Paleobiota of the Tamiami Formation

The Tamiami Formation is a Konzentrat Lagerstätte in Florida that preserves an unusually high diversity of species. A variety of distinct terrestrial, marine and freshwater ecosystems are represented by the formation, including rivers, lakes, reefs, swamps, beaches, and seagrass beds. Fossils are mostly known from canals, roads (being named after US Highway 41), dredging, and shell pits. There are few natural exposures of the formation, like Cookiecutter Creek and Venice Beach.

The geology of the Tamiami Formation is complex and debated. This list includes fossils from the Bayshore and Murdock Station units, as these are both currently referred to as members of the Tamiami, and as formations in the Hawthorn Group.

Algae Haptophytes are preserved as mineral shells and are used in biochronology.

FamilyGenusSpeciesMemberAbundanceNotesImage †Discoasteraceae †Discoaster †Discoaster pentardiatusPinecrest bedsCommonNoelaerhabdaceaeGephyrocapsaGephyrocapsa caribbeannicaIndividuals in the Tamiami formation are larger than modern individualsReticulofenestraReticulofenestra pseudoumbilicaCommon†Sphenolithaceae†Sphenolithus†Sphenolithus abiesExtremely Common

Amphibians FamilyGenusSpeciesMemberAbundanceNotesImagesRanidaeRanaRana cf. catesbianaLarge FrogSirenidaeSirenSiren cf. lacertinaGreater Siren

Annelids FamilyGenusSpeciesMemberAbundanceNotesImageSpionidaeHelicotaphrichnus Helicotaphrichnus commensalisPinecrest BedsExclusively associated with hermit crabs Polydora

Bacillariophyta (Diatoms) FamilyGenusSpeciesMemberAbundanceNotesImageCocconeidaceaeCocconeisMultipleDiploneidaceaeDiploneisDiploneis exemtaValidity UnclearFragilariaceaeOpephoraMultipleSynedraMultiple HeliopeltaceaeActinoptychusActinoptychus bismarckiiUnassessedNaviculaceaeNaviculaNavicula optimaUnassessedUnknownAcanthesMultipleMisspelling?

Bony fishes FamilyGenusSpeciesMemberAbundanceNotesImageDiodontidaeIndeterminateIctaluridaeIndeterminateLepisosteidaeAtractosteusIndeterminate Mugilidae Mugil Mugil sp.Pinecrest BedsMulletSparidaeArchosargusLagodonSphyraenidaeSphyraenaSphyraena barracudaSciaenidaePogoniasPogonias cromis

Brachiopoda

FamilyGenusSpeciesMemberAbundanceNotesImage Lingulidae Glottidia †Glottidia inexpectensLowerRareAlso occurs in the Bone Valley Formation

Bryozoa

FamilyGenusSpeciesMemberAbundanceNotesImageAdeonidaeReptadeonella†Reptadeonella umbilicataCalloporidaeAmphiblestrum†Amphiblestrum constrictumAplousina†Aplousina grandisCopidozoum†Copidozoum cf. parvirostrisCelleporidaePourtalesella†Pourtalesella chiaraeCribrilinidaeCribrilariaCribrilaria scriptaBitectiporidaeMetroperiella†Metroperiella reversaBryocryptellidaeCyclocolposa†Cyclocolposa perforataLepraliellidaeCelleporariaMicroporellidaeMicroporellaMicroporella cf. pontificaPinecrest Beds †Microporella sarasotaensisCommon†Microporella stellataLower†Microporella tamiamiensisPinecrest BedsOncousoeciidaeOncousoeciaOnychocellidaeFloridina†Floridina regularisPhidoloporidaePlesiocleidochasma†Plesiocleidochasma cf. vestitumRomancheinidaeHippopleuriferaHippopleurifera mucronataSchizoporellidaeStylopoma†Stylopoma leverhulmeStomachetosellidae†Cycloperiella†Cycloperiella rubraTrypostegidaeTrypostega†Trypostega composita Corals Coral deposits are found within all members of the Tamiami formation. The Golden Gate Reef Member has over a hundred species of coral alone. FamilyGenusSpeciesMemberAbundanceNotesImageAcroporidaeAcroporaAcropora cf. panamensisGolden GatesGolden GatesCaryophylliidae†Placocyathus†Placocyathus barrettiNot a synonym of Trochocyathus†Placocyathus variabilisFaviidae†Antillia†Antillia walliGolden Gates†Antillophyllia†Antillophyllia dominicensis†Antillophyllia dubiaIsophyllia Isophyllia sinuosa ManicinaManicina areolataScolymiaScolymia cubensisScolymia lacera †Scolymia meederiGolden Gates†Scolymia tamiamiensisMeandrinidaeDichocoenia†Dichocoenia cf. eminens†Dichocoenia sp.†Dichocoenia tuberosaDichocoenia stokesiGolden GatesMeandrinaMeandrina meandritesMerulinidaeOrbicella†Orbicella limbataTrachyphyllia†Trachyphyllia bilobataTrachyphyllia geoffroyiLocally extinctMontastraeidaeMontastrea†Montastrea brevis†Montastrea endothecataMussidae(?)SolenastreaSolenastrea bournoniPinecrest Beds, Golden Gates Solenastrea hyadesPocilloporidaeStylophora†Stylophora affinisGolden Gates Reef†Stylophora granulata†Stylophora minorPoritidaeGoniopora†Goniopora hilliPorites†Porites baracoaensisGolden Gates ReefRhizangiidaeSeptastrea†Septastrea crassa†Septastrea marylandicaPinecrest BedsAssociated with hermit crabs †Septastrea matsoniSiderastreidaeSiderastrea†Siderastrea dalliGolden Gates Reef†Siderastrea pliocenica

Chondrichthyes

Rays FamilyGenusSpeciesMemberAbundanceNotesImageAetobatidaeAetobatusAetobatus sp. Mobulidae Mobula Mobula birostris Mobula hypostoma Myliobatidae Myliobatis Myliobatis sp.Pinecrest Beds

Sharks The Tamiami Formation is partially the source of the shark teeth of Venice Beach. FamilyGenusSpeciesMemberAbundanceNotesImageCarcharhinidaeCarcharhinus Carcharhinus leucas NegaprionNegaprion brevirostrisLower, Pinecrest Beds GaleocerdoGaleocerdo cuvier†Physogaleus†Physogaleus contortusUncommon DalatiidaeIsistius†Isistius triangulusCommon (186 teeth)Extinct cookiecutter sharkHemigaleidaeHemipristis†Hemipristis serra Incertae sedis †Parotodus†Parotodus benediniiLamnidaeCarcharodonCarcharodon carcharias†Carcharodon hastalis IsurusIsurus oxyrinchusUncommon †Otodontidae †Otodus †Otodus megalodonUncommon ScyliohinidaeScyliorhinusScyliorhinus sp.SquatinidaeSquatina

Crustacea Cirripedia

FamilyGenusSpeciesMemberAbundanceNotesImageBalanidaeChesaconcavus†Chesaconcavus tamiamiensisMurdock StationIndex for Murdock Unit Paraconcavus †Paraconcavus sarasotaensisPinecrest Beds?†Paraconcavus talquinensisTamiosoma†Tamiosoma advenaValidity unclear Decapoda FamilyGenusSpeciesMemberAbundanceNotesImageCalappidaeCalappaCalappa sp. CallianassidaeCallianassaMud shrimpCallichiridaeGlypturusGlypturus acanthochirusPinecrest BedsGhost shrimp CryptochiridaeGalacticus†Galacticus duerriEndemicEarliest known occurrence of a Cryptochirid, ichnofossilDiogenidaePetrochirusLeucosiidaePersephona Persephona cf. subovata MajidaeIncertae sedisMenippidaeMenippeMenippe mercenariaIncertae sedisPaguroidea (Families outside of Diogenidae unknown)VariousKnown from the presence of Helicotaphrichnus commensalis Porcellanidae Petrolisthes †Petrolisthes myakkensisPinecrest BedsFormed commensal relationships with the locally extinct Heliaster microbrachiusXanthidaeParactaeaParactaea cf. nodosaPinecrest Beds Ostracoda FamilyGenusSpeciesMemberAbundanceNotesImageBairdiidaeBairdoppilataBairdoppilata sp.Pinecrest BedsRareCushmanideidaeHulingsina†Hulingsina semicircularisExtremely CommonValidity UnclearCytherellidaeCytherelloidea†Cytherelloidea umbonataRareCytherettidaeProtocytherettaProtocytheretta reticulataRareValidity UnclearCytheruridaeCytheruraCytherura sp.RareHemicytheridae†Malzella†Malzella floridianaCommonOrioninaOrionina vaughniExtremely Common Puriana†Puriana rugipunctataRadimella†Radimella confragosaExtremely CommonLoxoconchidaeLoxoconchaLoxoconcha sp. 1Extremely CommonLoxoconcha sp. 2ParacytherideidaeParacytherideaParacytheridea altilaExtremely CommonValidity UnclearThaerocytheridaeHermanitesHermanites ascitusRareValidity UnclearTrachyleberididae†Actinocythereis†Actinocythereis sp.Extremely CommonCativellaCativella sp.RareEndemicClimocoideaClimocoidea sp.Climocoidea (Proteoconcha) sp.Costa†Costa triplistriataEchinocythereis†Echinocythereis garrettiPterygocythereis†Pterygocythereis inexpectata

Echinoderms

Sea stars FamilyGenusSpeciesMemberAbundanceNotesImage Heliasteridae Heliaster Heliaster microbrachiusPinecrest BedsCommon in some areasFormed commensal relationships with the extinct porcelain crab, Petrolisthes myakkensis. The species only occurs in the Pacific Ocean today. Unnamed speciesBayshoreCommonIndeterminateCommonOssicles Sea urchins FamilyGenusSpeciesMemberAbundanceNotesImageArbaciidaeArbacia†Arbacia crenulataBrissidaeBrissus†Brissus glenniPlagiobrissus†Plagiobrissus saraeCassidulidaeRhyncholampas†Rhyncholampas ayresi†Rhynchopygus†Rhynchopygus evergladensisCidaridaeEucidarisEucidaris tribuloides ClypeasteridaeClypeaster†Clypeaster crassus†Clypeaster romani†Clypeaster sunnilandensisTaxonomic status unclearClypeaster indet. LoveniidaeEchinocardium†Echinocardium orthonotumMellitidaeEncope†Encope michelini †Encope tamiamiensisCommon in some units Index taxonMellita†Mellita aclinensisToxopneustidaeLytechinusLytechinus variegatus

Foraminifera Foraminifera are testate amoebae used often in biochronology and paleoecology. Many more species are known but remain unnamed/undescribed as of 2026. FamilyGenusSpeciesMemberAbundanceNotesImageAmmoniidaeAmmoniaAmmonia tepidaPinecrest BedsExtremely Common AmphisteginidaeAmphisteginaAsterigerinidaeAsterigerinaRareAsteronionidaeAsteronionRareBolivinitidaeBolivinaUncommonBuliminellidaeBuliminellaBuliminella elegantissima†Buliminella elongataCancrisidaeValvulineriaRareCibididaeCibicidesUncommonCribroelphiidaeCribroelphidiumCribroelphidium gunteriExtremely CommonCribroelphidium poeyanumCribroelphidium cf. poeyanumDiscorbidaeDiscorbisRareElphidiinaeElphidiumExtremely Common Elphidium discoidaleEponididaeEponidesExtremely RareGlobigerinidaeGlobigerina Globigerina bulloidesGlobigerinoidesExtremely Rare†Globoturborotalita †Globoturborotalita nepenthesLower, Pinecrest Beds†Sphaeroidinellopsis†Sphaeroidinellopsis seminulinaCommonHauerinidaeHauerinaPinecrest BedsCommon in Unit 7aPyrgoRareHaynesinidaeHaynesinaUncommonLagenidaeLagenaRareLitoulidaeAmmobaculitesPinecrest Beds, FruitvilleCommon or Rare, depending on localityMiliamminidaeMiliamminaPinecrest BedsExtremely Rare; 1 specimenMiliolidaeQuinqueloculinaMultiple SpeciesPinecrest BedsExtremely Common in Unit 7a, and Unit 4 TriloculinaCommonNonionidaeNonionRareNonionellaUncommonPeneroplidaePeneroplisExtremely RarePlanorbulinidaePlanorbulinaRarePlanulinidaePlanulinaCommonPolymorphinidaeGuttulinaVery RareReussellidaeReussellaVery RareRosalinidaeNeoconorbinaNeoconorbina sp.Extremely RareNeoconorbina terquemiRareRosalinaRosalina subaraucanaCommon in some unitsRotaliidae†RotaliaRareSprillinidaeSprillinaRareSpiroloculinidaeSpiroloculinaVery RareSpiroplectamminidaeVulvulinaExtremely Rare; 1 specimenTextulariidaeTextulariaRare TrochamminidaeTrochamminaRareVaginulinidaeLenticulinaRareVerneuilinidaeGaudryinaRare

Mammals Known from the Macasphalt Shell Pit, St. Petersburg Times, the Brighton Canal and various sites along the Kissimmee river. The Bone Valley Formation's Palmetto Fauna is contemporary with the Lower Tamiami Formation, reflecting deposits in a nearby estuary (The Bone Valley Estuary).