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Peace River near Arcadia, FL contains a wealth of land and marine
fossils. The marine fossils commonly found include shark, ray, pufferfish, barracuda, dolphin, etc. Land fossils commonly found include horse, glyptodont, alligator, bird, turtle, snake, deer, etc. There are two reasons that marine and land fossils are found in the Peace River. First, this part of Florida experienced numerous cycles of being land versus being submerged in sea water. Second, this area currently has a river running through past deposits which include intermixed marine and land fossils. So, it's quite common to find marine fossils (e.g. shark teeth) in the same area as a land fossils (e.g. horse teeth). The geologic formation is likely the Hawthorn Group, Peace River Formation, IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTE: As you may know, vertebrate fossil collecting on public lands is illegal in most of the United States. However, the State of Florida allows for vertebrate fossil collecting on state lands under Florida Statutes § 1004.575-576, but you must get a cheap (currently $5) permit issued by the Florida Museum of Natural History. The purpose of the permit is not only to manage this non-renewable part of Florida's heritage, but to help paleontologists learn more about the range and distribution of the state's fossil animals. So, please do it! To apply or renew a permit click here. This museum also offers Fossil Identification Services and a wealth of other resources such as info on fossil clubs, scientific publications and databases. Please consider sending images of important finds to the Florida museum (address on fossil ID page) and possibly donate important finds. You will notice in the images below that my Florida paleo buddy (Ron Seavey) has a lot of specimens represented. That's the benefit of living in the area!  Snaggletooth Shark Teeth (S. Wagner, 1/3/06)  Ray pavement teeth (ray barb next to dime) (S. Wagner, 1/3/06)  Mako Shark Teeth (R. Seavey)  Ray pavement tooth plate (connected) (R. Seavey)  Shark Teeth (S. Wagner, 1/3/06)  Shark Teeth (S. Wagner, 1/3/06)  Shark Teeth (S. Wagner, 1/3/06)  Drum fish tooth (2nd from left), snake vertebra (3rd from left) (S. Wagner, 1/3/06)  Turtle shells (S. Wagner, 1/3/06)  Possibly gar, barracuda and sawfish teeth (S. Wagner, 1/3/06)  Glyptotherium Species (Glyptodonts) armor plates off large armadillo like creature (R. Seavey)  Horse tooth (R. Seavey)  Whale inner ear bone (Tympanic Bulla) (R. Seavey)  Alligator osteoderm Bony armor plate off the Alligator's back (R. Seavey)  Deer antler (R. Seavey)  Sting ray dermal plate (R. Seavey)  Sting ray barb (R. Seavey)  Unknown. (R. Seavey)  Alligator scute 2" by 2 1/4" (R. Seavey)  (R. Seavey, 4/5/06)  Unknown mammal tooth. (R. Seavey)  In the Peace River  Screen sifting scoop & shovel More about the tools, where to get them and how to make them, see River Tools.  Screen Sifting Tool More about the tools, where to get them and how to make them, see River Tools. If you notice any errors in fossil identification, please contact me.
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