri - Gadiformes - Macrouridae
Bolbocara gyrinus Jordan 1927
David 1943
Actinopteri - Perciformes - Brotulidae
Eclipes manni Jordan 1921
David 1943
Eclipes veternus Jordan and Gilbert 1919
Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Stanford University 190
Actinopteri - Perciformes - Sparidae
Rhythmias starrii n. gen., n. sp. Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Stanford University 175
Rhythmias gaviotae n. sp. David 1943
David 1943
Actinopteri - Perciformes - Serranidae
Protanthias fossilis n. gen., n. sp. David 1943
David 1943
Actinopteri - Perciformes - Scorpaenidae
Sebastodes (Sebastinus) ineziae (Jordan and Gilbert 1920)
David 1943
recombined as Sebastes ineziae
Sebastodes (Sebastoessus) apostates (Jordan 1921)
David 1943
recombined as Sebastes apostates
Sebastoessus haroldi n. sp. Jordan 1925
Jordan 1925
Rixator porteousi n. gen., n. sp. Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Jordan and Gilbert 1920
recombined as Sebastodes (Rixator) porteousi
Rhomarchus ensiger Jordan and Gilbert 1919
David 1943
recombined as Scorpaena ensiger
Actinopteri - Perciformes - Hexagrammidae
Hexagrammos achrestus n. sp. Jordan and Gilbert 1919
Jordan and Gilbert 1919
Actinopteri - Perciformes - Cottidae
Lirosceles elegans n. sp. Jordan 1925
Jordan 1925
Actinopteri - Perciformes - Zaproridae
Araeosteus rothi n. gen., n. sp. Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Stanford University 315
Actinopteri - Perciformes - Ioscionidae
Ioscion morgani Jordan 1921
David 1943
Actinopteri - Spariformes - Sparidae
Plectrites classeni n. gen., n. sp. Jordan and Gilbert 1920
David 1943
Stanford University 313
Actinopteri - Sciaenidae
Cynoscion (Aristoscion) eprepes (Jordan 1921)
David 1943
recombined as Cynoscion eprepes
Lompoquia retropes n. gen., n. sp. Jordan and Gilbert 1919
Jordan and Gilbert 1919
Turio culveri n. sp. Jordan 1925
Jordan 1925
recombined as Lompoquia culveri
Actinopteri - Lophiiformes - Lophiidae
? Epinephelus (Emmachaere) rhomalea (Jordan 1921)
David 1943
original and current combination Emmachaere rhomalea
Emmachaere rhachites n. gen., n. sp. Jordan and Gilbert 1919
Jordan and Gilbert 1919
synonym of Emmachaere rhomalea
Actinopteri - Pleuronectiformes - Pleuronectidae
Evesthes jordani n. gen., n. sp. Gilbert 1910
Gilbert 1910
Evesthes hooveri n. sp. Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Stanford University 512
Zororhombus veliger n. gen., n. sp. Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Jordan and Gilbert 1920
recombined as Pleuronichthys veliger
Stanford University 512
Actinopteri - Pleuronectiformes - Paralichthyidae
Hippoglossus antiquus n. sp. Jordan 1924
Jordan 1924
recombined as Paralichthys antiquus
Stanford University 603
Actinopteri - Carangiformes - Carangidae
Seriola sanctaebarbarae Jordan 1921
David 1943
Lompochites hopkinsi n. gen., n. sp. Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Jordan and Gilbert 1920
recombined as Decapterus hopkinsi
Stanford University 101
Coronadus agilis n. gen., n. sp. Jordan 1925
Jordan 1925
recombined as Decapterus agilis
Actinopteri - Embiotocidae
Eriquius plectrodes n. gen., n. sp. Jordan 1924
Jordan 1924
Stanford University 602
Erisceles pristinus n. gen., n. sp. Jordan 1925
Jordan 1925
Actinopteri - Beloniformes - Hemiramphidae
Euleptorhamphus (Beltion) peronides (Jordan 1920)
David 1943
recombined as Euleptorhamphus peronides
Derrhias enantius n. gen., n. sp. Jordan 1925
Jordan 1925
synonym of Euleptorhamphus peronides
Actinopteri - Scombriformes - Scombridae
Ocystias sagitta n. gen., n. sp. Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Stanford University 20
Turio wilburi n. gen., n. sp. Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Stanford University 49a
Pneumatophorus cf. grex
David 1943
Aliciola starksi n. gen., n. sp. Jordan 1925
Jordan 1925
recombined as Thunnus (Alciola) starksi
Sarda stockii David 1943
David 1943
Actinopteri - Scombriformes - Euzaphlegidae
Zaphleges longurio n. gen., n. sp. Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Jordan and Gilbert 1920
recombined as Euzaphleges longurio
Stanford University 100
Thyrsocles escharion n. sp. Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Stanford University 280
Thyrsion velox n. gen., n. sp. Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Stanford University 153
Thyrsites kriegeri n. sp. Jordan and Gilbert 1919
Jordan and Gilbert 1919
recombined as Thyrsocles kriegeri
? Trossulus exoletus Jordan 1921
David 1943
Actinopteri - Scombriformes - Zaphlegidae
? Megalops vigilax (Jordan 1927)
David 1943
original and current combination Zaphleges vigilax
Actinopteri - Scombriformes - Cybiidae
Escharion townleyi n. gen., n. sp. Jordan 1925
Jordan 1925
Starrias ischyrus n. gen., n. sp. Jordan 1925
Jordan 1925
Actinopteri - Syngnathiformes - Syngnathidae
Hipposyngnathus imporcitor Fritzsche 1980
Fritzsche 1980
Actinopteri - Myctophiformes - Myctophidae
Engraulites remifer n. gen., n. sp. Jordan 1925
Jordan 1925
recombined as Lampanyctus remifer
Actinopteri - Argentiniformes - Microstomatidae
Quaesita quiescens n. sp. Jordan 1925
Jordan 1925
Actinopteri - Cataphracti - Ophiodontidae
Ozymandias gilberti Jordan and Gilbert 1919
Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Stanford University 332
Actinopteri - Clupeiformes - Clupeoidei
Lygisma tenax Jordan and Gilbert 1919
Jordan and Gilbert 1920
tentatively identified
Diradias aratus n. gen., n. sp. Jordan 1924
Jordan 1924
recombined as Ganolytes aratus
Stanford University 600
Xenothrissa aphrasta n. gen., n. sp. Jordan 1925
Jordan 1925
recombined as Ganolytes aphrasta
Xyne fiteri n. sp.
Jordan and Gilbert 1920
Stanford University 167
Xyne grex n. gen., n. sp. Jordan and Gilbert 1919
Jordan and Gilbert 1919
Chondrichthyes - Heterodontiformes - Heterodontidae
Strongyliscus robustus n. gen., n. sp. Jordan 1925
Jordan 1925
Chondrichthyes - Lamniformes - Lamnidae
Carcharodon arnoldi Jordan 1898
David 1943
Isurus hastalis (Agassiz 1838)
David 1943
recombined as Carcharodon hastalis
see common names

Geography
Country:United States State/province:California County:Santa Barbara
Coordinates: 34.6° North, 120.4° West (view map)
Paleocoordinates:34.1° North, 117.6° West
Basis of coordinate:estimated from map
Time
Period:Neogene Epoch:Miocene
Stage:Tortonian 10 m.y. bin:Cenozoic 6
Key time interval:Tortonian
Age range of interval:11.62000 - 7.24600 m.y. ago
Age estimate:7.6 to 7.3 Ma (other)
Stratigraphy
Formation:Monterey
Stratigraphic resolution:formation
Stratigraphy comments: Diatomaceous beds are considered to be the equivalent to the Temblor. Kellogg (1922) said this was early Miocene, but Demere et al. (2005) assign it to the Tortonian; formation and age after Chang & Grimm 1999 (8.2 to 7.3 Ma, Barron, pers. com). Much debate in the literature on the formation name and age of these beds. Others identify the formation as Sisquoc. Behl & Ramirez 2000 agree that the Monterey Formation is exposed in the quarry, but give an age range of 8.5-5.5 Ma (J. Barron, pers. com.)

Diatom flora corresponds to Rouxia californica Zone of AKIBA (1986), Late Miocene, approximately 7.7-6.4 Ma. Taminura, Yoshihiro (USNM KEMu database entry date 12 Oct. 2010)

According to the original description, the skull was found by workers of the Celite Products Company quarrying diatomaceous earth, “about 140 feet below the exposed surface of the bed” ([159: 3]). Recent studies focusing on the diatomaceous deposits quarried near Lompoc reported that roughly 218 metres of diatomite, belonging to the upper siliceous member of the Monterey Formation, are exposed at the Celite diatomite quarry [160]. These deposits range from 8.2–7.3 Ma, with the latter date denoting the upper limit of the economically mineable deposits [160]. A similar date is suggested by the diatom assemblage contained in the matrix adhering to the holotype specimen (Rouxia californica Zone/ NPD7A; 7.6–6.6 Ma [161, 162]) [23; N. Kohno 2015, pers. comm.]. Together, these data suggest a latest Tortonian age (7.6–7.3 Ma) for M. miocaena. Note that additional specimens possibly referable to “M.” miocaena have also been reported from the Late Miocene–Pliocene Purisima, San Mateo and San Diego formations (California, USA). Pending further study, these specimens may extend the range of the lineage by up to 5 Ma. (Marx & Fordyce, 2015)
Lithology and environment
Primary lithology: diatomite
Includes fossils?Y
Environment:basinal (siliciclastic)
Geology comments: deep Pacific basin
Taphonomy
Modes of preservation:body,original phosphate
Size of fossils:macrofossils
Preservation of anatomical detail:good
Disassociated major elements:all
Collection methods and comments
Collection methods:surface (in situ),field collection
Collection size:1 specimens
Reason for describing collection:general faunal/floral analysis
Museum repositories:USNM
Metadata
Also known as:UCMP V2502, Celite Company #5 quarry, John Mansfield quarry
Database number:45489
Authorizer:M. Uhen, J. Marcot, K. Volkman Enterer:M. Uhen, J. Marcot, K. Volkman
Modifier:P. Wagner Research group:vertebrate
Created:2004-10-25 13:09:46 Last modified:2021-08-19 20:25:29
Access level:the public Released:2004-10-25 13:09:46
Creative Commons license:CC BY
Reference information

Primary reference:

11899. R. Kellogg. 1922. Description of the skull of Megaptera miocaena, a fossil humpback whale from the Miocene diatomaceous earth of Lompoc, California. Proceedings of the United States National Museum 61(14):1-18 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen/M. Uhen]

Secondary references:

46209 A. S. Chang and K. A. Grimm. 1999. Speckled Beds: Distinctive gravity-flow deposits in finely laminated diatomaceous sediments, Miocene Monterey Formation, California. Journal of Sedimentary Research 69(1):122-134 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen]
62254 L. R. David. 1943. Miocene Fishes of Southern California. Geological Society of America Special Paper 43:1-187 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen/M. Uhen]
15521 T. A. Deméré, A. Berta, and M. R. McGowen. 2005. The taxonomic and evolutionary history of modern balaenopteroid mysticetes. Journal of Mammalian Evolution 12(1/2):99-143 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen/M. Uhen]
70153 R. A. Fritzsche. 1980. Revision of the eastern Pacific Syngnathidae (Pisces: Syngnathiformes), including both recent and fossil forms. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences 42(6):181-227 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen]
68456 J. Z. Gilbert. 1910. Evesthes jordani, a primitive flounder from the Miocene of California. University of California Publications Bulletin of the Department of Geology 5(27):405-411 [J. Marcot/J. Marcot]
39014 H. Howard. 1981. A new species of murre, genus Uria, from the Late Miocene of California (Aves: Alcidae). Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 80(1):1-12 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen/M. Uhen]
62410 D. S. Jordan. 1921. The fish fauna of the California Tertiary. Stanford University Publications, Biological Sciences 1(4):237-298 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen]
65374 D. S. Jordan. 1924. Description of Miocene fishes from Southern California. Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences 23(2):42-50 [J. Marcot/J. Marcot]
62427 D. S. Jordan. 1925. The fossil fishes of the Miocene of Southern California. Stanford University Publications. University Series 4(1):1-51 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen]
24992 D. S. Jordan and J. Z. Gilbert. 1919. Fossil Fishes of the Miocene (Monterey) Formations. Leland Stanford Junior University Publications, University Series 13-60 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen/M. Uhen]
65375 D. S. Jordan and J. Z. Gilbert. 1920. Fossil Fishes of Diatom Beds of Lompoc, California. Leland Stanford Junior University Publications University Series [J. Marcot/J. Marcot]
18766 R. Kellogg. 1925. A new fossil sirenian from Santa Barbara County, California. Carnegie Institution of Washington 348:9-11 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen]
55050 F. G. Marx and R. E. Fordyce. 2015. Baleen boom and bust: a synthesis of mysticete phylogeny, diversity and disparity. Royal Society Open Science 2:140434 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen]
40855 L. Miller. 1925. Avian remains from the Miocene of Lompoc, California. Carnegie Institution of Washington 349:107-117 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen]
16737 E. D. Mitchell. 1968. The Mio-Pliocene pinniped Imagotaria. Journal of the Fisheries Research Board of Canada 25(9):1843-1900 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen/M. Uhen]
75118 R. T. Orr. 1940. Another record of Puffinus diatomicus. The Auk 57(1):105 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen]
35476 K. M. Reese. 1976. Workers find whale in diatomaceous earth quarry. Chemical and Engineering News 54(41):48 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen]