A giant beaver (Castoroides ohioensis Foster) fossil from New Brunswick, Canada

Authors

  • R. F. Miller Steinhammer Palaeontology Laboratory, New Brunswick Museum, Saint John, New Brunswick E2K 1E5, Canada
  • C. R. Harington Canadian Museum of Nature (Paleobiology), Ottawa, Ontario KIP 6P4, Canada
  • R. Welsh St. Andrews, New Brunswick E5B IC4, Canada

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4138/1982

Abstract

An isolated incisor tooth of a giant beaver (Castoroides ohioensis Foster) recovered from Indian Island, New Brunswick, near the mouth of the Bay of Fundy, represents the most eastern record of this animal in Canada. Unfortunately no stratigraphic context is available for the specimen, which was recovered loose near a beach also known to yield archaeological materials. The specimen may have been deposited on a storm beach from near shore deposits, but it is also possible that the tooth was carried to the site by people. The rarity of giant beaver fossils in southern Canada adds to the significance of this specimen. RÉSUMÉ Une incisive isolée de castor géant (Castoroides ohioensis Foster) récupérée sur l’ile Indian, au Nouveau-Brunswick, près de 1'embouchure de la baie de Fundy, représente la trace physique la plus à l’est de la présence de cet animal au Canada. Malheureusement, on ne dispose d'aucun conlexte stratigraphique dans le cas de ce spécimen, qui à été récupéré sous une forme détachée près d'une plage également reconnue comme source d'objets archéologiques. La specimen pourrait provenir de dépäts littoraux et avoir été déposé sur une crête de temp&éte, mais il est aussi possible que des gens aient apporté la dent sur les lieux. La rareté des fossiles de castor géant dans le Sud du Canada rehausse Timportance de ce spécimen. Traduit par la rédaction

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Published

2000-04-01

How to Cite

Miller, R. F., Harington, C. R., & Welsh, R. (2000). A giant beaver (Castoroides ohioensis Foster) fossil from New Brunswick, Canada. Atlantic Geoscience, 36(1). https://doi.org/10.4138/1982

Issue

Vol. 36 No. 1 (2000)

Section

Articles

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