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Alabama Ancient Savanna Species List

An Oak Savanna

The U.S. state of Alabama from an estimated 129,000 years ago to approximately 300 years ago was a mix of open grasslands and savannas, in contrast to the closed canopy forests which cover most of the state today. Most of these savannas were a mixture of pine savannas and oak savannas with areas lacking any trees being basic open grasslands. This habitat was somewhat similar to the modern savannas of Africa although the main difference being the temperature. While summer months were hot and somewhat dry with temperatures ranging from estimated highs of 85°F – 100°F, winter months were cold and wet with lows reaching down to an estimated -20°F – 10°F. The landscape was comprised primarily of a variety of trees growing sparsely over a large area such as Longleaf Pines, Shortleaf Pines, Loblolly Pines, Southern Red Oaks, Cherrybark Oaks, Black Oaks, Blackjack Oaks, Eastern White Oaks, Chinquapin Oaks, Chestnut Oaks, Post Oaks, Sand Post Oaks, Sweetgums, Poplars, Cherries, and Plums The landscape was also dominated by many extinct animal species such as Short faced bear, Columbian mammoth, American mastodon, Great bison, Wild horses, American camels, Giant ground sloths, Dire wolfs, American lions, and the American cheetah.

The fauna of the state began a sharp decline approximately 12,000 years ago after the Younger Dyras impact. The impact is theorized to be a comet impact which rapidly cooled the earth followed by rapid heating which killed roughly 66% of all fauna species in the state.

A virgin Slash pine savanna in Mississippi which is believed to be approximately 110,000 years old
Late Pleistocene in Northern Alabama. Left to right: wild horse, Columbian mammoth, reindeer; American Lion, woolly rhinoceros

Very little of the original savanna remains intact today due to human interference, primarily through fire suppression. Some modern analogs of the ancient savanna can be found in any large area that is cleared due to a dormant seed bank that sprouts after soil disturbance and sunlight exposure or in man made pine forests that is used for timber products. While these timber lands rarely experience fire, regular clearing and disturbance can result in an environment similar to the ancient savanna.

A man-made Shortleaf pine savanna in southern Alabama

Many of the ancient savanna tree species are at risk of extinction within the state, possibly within the next 75 - 400 years due to fire suppression and unfavorable growing conditions such as shade cause by thick undergrowth or a closed canopy, and too thick of leaf litter. Trees such as the Longleaf Pine and Shortleaf Pine are expected to be possibly extinct within the next 100 - 250 years while trees such as the Cherrybark Oak, Eastern White Oak, Chinquapin Oak, Chestnut Oak, Post Oak and Sand Post Oak are believed to all be at risk of possible extinction within the next 200 - 400 years. In an even shorter time span the 6 American Plum species are all believed to be at risk of possible extinction within the next 75 - 150 years.

Efforts to combat this habit loss and possible extinction are being undertaken by some groups through land management projects aimed at improving conditions favorable to the trees and through the promotion of fire regimes.

Extant - 10

Extinct in State - 7

Permanently Extinct - 34

(‡) Permanently Extinct - A native species which is permanently extinct on earth.

(†) Extinct in the wild/Extinct in State - A native species which is extinct in the State of Alabama.

Antelope/Deer/Elk/Horses

Image Scientific Name Common Name Genus Geographic Range Temporal Range
(Age) 		Year of
Extinction 		Extinction Event
Cervus canadensis canadensis Eastern Elk/Wapiti (‡) Cervus Central and Eastern Alabama Approx.
5,000 – 147
years ago		 1877 Holocene
Capromeryx furcifer Dwarf Pronghorn (‡) Capromeryx Statewide Approx.
5Ma – 11,000
years ago		 ~9,000 B.C. Holocene
Odocoileus virginianus osceola Florida Costal White-Tailed Deer Odocoileus Southern Alabama near Florida state line Approx. 7,000 – Present – –
Odocoileus virginianus virginianus Virginia White-Tailed Deer Odocoileus Majority of Albama Approx. 11,000 – Present – –
– Equus fraternus Florida Wild Horse (‡) Cervus Southern Alabama Approx.
1.8ma – 12,000
years ago		 ~10,000 B.C. Late Pleistocene
Equus scotti Scott's Horse (‡) Equus Statewide Approx.
1.8Ma – 12,000
years ago		 ~10,000 B.C. Late Pleistocene

Armadillos

Image Scientific Name Common Name Genus Geographic Range Temporal Range
(Age) 		Year of
Extinction 		Extinction Event
Glyptotherium texanum North American Glyptodont/North American Giant Armadillo (‡) Glyptotherium Statewide Approx.
3.6Ma – 11,300
years ago		 ~9000 B.C. Holocene
Dasypus novemcinctus Nine-Banded Armadillo Dasypus Statewide Approx.
50,000 – Present		 – –

Bear

Image Scientific Name Common Name Genus Geographic Range Temporal Range
(Age) 		Year of
Extinction 		Extinction Event
Tremarctos floridanus Florida Short-Faced Bear (‡) Tremarctos Central and Southern Alabama Approx.
250,000 – 11,000
years ago		 ~9,000 B.C. Holocene
Ursus americanus floridanus Florida Black Bear Ursus Southern Alabama Approx.
1.3Ma – Present		 - -
Ursus americanus American Black Bear Ursus North and Central Alabama Approx.
2.6Ma – Present		 - -

Beaver

Image Scientific Name Common Name Genus Geographic Range Temporal Range
(Age) 		Year of
Extinction 		Extinction Event
Castor canadensis carolinensis Carolina Beaver Castor Statewide Approx.
6Ma – Present		 - -
Castoroides dilophidus Southeastern Giant Beaver Castoroides Statewide Approx.
1.9Ma – ~10,000
years ago		 ~9,000 B.C. Holocene

Bison/Ox

Image Scientific Name Common Name Genus Geographic Range Temporal Range
(Age) 		Year of
Extinction 		Extinction Event
Bison bison American Bison/American Buffalo (†) Bison Statewide Approx.
30,000 – 254
years ago		 1770 Holocene
Bison antiquus Ancient Bison (‡) Bison Statewide Approx.
60,000 – 10,000
years ago		 ~9,000 B.C. Holocene
Bison latifrons Great Bison (‡) Bison Statewide Approx.
120,000 – 11,000
years ago		 ~10,000 B.C. Holocene
– Praeovibos priscus Great Ox (‡) Praeovibos ? Approx.
1.5Ma – 2,700
years ago		 ~670 B.C. Holocene
Euceratherium collinum Shrub Ox (‡) Euceratherium Statewide Approx.
1.1Ma – 13,000
years ago		 ~11,000 B.C. Late Pleistocene
Bootherium bombifrons Woodland Ox (‡) Bootherium North and Central Alabama Approx.
780,000 – 11,000
years ago		 ~10,000 B.C. Holocene

Bobcat/Cats/Cheetahs/Jaguars/Lions/Tigers

Image Scientific Name Common Name Genus Geographic Range Temporal Range
(Age) 		Year of
Extinction 		Extinction Event
Miracinonyx inexpectatus American Cheetah (‡) Miracinonyx North and Central Alabama Approx.
2.5Ma – 16,000
years ago		 ~14,000 B.C. Late Pleistocene
Panthera onca American Jaguar (†) Panthera Southwest Alabama/Mobile Bay area Approx.
850,000 – 138
years ago		 1886 Holocene
Panthera atrox American Lion (‡) Panthera Statewide Approx.
129,000 – 12,800
years ago		 ~11,000 B.C. Late Pleistocene
Smilodon fatalis American Saber-Toothed Tiger (‡) Smilodon Statewide Approx.
2.5Ma – 10,000
years ago		 ~8,000 B.C. Holocene
Homotherium serum American Scimitar-Toothed Tiger (‡) Homotheriun North and Central Alabama Approx.
4Ma – 12,000
years ago		 ~10,000 B.C. Late Pleistocene
Puma concolor couguar Eastern Mountain Lion (‡) Puma Central and Eastern Alabama Approx.
1.2Ma – 76
years ago		 1948 [note 1] Holocene
Puma concolor couguar Florida Mountain Lion (†) Puma Southern Alabama near Florida state line Approx.
1.2Ma – 94
years ago		 ~1930's Holocene
Herpailurus yagouaroundi Jaguarundi (†) Herpailurus Southern Alabama ? – ~124? ~1900? Holocene
Puma concolor couguar North American Mountain Lion (†) Puma Northwestern Alabama Approx.
1.2Ma – 94
years ago		 ~1930's Holocene
Lynx rufus Red Bobcat Lynx Statewide Approx.
3.2Ma – Present		 - -

Camels/Llamas

Image Scientific Name Common Name Genus Geographic Range Temporal Range
(Age) 		Year of
Extinction 		Extinction Event
Camelops hesternus American Camel (‡) Camelops Statewide Approx.
3.2Ma – 13,000
years ago		 ~11,000 B.C. Late Pleistocene
Palaeolama mirifica Ancient Llama (‡) Palaeolama Central and Southern Alabama Approx.
1.8Ma – 11,000		 ~9,000 B.C. Late Pleistocene
Hemiauchenia paradoxa Large-Headed Llama (‡) Hemiauchenia Southern Alabama Approx.
10.3Ma – 12,000		 ~10,000 B.C. Holocene

Coyote/Fox/Wolfs

Image Scientific Name Common Name Genus Geographic Range Temporal Range
(Age) 		Year of
Extinction 		Extinction Event
Aenocyon dirus Dire Wolf (‡) Aenocyon Statewide Approx.
125,000 – 9,500
years ago		 ~7,500 B.C. Holocene
Canis rufus Red Wolf (†) Canis Statewide Approx.
10,000 – 100
years ago		 1920 Holocene
Canis latrans frustor Southeastern Coyote Canis Statewide Approx.
85,000 – Present		 - -
Urocyon cinereoargenteus Gray Fox Urocyon Statewide Approx.
3.6Ma – Present
years ago		 - -
Vulpes fulva fulva Eastern American Red Fox Vulpes Statewide Approx.
400,000 – Present		 - -

Gomphotheres/Mammoths/Mastodons

Image Scientific Name Common Name Genus Geographic Range Temporal Range
(Age) 		Year of
Extinction 		Extinction Event
Cuvieronius hyodon American Gomphothere(‡) Cuvieronius Southern Alabama Approx.
1.5Ma – 12,000
years ago		 ~10,000 B.C. Late Pleistocene
Mammut americanum American Mastodon (‡) Mammut Statewide Approx.
8Ma – 11,345
years ago		 ~9500 B.C. Holocene
Mammuthus columbi Columbian Mammoth (‡) Mammuthus Statewide Approx.
1.5Ma – 12,000
years ago		 ~10,000 B.C. Late Pleistocene

Peccary/Tapirs

Image Scientific Name Common Name Genus Geographic Range Temporal Range
(Age) 		Year of
Extinction 		Extinction Event
Tapirus californicus California Tapir (‡) Tapirus Statewide Approx.
13Ma – 12,000
years ago		 ~10,000 B.C. Late Pleistocene
– Tapirus merriami Merriam's Tapir (‡) Tapirus Statewide Approx.
2.8Ma – 12,000
years ago		 ~10,000 B.C. Late Pleistocene
Dicotyles tajacu Collared Peccary (†) Dicotyles Statewide ? ? ?
Platygonus compressus Flat-Headed Peccary (‡) Platygonus Statewide ? ? ?
Mylohyus nasutus Long-Nosed Peccary (‡) Mylohyus Statewide ? ? ?
Tapirus veroensis Southeastern Tapir (‡) Tapirus Statewide Approx.
1.8Ma – 11,000
years ago		 ~9,000 B.C. Holocene

Sloths

Image Scientific Name Common Name Genus Geographic Range Temporal Range
(Age) 		Year of
Extinction 		Extinction Event
Megalonyx jeffersonii Jefferson Ground Sloth (‡) Megalonyx Statewide Approx.
5Ma – 12,000
years ago		 ~10,000 B.C. Late Pleistocene
Paramylodon harlani Harland’s Ground Sloth (‡) Paramylodon Statewide Approx.
4.9Ma – 12,000
years ago		 ~10,000 B.C. Late Pleistocene
Nothrotheriops shastensis Shasta Ground Sloth (‡) Nothrotheriops Statewide Approx.
2.6Ma – 11,000
years ago		 ~9000 B.C. Holocene
Eremotherium laurillardi Steppe Giant Ground Sloth (‡) Eremotherium Central and Southern Alabama Approx.
5.3Ma – 10,000
years ago		 ~8000 B.C. Holocene

Notes

  1. ^ Killed in 1948 in St. Clair County.
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