Age. 15,595 ± 230 (Van Devender et al.
1978); in a later publication, two dates were given: Shafter #1A, 15,950 ± 900;
and Shafter #1B, 15,695 ± 230.
General Description. Woodrat midden ca. 7 km south of Shafter in a small cave in the Livingston Hills (Van Devender et al. 1978).
Discussion. Van Devender et al. (1978) reported eight extralimital species of plants from the midden that also produced the fauna. These plants were "Pinus edulis (Colorado pinyon), Juniperus sp. (juniper), Sophora nr. gypsophila (little-leaf mescal bean), Quercus pungens (scrub oak), Q. hinckley (Hinckley's oak), Yucca cf. rostrata (yucca), Lithospermum sp. (puccoon) and Holacantha stewarti (crucifixion thorn)" (Van Devender et al 1978:292). Van Devender et al. interpreted the plant community as a xeric pinyon-juniper woodland.
In 1978, a pocket mouse was reported as Perognathus sp. In 1990, Van Devender and Bradley reported it as Perognathus penicillatus-type. With the division of Perognathus into two genera, the specimen is listed here as Chaetodipus sp.
Fauna.
Scaphiopus couchii—Couch's Spadefoot (UTEP)
Crotaphytus collaris—Eastern Collared Lizard (UTEP)
Urosaurus ornatus—Tree Lizard (UTEP)
Crotalus sp.—Rattlesnake (UTEP)
Chaetodipus sp.—Spiny Pocket Mouse (UTEP)
Literature. Van Devender and Bradley 1990; Van Devender et al. 1978.
Last Update: 1 Jun 2011