Wilbur Locality
Basic information
Sample name: Wilbur Locality
Sample aka: SDSM Locality V8910; UWBM Locality C0163
Reference: J. E. Martin and V. S. Mallory. 2011. Vertebrate paleontology of the late Miocene (Hemphillian) Wilbur Locality of central Washington. Paludicola 8(3):155-185 [ER 4171]
Geography
Country: United States
State: Washington
County: Yakima
Coordinate: 46.65° N, -120.56° W
Coordinate basis: estimated from map
Scale: quarry
Formation: Ellensburg
Time interval: Late Miocene
Zone: Hemphillian
Ma: 7.41
Age basis: K-Ar
Geography comments: "along Maple Way, west of the town of Selah" (coordinate estimated using Google Maps)
"a radiometric date of 7.41 ± 0.36 Ma was derived" from the fossiliferous diatomite (method is K-Ar according to Smith et al. 1989, Isochron/West)
"a radiometric date of 7.41 ± 0.36 Ma was derived" from the fossiliferous diatomite (method is K-Ar according to Smith et al. 1989, Isochron/West)
Environment
Lithology: not described
Taphonomic context: fluvial deposit
Habitat comments: "A dazzling white diatomite lens" that is "1.5-meter thick" and includes "reworked tephra and some mudclast breccia"
"The fossils were found at all levels within the diatomite"
"most skeletons are not articulated, but some appear associated (e.g. camelids), indicating postmortem fluvial reworking"
one turtle shell and one skull are present in addition to jaws, teeth, and postcrania
"The fossils were found at all levels within the diatomite"
"most skeletons are not articulated, but some appear associated (e.g. camelids), indicating postmortem fluvial reworking"
one turtle shell and one skull are present in addition to jaws, teeth, and postcrania
Methods
Life forms: carnivores,rodents,ungulates,other small mammals,snakes,turtles
Sampling methods: screenwash
Sample size: 63 specimens
Museum: South Dakota School of Mines; University of Washington Burke Museum
Sampling comments: "discovered in the late 1970s by Mr. Scott Wilbur" with "subsequent excavations"
"Typical screen-washing techniques resulted in recovery of larger bones and fragments but few microvertebrates"
"Typical screen-washing techniques resulted in recovery of larger bones and fragments but few microvertebrates"
Metadata
Sample number: 4631
Contributor: John Alroy
Enterer: John Alroy
Created: 2025-01-03 01:22:44
Modified: 2025-01-03 01:22:44
Abundance distribution
18 species
6 singletons
total count 63
geometric series index: 39.6
Fisher's α: 8.419
geometric series k: 0.8733
Hurlbert's PIE: 0.8978
Shannon's H: 2.5397
Good's u: 0.9073
Each square represents a species. Square sizes are proportional to counts.
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Register
| †Wilburemys yakimensis | 1 | |
| type | ||
| Colubridae indet. | 5 | |
| †Eucyon davisi | 2 | |
| †Pliotaxidea nevadensis | 2 | |
| †Hypolagus cf. vetus | 9 | |
| †Neotamias cf. malloryi | 3 | |
| Neotamias sp. | 1 | |
| large | ||
| †Spermophilus wilsoni | 10 | |
| †Dipoides wilsoni | 3 | |
| Castor sp. | 1 | |
| Perognathus sp. | 2 | |
| †Pliosaccomys prowitteorum | 2 | |
| type | ||
| Copemys sp. | 7 | |
| Antecalomys sp. | 1 | |
| cf. | ||
| †Paronychomys aff. woodburnei | 1 | |
| near this species | ||
| Megatylopus sp. | 10 | |
| Camelidae indet. | 2 | |
| small | ||
| Artiodactyla indet. | 1 | |
| medium-sized | ||