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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	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