List of the prehistoric life of California facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The prehistoric life of California includes all the amazing ancient plants and animals whose fossils have been found in the state of California. These fossils tell us about creatures that lived millions of years ago, long before humans existed. Scientists study these remains to understand what California was like in the distant past.

Ancient Eras in California
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Ancient Eras in California

Precambrian Era: No Life Found Yet

The Precambrian Era was the earliest time in Earth's history. So far, scientists have not found any fossils from this very ancient period in California. This means that if life existed here then, it was too small or soft to leave lasting traces.

Paleozoic Era: Early Ocean Life (541 to 252 Million Years Ago)

The Paleozoic Era was a time when many different kinds of ocean life first appeared. California was mostly covered by warm, shallow seas during this era. Fossils from this period show us creatures like trilobites, brachiopods, and early fish.

Cool Creatures from the Paleozoic Era

†Advenella: A type of brachiopod, which are shelled creatures that look a bit like clams.
†Ampyx: A trilobite, an ancient arthropod with a hard, segmented shell.
Fossils of the mysterious Ediacaran organism Aspidella

†Aspidella: A very old, mysterious organism from the Ediacaran period, which is just before the main Paleozoic era.
†Atrypa: Another common type of brachiopod.
†Cruziana: These are not actual animals, but fossilized tracks or burrows left by arthropods (like ancient crabs or insects) moving along the seafloor.
†Favosites: A type of coral that formed honeycomb-like colonies.
Life restoration of the Permian Chimaera relative Helicoprion

†Helicoprion: This was a very unusual shark-like fish with a spiral saw-like tooth whorl in its lower jaw.
†Kutorgina: An early brachiopod.
†Lingula: A brachiopod that has survived almost unchanged for millions of years.
Illustration of a fossil of the Cambrian trilobite Olenellus

†Olenellus: A well-known trilobite from the Cambrian period.
†Pentamerus: A large, ribbed brachiopod.
†Rusophycus: Another type of fossilized burrow or resting trace made by ancient arthropods.
†Spirifer: A brachiopod with distinctive wing-like extensions on its shell.
†Xenodiscus: An ammonoid, which was a type of shelled cephalopod related to modern squids and octopuses.

Mesozoic Era: Age of Dinosaurs (252 to 66 Million Years Ago)

The Mesozoic Era is often called the "Age of Dinosaurs." During this time, California's landscape changed a lot. There were large inland seas, and later, volcanoes and mountains began to form. Many marine reptiles and dinosaurs lived here.

Dinosaurs and Reptiles from the Mesozoic Era

Life restoration of the Late Cretaceous armored dinosaur Aletopelta

†Aletopelta: An armored dinosaur, a type of nodosaur, found only in California. It was like a walking tank!
†Augustynolophus: A duck-billed dinosaur (hadrosaur) that also lived only in California. It was a plant-eater.
Restoration of the Late Triassic ichthyosaur Californosaurus

†Californosaurus: A type of ichthyosaur, which were marine reptiles that looked like dolphins.
Diagram illustrating the Middle-Late Triassic ichthyosaur Cymbospondylus with an anachronistic human to scale.

†Cymbospondylus: Another large ichthyosaur, known for its long body.
Restoration of the Early Cretaceous-Eocene bony fish Enchodus, or the "saber-toothed herring"

†Enchodus: A bony fish with long, saber-like teeth, sometimes called the "saber-toothed herring."
†Fresnosaurus: A plesiosaur, a long-necked marine reptile. Its fossils were found in Fresno County.
Fossil negative with skin impressions of the theropod dinosaur footprint ichnogenus Grallator

†Grallator: These are fossilized footprints of small, two-legged (bipedal) dinosaurs, likely theropods.
†Hydrotherosaurus: A large plesiosaur, a marine reptile with a long neck and flippers.
Life restoration of the Late Triassic thalattosaurs Nectosaurus (right) and Thalattosaurus

†Nectosaurus: A thalattosaur, another type of marine reptile.
Life restoration of the Late Cretaceous mosasaur Plotosaurus

†Plotosaurus: A mosasaur, a giant marine lizard that was a top predator in the Late Cretaceous seas.
†Shastasaurus: One of the largest ichthyosaurs ever, reaching lengths of over 60 feet (18 meters).
Reconstructive illustration of the skull in side (above) and top view of the Late Triassic thalattosaur Thalattosaurus. The frontmost portion of the snout is portrayed erroneously as straight; it actually had a pronounced downward curve

†Thalattosaurus: Another thalattosaur, known for its unique skull shape.

Other Mesozoic Marine Life

†Acanthoceras: A type of ammonite, a shelled cephalopod with complex patterns on its shell.
†Baculites: A straight-shelled ammonite.
Shell and spines of a Cidaris sea urchin

Cidaris: A type of sea urchin.
Fossilized shell of the Late Cretaceous ammonoid cephalopod Fagesia

†Fagesia: A large, round ammonite.
Fossilized shell of the Early Jurassic-Late Cretaceous marine bivalve Inoceramus with a human indicating its size

†Inoceramus: A very large marine bivalve (like a clam) that could grow to enormous sizes.
Fossilized shell of the Early-Late Cretaceous ammonoid cephalopod Mariella

†Mariella: A spiraled ammonite.
Fossilized shell of the Late Cretaceous ammonoid cephalopod Parapuzosia with a human indicating its size

†Parapuzosia: One of the largest ammonites ever found.
Shell of an Ostrea, or oyster

Ostrea: Oysters, which are still around today.
Base of the trunk of a living Sequoia tree with a human to scale

†Sequoia: Ancient redwood trees, similar to those in California today.

Cenozoic Era: Rise of Mammals (66 Million Years Ago to Today)

The Cenozoic Era is the most recent era, following the extinction of the dinosaurs. During this time, mammals became the dominant large animals. California's landscape continued to change, with mountain ranges forming and climate shifts. Many familiar animals, or their close relatives, lived here.

Mammals from the Cenozoic Era

Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene horse Acritohippus

†Acritohippus: An ancient horse.
Life restoration of the Miocene camel Aepycamelus, or the long-necked camel. Heinrich Harder (1920).

†Aepycamelus: A "long-necked camel" from the Miocene, with a very tall neck.
Fossilized skeleton of the Miocene seal Allodesmus

†Allodesmus: An ancient seal, a type of pinniped.
†Amphicyon: A "bear-dog," a large predator that looked like a mix between a bear and a dog.
Fossilized skull of the Miocene saber-toothed cat Amphimachairodus

†Amphimachairodus: A large saber-toothed cat.
Fossilized mandibles of the Miocene three-toed horse Anchitherium

†Anchitherium: An early three-toed horse.
Reconstructive illustration of the skeleton of the Miocene-Pleistocene hornless rhinoceros Aphelops

†Aphelops: A hornless rhinoceros.
Restoration of an Arctodus, or short-faced bear, with a human to scale

†Arctodus: The "short-faced bear," one of the largest bears that ever lived.
Life restoration of the Miocene sperm whale Aulophyseter

†Aulophyseter: An ancient sperm whale.
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene whale Balaenula

†Balaenula: An ancient baleen whale.
Fossilized skull of the Miocene-Pliocene false saber-toothed cat Barbourofelis

†Barbourofelis: A "false saber-toothed cat" with long, flattened fangs.
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Pleistocene Bison latifrons, also known as the giant bison or long-horned bison

†Bison latifrons: The "giant bison" or "long-horned bison," much larger than today's bison.
Restorative portrait of the Miocene oreodont mammal Brachycrus

†Brachycrus: An oreodont, a group of extinct hoofed mammals.
†Borophagus: A "bone-crushing dog" known for its powerful jaws.
Life restoration of the Pliocene-Holocene camel Camelops

†Camelops: The "extinct North American camel."
Fossilized skeleton of the Pleistocene dwarf pronghorn Capromeryx

†Capromeryx minor: A "dwarf pronghorn," a small, fast-running antelope-like animal.
†Canis dirus: The "dire wolf," a famous extinct wolf, larger and more powerful than modern wolves.
Life restoration of the Miocene-Pliocene whale Cetotherium

†Cetotherium: An ancient baleen whale.
Restoration of the Miocene palaeomerycid Cranioceras, a relative of modern deer, with anachronistic human to scale

†Cranioceras: A relative of modern deer with unusual horns.
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Eocene-Miocene bear-dog Daphoenus

†Daphoenus: Another type of bear-dog.
Life restoration of the Oligocene-Miocene herbivorous marine mammal Desmostylus

†Desmostylus: A unique marine mammal that ate plants, with strange column-like teeth.
Illustration of the fossilized jaws and teeth of the Eocene brontothere mammal Duchesneodus

†Duchesneodus: A brontothere, a large, extinct hoofed mammal.
Life restoration of two of the Eocene-Oligocene anthracothere mammal Elomeryx being menaced by fellow-anthracothere Anthracotherium

†Elomeryx: An anthracothere, a pig-like or hippo-like mammal.
Life restoration of the Pleistocene bovid Euceratherium, or the shrub ox. Robert Bruce Horsfall (1913).

†Euceratherium: The "shrub ox," an extinct bovid.
Restoration of the Pliocene-Holocene horse Equus scotti, or Scott's horse

†Equus scotti: An extinct horse species.
Life restoration of the Miocene walrus Gomphotaria

†Gomphotaria: An ancient walrus with large tusks.
Fossilized skull of the mesonychian mammal Harpagolestes

†Harpagolestes: A mesonychian, an extinct group of carnivorous mammals.
Life restoration of a herd of the Miocene-Pleistocene horse Hipparion. Heinrich Harder (1920).

†Hipparion: A three-toed horse.
Restoration of Pliocene-Pleistocene Homotherium, or scimitar cat

†Homotherium: The "scimitar cat," another type of saber-toothed cat.
†Hydrodamalis cuestae: An extinct giant sea cow, related to manatees and dugongs.
Restoration of the Miocene walrus Imagotaria

†Imagotaria: An early walrus.
Life restoration of the Oligocene-Miocene dolphin Kentriodon

†Kentriodon: An ancient dolphin.
Illustration of a fossilized skull of the Oligocene-Miocene dog Leptocyon

†Leptocyon: An early dog.
Top view of a fossilized skull of the Eocene creodont mammal Limnocyon

†Limnocyon: A creodont, an extinct group of carnivorous mammals.
Fossilized cranium of the Miocene-Pleistocene saber-toothed cat Machairodus

†Machairodus: A saber-toothed cat.
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene-Pleistocene ground sloth Megalonyx

†Megalonyx: A giant ground sloth.
Life restoration of the Miocene rhinoceros Menoceras

†Menoceras: A small, two-horned rhinoceros.
Fossilized skeleton of the Miocene pronghorn Merycodus

†Merycodus: An ancient pronghorn.
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene-Pleistocene manatee relative Metaxytherium

†Metaxytherium: A manatee relative.
Restoration of the Pliocene-Pleistocene Miracinonyx, or American cheetah

†Miracinonyx: The "American cheetah," a fast predator.
Fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene-Holocene peccary Mylohyus

†Mylohyus: An extinct peccary (pig-like animal).
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene aquatic desmostylian mammal Neoparadoxia

†Neoparadoxia: Another desmostylian, a marine mammal that ate plants.
Illustration of the fossilized skull of the Oligocene false saber-toothed cat Nimravus

†Nimravus: A false saber-toothed cat.
Fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene-Pleistocene ground sloth Paramylodon

†Paramylodon: Another type of ground sloth.
Life restoration of the Miocene walrus Pelagiarctos

†Pelagiarctos: A "bear-walrus," an extinct walrus relative.
Illustration of a fossilized skull in multiple views of the Oligocene-Miocene bone-crushing dog Phlaocyon

†Phlaocyon: A bone-crushing dog.
Restoration of a herd of alarmed Miocene-Pleistocene peccaries of the genus Platygonus. Charles R. Knight (1922).

†Platygonus: An extinct peccary.
Life restoration of the Miocene walrus Pliopedia

†Pliopedia: An ancient walrus.
Illustration of a fossilized skull of the Oligocene false faber-toothed cat Pogonodon

†Pogonodon: A false saber-toothed cat.
Life restoration of the Eocene brontothere mammal Protitanops

†Protitanops: A brontothere.
Hypothetical restoration of the Oligocene-Pliocene sea turtle Psephophorus

†Psephophorus: An ancient sea turtle.
Restoration of the Miocene-Pliocene elephant relative Rhynchotherium

†Rhynchotherium: An elephant relative with long tusks.
Life restoration of the Pleistocene-Holocene saber-tooth cat Smilodon

†Smilodon: The famous "saber-toothed cat," a powerful predator.
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene-Pleistocene elephant relative Stegomastodon

†Stegomastodon: A mastodon, an elephant relative.
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the fossil pronghorn Stockoceros

†Stockoceros: An ancient pronghorn.
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Eocene-Oligocene tortoise Stylemys

†Stylemys: An ancient tortoise.
A living Tapirus, or tapir

†Tapirus: Ancient tapirs.
Restoration of the Miocene-Pliocene rhinoceros Teleoceras

†Teleoceras: A rhinoceros that lived in North America.
Life restoration of the Miocene fur seal Thalassoleon

†Thalassoleon: An ancient fur seal.
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene-Pleistocene camel Titanotylopus

†Titanotylopus: A giant camel.
Life restoration of the Eocene mammal Uintatherium

†Uintatherium: A large, rhino-like mammal with bony knobs on its head.
Known material diagram depicting the Miocene-Pleistocene mastodon relative Zygolophodon with a human to scale

†Zygolophodon: Another mastodon relative.

Birds from the Cenozoic Era

A living Cathartes aura, or turkey vulture

†Cathartes aura: The turkey vulture, still flying today.
Life restoration of the Pleistocene-Holocene Chendytes, or Law's diving-goose

†Chendytes: Law's diving-goose, an extinct flightless goose.
A living Falco peregrinus, or peregrine falcon

†Falco peregrinus: The peregrine falcon, known for its incredible speed.
A living Fratercula cirrhata, or tufted puffin

†Fratercula cirrhata: The tufted puffin, a seabird.
A living Gavia immer, or common loon

†Gavia immer: The common loon, a diving bird.
A living Geococcyx californianus, or greater roadrunner

†Geococcyx californianus: The greater roadrunner, a fast-running bird.
Life restoration of the Paleocene-Eocene bird Lithornis

†Lithornis: An early, extinct bird.
Life restoration of the Miocene pseudo-toothed bird Osteodontornis

†Osteodontornis: A giant seabird with bony "teeth" on its beak.
Reconstructive illustration of a fossilized skull of the Oligocene-Pleistocene pseudo-toothed bird Pelagornis, with close-up insets of its pseudo-teeth

†Pelagornis: Another huge pseudo-toothed bird, one of the largest flying birds ever.
A living Numenius phaeopus, or whimbrel

†Numenius phaeopus: The whimbrel, a shorebird.
†Teratornis merriami: Merriam's teratorn, a massive extinct condor-like bird.

Fish and Other Marine Life from the Cenozoic Era

Life restoration of a school of the Miocene-Pleistocene Oncorhynchus rastrosus, or saber-toothed salmon

†Oncorhynchus rastrosus: The "saber-toothed salmon," a giant salmon with large fangs.
A modern Porichthys notatus, or plainfin midshipman

†Porichthys notatus: The plainfin midshipman, a type of fish.
A living Galeocerdo cuvier, or tiger shark

†Galeocerdo: Tiger sharks.
Illustration of a living Notorynchus cow shark

Notorhynchus: Cow sharks.
Shell of a Clinocardium cockle

Clinocardium: Cockles, a type of clam.
Fossilized shell of a Conus cone snail

Conus: Cone snails.
A living Dendraster excentricus, or sea cake

Dendraster excentricus: The eccentric sand dollar.
A living Nassarius, or nassa mud snail

Nassarius: Nassa mud snails.
Assemblage of fossilized shells of the Cretaceous-Pleistocene oyster Pycnodonte

Pycnodonte: Oysters.
Fossilized shell of the Late Cretaceous-modern carrier shell sea snail Xenophora

Xenophora: Carrier shell sea snails.

Plants and Insects from the Cenozoic Era

A living Abies, or fir tree

Abies: Fir trees.
A living Buteo jamaicensis, or red-tailed hawk

†Buteo jamaicensis: Red-tailed hawks.
A living Calliostoma annulatum, or purple-ring top sea snail

†Calliostoma annulatum: Purple-ring top sea snails.
A living Crotalus viridis, or prairie rattlesnake

†Crotalus viridis: Prairie rattlesnakes.
A living Dipodomys merriami, or Merriam's kangaroo rat

†Dipodomys merriami: Merriam's kangaroo rats.
A living Phrynosoma, or horned lizard

Phrynosoma: Horned lizards.
A living Otospermophilus beecheyi (formerly Spermophilus beecheyi), or California ground squirrel

†Spermophilus beecheyi: California ground squirrels.
A living Syngnathus pipefish

Syngnathus: Pipefish.
Shell of a Turcica sea snail

Turcica: Sea snails.
Leaves and fruit of a living Viburnum.

†Viburnum: A type of shrub.

Images for kids

Fossils of the mysterious Ediacaran organism Aspidella
Fossil of the Devonian-Triassic arthropod trackway ichnogenus Cruziana
Life restoration of the Permian Chimaera relative Helicoprion
Illustration of a fossilized shell of the brachiopod Kutorgina
Illustration of a fossil of the Cambrian trilobite Olenellus
Fossilized shell of the Silurian-Middle Devonian brachiopod Pentamerus
Fossil of the arthropod burrow ichnogenus Rusophycus
Fossilized shells of the ammonoid cephalopod Xenodiscus
Life restoration of the Late Cretaceous armored dinosaur Aletopelta
Interior and exterior of a shell of an Anomia, or jingle shell
Fossilized partial skull of the Late Cretaceous duck-billed dinosaur Augustynolophus
Restoration of the Late Triassic ichthyosaur Californosaurus
Shell and spines of a Cidaris sea urchin
Diagram illustrating the Middle-Late Triassic ichthyosaur Cymbospondylus with an anachronistic human to scale.
Restoration of the Early Cretaceous-Eocene bony fish Enchodus, or the "saber-toothed herring"
Fossilized shell of the Late Cretaceous ammonoid cephalopod Fagesia
Fossil negative with skin impressions of the theropod dinosaur footprint ichnogenus Grallator
Fossilized shell of the Early Jurassic-Late Cretaceous marine bivalve Inoceramus with a human indicating its size
Fossilized shells of the Jurassic brachiopod Kallirhynchia
Fossilized shell of the Early-Late Cretaceous ammonoid cephalopod Mariella
Fossilized shell of the Late Cretaceous ammonoid cephalopod Parapuzosia with a human indicating its size
Life restoration of the Late Cretaceous mosasaur Plotosaurus
Fossilized shells of the Triassic-modern marine bivalve Propeamussium
Base of the trunk of a living Sequoia tree with a human to scale
Reconstructive illustration of the skull in side (above) and top view of the Late Triassic thalattosaur Thalattosaurus. The frontmost portion of the snout is portrayed erroneously as straight; it actually had a pronounced downward curve
Shell of a Yoldia limatula, or file yoldia
A living Abies, or fir tree
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene horse Acritohippus
Life restoration of the Miocene camel Aepycamelus, or the long-necked camel. Heinrich Harder (1920).
Fossilized skeleton of the Miocene seal Allodesmus
Fossilized skull of the Miocene saber-toothed cat Amphimachairodus
Fossilized mandibles of the Miocene three-toed horse Anchitherium
Reconstructive illustration of the skeleton of the Miocene-Pleistocene hornless rhinoceros Aphelops
Restoration of an Arctodus, or short-faced bear, with a human to scale
Shells of Argopecten gibbus, or Atlantic calico scallops
Life restoration of the Miocene sperm whale Aulophyseter
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene whale Balaenula
Fossilized skull of the Miocene-Pliocene false saber-toothed cat Barbourofelis
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Pleistocene Bison latifrons, also known as the giant bison or long-horned bison
Restorative portrait of the Miocene oreodont mammal Brachycrus
A living Buteo jamaicensis, or red-tailed hawk
Life restoration of the Pliocene-Holocene camel Camelops
Fossilized skeleton of the Pleistocene dwarf pronghorn Capromeryx
A living Cathartes aura, or turkey vulture
Life restoration of the Miocene-Pliocene whale Cetotherium
Life restoration of the Pleistocene-Holocene Chendytes, or Law's diving-goose
Shell and spines of a Cidaris sea urchin
Shell of a Clinocardium cockle
Illustration of a living Cyclothone bristlemouth
Fossilized shell of a Conus cone snail
Restoration of the Miocene palaeomerycid Cranioceras, a relative of modern deer, with anachronistic human to scale
A living Crotalus viridis, or prairie rattlesnake
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Eocene-Miocene bear-dog Daphoenus
Dendraster excentricus.jpg

A living Dendraster excentricus, or sea cake
Life restoration of the Oligocene-Miocene herbivorous marine mammal Desmostylus
A living Dipodomys merriami, or Merriam's kangaroo rat
Illustration of the fossilized jaws and teeth of the Eocene brontothere mammal Duchesneodus
Life restoration of two of the Eocene-Oligocene anthracothere mammal Elomeryx being menaced by fellow-anthracothere Anthracotherium
Fossilized skeleton of the Eocene-Pliocene frog Eopelobates
Restoration of the Pliocene-Holocene horse Equus scotti, or Scott's horse
Life restoration of the Pleistocene bovid Euceratherium, or the shrub ox. Robert Bruce Horsfall (1913).
A living Falco peregrinus, or peregrine falcon
A living Fratercula cirrhata, or tufted puffin
A living Galeocerdo cuvier, or tiger shark
A living Gavia immer, or common loon
A living Geococcyx californianus, or greater roadrunner
Life restoration of the Miocene walrus Gomphotaria
Fossilized skull of the mesonychian mammal Harpagolestes
Life restoration of the Eocene-Miocene mammal Herpetotherium
Life restoration of a herd of the Miocene-Pleistocene horse Hipparion. Heinrich Harder (1920).
Restoration of Pliocene-Pleistocene Homotherium, or scimitar cat
Restoration of the Miocene walrus Imagotaria
Life restoration of the Oligocene-Miocene dolphin Kentriodon
Life restoration of the Miocene opah fish Lampris zatima
Illustration of a fossilized skull of the Oligocene-Miocene dog Leptocyon
Top view of a fossilized skull of the Eocene creodont mammal Limnocyon
Life restoration of the Paleocene-Eocene bird Lithornis
Fossilized cranium of the Miocene-Pleistocene saber-toothed cat Machairodus
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene-Pleistocene ground sloth Megalonyx
Reconstructive illustration of the skeleton of a Mammuthus exilis, or pygmy mammoth
Life restoration of the Miocene rhinoceros Menoceras
Fossilized skeleton of the Miocene pronghorn Merycodus
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene-Pleistocene manatee relative Metaxytherium
Restoration of the Pliocene-Pleistocene Miracinonyx, or American cheetah
Fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene-Holocene peccary Mylohyus
A living Nassarius, or nassa mud snail
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene aquatic desmostylian mammal Neoparadoxia
Illustration of the fossilized skull of the Oligocene false saber-toothed cat Nimravus
Notorhynchus.gif

Illustration of a living Notorynchus cow shark
Numenius phaeopus.jpg

A living Numenius phaeopus, or whimbrel
Illustration of the shell of an Odostomia donilla pyram shell sea snail
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Pleistocene Odocoileus lucasi, or American mountain deer
Life restoration of a school of the Miocene-Pleistocene Oncorhynchus rastrosus, or saber-toothed salmon
Life restoration of the Miocene pseudo-toothed bird Osteodontornis
Restoration of the Miocene aquatic desmostylian mammal Paleoparadoxia
Paramylodon harlani.jpg

Fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene-Pleistocene ground sloth Paramylodon
Reconstructive illustration of a fossilized skull of the Oligocene-Pleistocene pseudo-toothed bird Pelagornis, with close-up insets of its pseudo-teeth
Illustration of a fossilized skull in multiple views of the Oligocene-Miocene bone-crushing dog Phlaocyon
A living Phrynosoma, or horned lizard
Restoration of a herd of alarmed Miocene-Pleistocene peccaries of the genus Platygonus. Charles R. Knight (1922).
Life restoration of the Miocene walrus Pliopedia
Illustration of a fossilized skull of the Oligocene false faber-toothed cat Pogonodon
A modern Porichthys notatus, or plainfin midshipman
Life restoration of the Eocene brontothere mammal Protitanops
Hypothetical restoration of the Oligocene-Pliocene sea turtle Psephophorus
Illustration of a fossilized skull of the Paleocene multituberculate mammal Ptilodus
Assemblage of fossilized shells of the Cretaceous-Pleistocene oyster Pycnodonte
Life restoration of the Miocene-Pliocene pronghorn Ramoceros and Cosoryx. Robert Bruce Horsfall (1913).
Restoration of the Miocene-Pliocene elephant relative Rhynchotherium
Fossilized teeth of the Neogene sperm whale Scaldicetus
Illustration of a living Scopelogadus ridgehead
Fossilized skull of the Pliocene porpoise Semirostrum
Restoration of two species of the Oligocene oreodont mammal genus Sespia
Life restoration of the Pleistocene-Holocene saber-tooth cat Smilodon
A living Otospermophilus beecheyi (formerly Spermophilus beecheyi), or California ground squirrel
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Pliocene-Pleistocene elephant relative Stegomastodon
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the fossil pronghorn Stockoceros
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Eocene-Oligocene tortoise Stylemys
A living Syngnathus pipefish
Tapirus terrestris.JPG

A living Tapirus, or tapir
Restoration of the Miocene-Pliocene rhinoceros Teleoceras
Life restoration of the Miocene fur seal Thalassoleon
Mounted fossilized skeleton of the Miocene-Pleistocene camel Titanotylopus
A living Tremarctos, or spectacled bear
Shell of a Turcica sea snail
Life restoration of the Eocene mammal Uintatherium
A living Ursus americanus, or American black bear
Leaves and fruit of a living Viburnum.
Fossilized shell of the Late Cretaceous-modern carrier shell sea snail Xenophora
Known material diagram depicting the Miocene-Pleistocene mastodon relative Zygolophodon with a human to scale

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List of the prehistoric life of California Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.