List of the prehistoric life of Tennessee facts for kids

This list of the prehistoric life of Tennessee contains the various prehistoric life-forms whose fossilized remains have been reported from within the US state of Tennessee. These fossils tell us about the ancient animals and plants that once lived here, long before humans walked the Earth.

Ancient Life in Tennessee Through the Ages

Life in the Precambrian Era

The Paleobiology Database does not show any known fossils from the Precambrian era found in Tennessee. This was a very, very long time ago, before complex life forms became common.

Life in the Paleozoic Era (Ancient Seas)

The Paleozoic Era was a time when Tennessee was mostly covered by warm, shallow seas. Many of the fossils found from this period are sea creatures like corals, brachiopods (shellfish), and trilobites (ancient arthropods).

Selected Paleozoic Fossils of Tennessee

• †Acodus
• †Actinoceras
• †Actinocrinites
• †Agaricocrinus
  • 

    Fossilized calyx of the Carboniferous crinoid ("sea lily") Agaricocrinus americanus, also known as the mushroom crinoid
    †Agaricocrinus americanus
• †Amplexopora
• †Amplexus
• †Ampyx
• †Aphetoceras
• †Atrypa
  • †Atrypa reticularis – a related form or older name was reported
• †Aulopora
• †Bellerophon
• †Bembexia
• †Bimuria
• †Bumastus
• †Calymene
  • †Calymene niagarensis
• †Calyptaulax
• †Camarotoechia
• †Cartersoceras – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• †Ceratopsis
• †Ceraurinus
• †Ceraurus
• †Chasmatopora
• †Cheirurus
• †Chonetes
  • †Chonetes glenparkensis – or a related form
• †Christiania
• 

  Fossilized shells of the Ordovician brachiopod Cincinnetina
  †Cincinnetina
  • †Cincinnetina meeki
• †Cladochonus
  • †Cladochonus crassus
• †Cleiothyridina
• †Columnaria
  • †Columnaria alveolata
• †Conocardium
• †Constellaria
• †Coolinia
• †Cornulites
  • †Cornulites proprius
• Costellirostra
  • Costellirostra Tennesseensis
• Crania
• †Craniops
• †Crepicephalus
• †Crepipora
• †Cruziana
• †Ctenostoma
• †Cyathocrinites
• †Cyclonema
• †Cyphaspis
• †Cypricardinia
• 

  Restoration of the ancient nautiloid cephalopod Cyrtoceras
  †Cyrtoceras
• †Cyrtolites
• †Cystodictya
• †Dalmanites
• †Dicoelosia
• †Dimerocrinites
  • †Dimerocrinites carleyi
  • †Dimerocrinites inornatus
  • †Dimerocrinites occidentalis
• †Distomodus
  • †Distomodus staurognathoides
• Dunkleosteus
• †Eatonia
• †Echinosphaerites
• †Eospirifer
  • †Eospirifer radiatus
• †Eretmocrinus
  • †Eretmocrinus magnificus
• 

  Fossilized calyx of the crinoid ("sea lily") Eucalyptocrinites
  †Eucalyptocrinites
  • †Eucalyptocrinites caelatus
  • †Eucalyptocrinites crassus
• †Favositella
• †Favosites
  • †Favosites forbesi
  • †Favosites spinigerus
• †Fenestella
• †Fletcheria
• †Flexicalymene
  • †Flexicalymene meeki
  • †Flexicalymene senaria
• †Foerstia
• †Forbesiocrinus
• 

  Fossilized calyx and partial stem of the crinoid ("sea lily") Gilbertsocrinus
  †Gilbertsocrinus
• †Girvanella
• †Glyptocrinus
• †Gonioceras
• †Gravicalymene
• †Grewingkia
  • †Grewingkia canadensis
• †Hallopora
• †Hedstroemia
• †Helcionopsis
  • †Helcionopsis striata
• †Hibbertia
• †Hindia
• †Holopea
• †Hyolithes
• †Illaenus
• 

  Fossil of the giant trilobite Isotelus
  †Isotelus
• †Kockelella
• †Krausella
• †Lingulella
• †Lonchodomas
• †Marsupiocrinus
• †Meristella
• †Meristina
• †Monomorphichnus
• †Orthoceras
• †Ozarkodina
  • †Ozarkodina confluens
• †Paciphacops
• 

  Fossilized theca of the Carboniferous blastoid echinoderm ("sea bud") Pentremites
  †Pentremites
• †Phragmolites
• †Phycodes
• †Phylloporina
• †Plaesiomys
• †Planolites
• †Platyceras – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• †Platycrinites
• †Platystrophia
  • †Platystrophia acutilirata
  • †Platystrophia cypha
• †Plectoceras
• †Pleurodictyum
• †Plumulites
• †Proetus
• †Protosalvinia
• †Pterotheca
• †Quadratia
• 

  Fossil of the arthropod burrow Rusophycus
  †Rusophycus
• †Sagenocrinites
• †Salterella
• †Siphonotreta
• †Skenidioides
• †Skolithos
• †Solenopora
  • †Solenopora compacta
• †Sowerbyella
• †Sphaerocodium – a possible report
• †Spirifer
• Spirorbis
• †Spyroceras
• †Stigmatella
• 

  Fossilized shell of the brachiopod Strophomena
  †Strophomena
  • †Strophomena concordensis
  • †Strophomena filitexta
  • †Strophomena incurvata
  • †Strophomena neglecta
  • †Strophomena planumbona
• †Subulites
• †Taxocrinus
• †Tentaculites
• †Tetradium
• †Tricrepicephalus
• †Trimerus
• †Westonia
• †Whiteavesia
• †Wurmiella
  • †Wurmiella excavata

Life in the Mesozoic Era (Age of Dinosaurs)

The Mesozoic Era is often called the "Age of Dinosaurs." While dinosaur fossils are rare in Tennessee, many marine reptiles and other sea creatures lived in the ancient seaways that covered parts of the state.

Selected Mesozoic Fossils of Tennessee

• Acirsa
• Acmaea
• 

  A living Acteon barrel bubble sea snail
  †Acteon
• †Aenona
• Amauropsis
• †Ampullina
• †Ancilla
• †Anomia
• †Anomoeodus
• †Arca
• Arctica
• 

  Fossil of the Late Cretaceous crab Avitelmessus
  †Avitelmessus
  • †Avitelmessus grapsoideus
• †Baculites
  • †Baculites grandis
  • †Baculites ovatus
• Barbatia
• Brachidontes
• Cadulus
• Caestocorbula
  • †Caestocorbula crassiplica
• Callianassa
  • †Callianassa mortoni
• †Calliomphalus
  • †Calliomphalus americanus – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• 

  Shell of a Cancellaria nutmeg sea snail
  Cancellaria
• Capulus
• †Caveola
• Cerithiopsis
• Cerithium
• Charonia
• Chiton
• Clavagella
• Cliona
• †Conorbis
• Corbula
• †Crania – a possible report
• †Crenella
  • †Crenella elegantula
  • †Crenella serica
• Cucullaea
  • †Cucullaea capax
  • †Cucullaea littlei
• Cylichna
  • †Cylichna incisa
• †Dentalium
• †Discoscaphites
  • †Discoscaphites iris
• †Dolicholatirus
• †Ecphora
• Edmontosaurus
  • Edmontosaurus regalis - a related form was reported
• 

  Restoration of the bony fish Enchodus, also called the "saber-toothed herring"
  †Enchodus
• †Eothoracosaurus
  • †Eothoracosaurus mississippiensis
• †Eulima
• †Euspira
• †Eutrephoceras
• †Exilia
• †Exogyra
  • †Exogyra cancellata
  • †Exogyra costata
• Fasciolaria – a possible report
• 

  A Gastrochaena marine bivalve
  Gastrochaena
• †Gegania
• Gemmula
• Glossus
• Glycymeris
• †Hamulus
• †Helicoceras
  • †Helicoceras navarroense
• †Hoploparia
• 

  Fossilized shell of the marine bivalve Inoceramus with a human indicating its size
  †Inoceramus
  • †Inoceramus proximus
  • †Inoceramus sagensis
• †Ischyrhiza
  • †Ischyrhiza mira
• Latiaxis
• Limatula
• †Linearis
• Lithophaga
• Littorina
• Lopha
  • †Lopha falcata
• †Lucina
• †Mammila
• Martesia
• †Mathilda
• Melanatria
• Membranipora
• Meretrix
• †Metopaster
• Micropora
• †Morea
• 

  Life restoration of two Mosasaurus
  †Mosasaurus
• †Neithea
  • †Neithea quinquecostata
• Nucula
  • †Nucula percrassa
• †Obeliscus
• †Odostomia
  • †Odostomia plicata – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• Opalia
• Ostrea
• Panopea
• †Paranomia
• †Pecten
• †Pedalion
• †Peneus
• Pholadomya
  • †Pholadomya occidentalis
• †Plioplatecarpus
  • †Plioplatecarpus depressus
• Polinices
• 

  Life restoration of the mosasaur Prognathodon hunting an ammonoid
  †Prognathodon
• †Protocardia
• †Pteria
• †Pterotrigonia
  • †Pterotrigonia angulicostata
  • †Pterotrigonia thoracica
• Pycnodonte
• Ringicula
  • †Ringicula pulchella
• Rissoina
• Rostellaria – a possible report
• †Sargana
• †Saurodon – a possible report
• †Scala
• 

  Shells of a Scaphander canoe bubble sea snail
  Scaphander
• †Scaphites
• †Schizobasis
• Seila
• †Seminola
• Serpula
• Serpulorbis
• †Siphonaria
• Teinostoma
• Tellina
• †Tenea
• †Teredo
• 

  Mounted fossilized skeleton of the sea turtle Toxochelys
  †Toxochelys
  • †Toxochelys latiremis
• Trichotropis
• †Trigonia
• Trochus
• †Tuba
• Turbinella
• †Turricula
• Turris
• Turritella
  • †Turritella bilira
  • †Turritella paravertebroides
  • †Turritella tippana
  • †Turritella trilira
  • †Turritella vertebroides
• Yoldia

Life in the Cenozoic Era (Age of Mammals)

The Cenozoic Era is often called the "Age of Mammals." During this time, large mammals like mammoths, mastodons, and giant sloths roamed Tennessee. Many of these animals are now extinct, but their fossils help us understand what ancient Tennessee looked like.

Selected Cenozoic Fossils of Tennessee

• Aegolius
  • †Aegolius acadicus
  • †Aegolius funereus
• Alligator
• Alnus
• †Ambystoma
• †Androglandula – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
  • †Androglandula tennessensis – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• †Arctomeles
  • †Arctomeles dimolodontus – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• Athleta
  • †Athleta rugatus
• 

  Life restoration of the Eocene whale Basilosaurus
  †Basilosaurus
  • †Basilosaurus cetoides – or a similar form
• †Berhamniphyllum – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
  • †Berhamniphyllum claibornense – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• Betula
• †Blattotermes
  • †Blattotermes wheeleri – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• Bonasa
  • †Bonasa umbellus
• Brachidontes – or a similar form
  • †Brachidontes saffordi
• †Caesalpinia
  • †Caesalpinia claibornensis – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• Canis
  • 

    Skeletons of a modern grey wolf (left) and the extinct dire wolf (right)
    †Canis dirus – a possible report
• Capella
  • †Capella gallinago
• Carduelis
  • †Carduelis pinus
• Carpodacus
  • †Carpodacus purpureus
• Carya
• †Castaneoidea – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
  • †Castaneoidea puryearensis – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• †Castanopsoidea – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
  • †Castanopsoidea columbiana – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• Castor
  • †Castor canadensis
• 

  Mounted fossilized skeleton of the giant beaver Castoroides
  †Castoroides
• Celtis
• Cervus
  • †Cervus elaphus
• Chaetura
  • †Chaetura pelagica
• Chrysemys
• Clethrionomys
  • †Clethrionomys gapperi
• Colaptes
  • †Colaptes auratus
• Coluber
• Corbula
  • †Corbula subcompressa
• 

  Fossilized skeleton of the horse Cormohipparion
  †Cormohipparion – or a similar form
• Coturnicops
  • †Coturnicops noveboracensis
• Crassatella
  • †Crassatella gabbi
• Crotalus
• Cucullaea
  • †Cucullaea saffordi
• Cyanocitta
  • †Cyanocitta cristata
• Desmognathus
• Didelphis
  • †Didelphis virginiana
• †Diplotropis
  • †Diplotropis claybornensis – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• †Ectopistes
  • 

    Taxidermied male Ectopistes migratorius, or passenger pigeon
    †Ectopistes migratorius
• †Elater
  • †Elater berryi – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• †Eoglandulosa – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
  • †Eoglandulosa warmanensis – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• †Eomimosoidea – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
  • †Eomimosoidea plumosa – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• Eptesicus
  • †Eptesicus fuscus
• Equus
  • †Equus complicatus
  • †Equus leidyi
• Eremophila
  • †Eremophila alpestris
• Erethizon
  • †Erethizon dorsatum
• Falco
  • 

    A living Falco sparverius, or American kestrel
    †Falco sparverius
• †Folindusia
  • †Folindusia wilcoxiana
• †Formicium – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
  • †Formicium berryi – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• †Fraxinus
• Geomys
• Glaucomys
  • †Glaucomys sabrinus
• Glycymeris
• Glyptemys
  • †Glyptemys insculpta
• †Hippomaneoidea – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
  • †Hippomaneoidea warmanensis – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• Hyla
  • †Hyla femoralis
• †Knightiophyllum
  • †Knightiophyllum wilcoxianum
• †Laevibuccinum
  • †Laevibuccinum constrictum
• Lepus
  • †Lepus americanus
• Lontra
  • †Lontra canadensis
• Lynx
  • †Lynx rufus – or a similar form
• †Machairodus – or a similar form
• †Mammut
  • †Mammut americanum
• †Mammuthus
  • 

    Life restorations of an American mastodon (right) and a wooly mammoth (left)
    †Mammuthus primigenius
• Marmota
  • †Marmota monax
• †Mazzalina – or a similar form
  • †Mazzalina impressa
• †Megatylopus – or a similar form
• Melanerpes
  • †Melanerpes carolinus
• †Melolonthites
  • †Melolonthites collinsi – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• Mephitis
  • 

    A living Mephitis mephitis, or striped skunk
    †Mephitis mephitis
• Mesalia
  • †Mesalia hardemanensis
  • †Mesalia pumila
• Microtus
  • †Microtus pennsylvanicus
  • †Microtus xanthognathus
• †Mylohyus
  • †Mylohyus fossilis
• Natica – a related form or older name was reported
  • †Natica saffordia
• Neotoma
  • †Neotoma floridana
• Notophthalmus
• Nuculana
  • †Nuculana hannahae
  • †Nuculana saffordana
• Odocoileus
  • 

    A living Odocoileus virginianus, or white-tailed deer
    †Odocoileus virginianus
• Ondatra
  • †Ondatra zibethicus
• Orthoyoldia
  • †Orthoyoldia kindlei
• Ostrea
  • †Ostrea crenulimarginata
  • †Ostrea pulaskensis
• †Otiorhynchites
  • †Otiorhynchites wilcoxianus
• †Ovibovini
• Paleofroeschnerius – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
  • †Paleofroeschnerius magnus – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• †Paleojulacea – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
  • †Paleojulacea laxa – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• Panthera
  • †Panthera onca
• 

  Fossilized skeleton of the ground sloth Paramylodon
  †Paramylodon
• Pedioecetes
  • †Pedioecetes phasianellus
• Perisoreus
  • †Perisoreus canadensis
• Phenacomys
  • †Phenacomys intermedius
• Pholadomya
  • †Pholadomya mauryi
• Picoides
  • †Picoides villosus
• Pinicola
  • †Pinicola enucleator
• Pinus
• Pipilo
  • †Pipilo erythrophthalmus
• Pitar – a possible report
  • †Pitar ripleyanus
• Pituophis
• Plethodon
• †Plionarctos
• 

  Life restoration of the red panda Pristinailurus
  †Pristinailurus – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
  • †Pristinailurus bristoli – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• Procyon
  • †Procyon lotor
• Quercus
• †Regina – or a similar form
• Salix
• Sayornis
  • †Sayornis phoebe
• Sciurus
  • †Sciurus carolinensis
• Scolopax
  • †Scolopax minor
• Sistrurus – or a similar form
• Sitta
  • †Sitta canadensis
• 

  Life restoration of the saber-tooth cat Smilodon
  †Smilodon
  • †Smilodon fatalis
• Sorex
  • †Sorex arcticus
  • †Sorex hoyi
  • †Sorex palustris
• Spermophilus
  • †Spermophilus tridecemlineatus
• Sternotherus
• Strix
  • †Strix varia
• 

  A living Sturnella magna, or eastern meadowlark
  Sturnella
• Surnia
  • †Surnia ulula
• Sylvilagus
  • †Sylvilagus aquaticus – or a similar form
  • †Sylvilagus floridanus
• Tamias
  • †Tamias striatus
• Tamiasciurus
  • †Tamiasciurus hudsonicus
• Tapirus
  • †Tapirus haysii
  • †Tapirus polkensis
  • †Tapirus veroensis
• 

  Restoration of the rhinoceros Teleoceras
  †Teleoceras
  • †Teleoceras aepysoma – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• Tellina
  • †Tellina estellensis
• †Tornatellaea
  • †Tornatellaea quercollis
• Trachemys
• †Trigonobalanoidea – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
  • †Trigonobalanoidea americana – this is where the first fossils of this type were found
• †Tsuga
• Turdus
  • †Turdus migratorius
• Turritella
  • †Turritella saffordi
  • †Turritella tennesseensis
• Tympanuchus
  • †Tympanuchus cupido
• Ulmus
• Ursus
  • 

    A living Ursus americanus, or American black bear
    †Ursus americanus
• Venericardia
  • †Venericardia hijuana
  • †Venericardia mediaplata
• Zonotrichia
  • †Zonotrichia albicollis