List of the prehistoric life of Kansas

This list of the prehistoric life of Kansas contains the various prehistoric life-forms whose fossilized remains have been reported from within the US state of Kansas.

Precambrian

The Paleobiology Database records no known occurrences of Precambrian fossils in Kansas.

Paleozoic

Selected Paleozoic taxa of Kansas

• 

  †Acanthodes
• †Achistrum
• †Acitheca
• †Acrodus – tentative report
• †Acroplous
• †Actiobates – type locality for genus
  • †Actiobates peabodyi – type locality for species
• †Agassizodus
  • †Agassizodus variabilis
• †Aglaocrinus
• †Alethopteris
  • †Alethopteris grandini
  • †Alethopteris serlii
• Ammodiscus – tentative report
• †Amphiscapha
• † Ananias – tentative report
• †Annularia
  • †Annularia asteris
  • †Annularia mucronata
• †Aphlebia
• Archaeolithophyllum

• 

  †Archaeovenator – type locality for genus
  • †Archaeovenator hamiltonensis – type locality for species
• †Archimylacris
• †Aristoceras
• †Artisia
• †Asterotheca
  • †Asterotheca miltoni – or unidentified comparable form
• †Aviculopecten
  • †Aviculopecten arctisulcatus
  • †Aviculopecten mccoyi – type locality for species
  • †Aviculopecten nodocosta
  • †Aviculopecten occidentalis
  • †Aviculopecten peculiaris – type locality for species
  • †Aviculopecten sumnerensis – type locality for species

• 

  †Belantsea – or unidentified comparable form
• †Bellerophon
  • †Bellerophon graphicus – type locality for species
• †Blattoidea
• †Botryococcus
  • †Botryococcus braunii
• †Calamites
  • †Calamites cistii
• †Callipteris
  • †Callipteris conferta
  • †Callipteris lyratifolia – tentative report
• †Carbonita – tentative report

• 

  †Caseodus
  • †Caseodus eatoni
• †Chomatodus
• †Chonetes
  • †Chonetes mesoloba
• †Cladodus
• Cladophlebis
• †Cleiothyridina
  • †Cleiothyridina orbicularis
• †Composita
  • †Composita elongata
  • †Composita ovata
  • †Composita subtilita
• †Cordaicarpus
• †Cordaites
  • †Cordaites principalis

• 

  †Ctenacanthus
  • †Ctenacanthus amblyxiphias
• †Cyathus
• †Cyclopteris
• †Cystodictya
• †Dentalium
• †Diplichnites
  • †Diplichnites gouldi
• †Ductilodon – type locality for genus
• †Dunbaria – type locality for genus
• †Echinaria
• †Edestus
  • †Edestus heinrichi – or unidentified comparable form
• †Edmondia

• 

  †Eocasea – type locality for genus
  • †Eocasea martini – type locality for species
• †Eoscopus – type locality for genus
  • †Eoscopus lockardi – type locality for species
• †Euconcordia – type locality for genus
• †Fenestella
• †Fusulina
• †Geinitzina
• †Gervillia
• †Glenopteris
• †Glikmanius
  • †Glikmanius occidentalis
• †Glyptopleura
• †Gordia
• †Helminthopsis
• †Hybodus

• 

  †Ianthasaurus – type locality for genus
  • †Ianthasaurus hardestiorum – type locality for species
• †Ianthodon – type locality for genus
  • †Ianthodon schultzei – type locality for species
• †Isogramma
• †Janassa
• †Kawichthys – type locality for genus
  • †Kawichthys moodiei – type locality for species
• †Kennedya – type locality for genus
• †Kirkella
• †Kouphichnium
• †Lepidodendron
• †Lingula
• †Lisca – type locality for genus
• †Lissodus

• 

  †Listracanthus
• Lithophaga
• †Lysorophus
• †Meganeuropsis – type locality for genus
  • †Meganeuropsis permiana – type locality for species
• †Megatypus – type locality for genus
• †Metacoceras
• †Minilya
• †Misthodotes – type locality for genus
• †Modiolus
• †Naticopsis
• †Neoaganides
• †Neospirifer
  • †Neospirifer cameratus
  • †Neospirifer dunbari
  • †Neospirifer kansasensis
• †Neuropteris
  • †Neuropteris auriculata – tentative report
  • †Neuropteris odontopteroides
  • †Neuropteris ovata
  • †Neuropteris scheuchzeri
• †Noeggerathia
• †Norwoodia
• Nucula

• 

  †Ophiacodon – type locality for genus
  • †Ophiacodon hilli – type locality for species
• †Orodus
• †Orthacanthus
• †Palaeoniscus
• †Paleolimulus – type locality for genus
• †Pecopteris
  • †Pecopteris hemitelioides
  • †Pecopteris unita
• †Petalodus
• †Petrolacosaurus – type locality for genus
  • †Petrolacosaurus kansensis – type locality for species
• †Phillipsia – tentative report

• 

  †Platyceras
• †Platysomus
• Pleurotomaria
• †Samaropsis
• †Sandalodus – or unidentified comparable form
• †Sigillaria
  • †Sigillaria brardii
• †Sphenophyllum
  • †Sphenophyllum oblongifolium
  • †Sphenophyllum stoukenbergi – or unidentified comparable form
  • †Sphenophyllum thonii – or unidentified comparable form
• †Sphenopteris

• 

  †Spinoaequalis – type locality for genus
• †Spirifer
  • †Spirifer rockymontanus – tentative report
• Spirorbis
• †Stemmatodus
• †Streptognathodus
  • †Streptognathodus zethus
• †Syringopora
• †Tetrataxis
• †Therates – type locality for genus
• †Treptichnus
• †Undichna
  • †Undichna britannica
  • †Undichna simplicitas
• †Urba – type locality for genus

• 

  †Walchia
• †Wilkingia
• †Worthenia
• †Xyrospondylus
• Yoldia

Mesozoic

Selected Mesozoic taxa of Kansas

• 

  †Acanthoscaphites – tentative report
  • †Acanthoscaphites reesidei
• †Alzadasaurus – type locality for genus
• †Ampullina
• †Anomia
• †Apateodus
• †Apatornis
  • †Apatornis celer – type locality for species
• †Apsopelix
  • †Apsopelix anglicus
• Aralia
• Arundo
• †Asplenium
• †Aviculopecten
  • †Aviculopecten occidentalis

• 

  †Baculites
  • †Baculites clinolobatus
  • †Baculites compressus
  • †Baculites grandis
  • †Baculites ovatus
  • †Baculites pseudovatus – type locality for species
• †Bananogmius
• †Baptornis – type locality for genus
  • †Baptornis advenus – type locality for species
• Botula
  • †Botula carolinensis

• 

  †Brachauchenius – type locality for genus
  • †Brachauchenius lucasi – type locality for species
• Brachidontes
• Cadulus
• †Calycoceras
• Carcharias
• Cardita
• †Cassiope
• †Ceratophyllum
• Chiloscyllium
• †Chondrites
• †Cimolichthys
  • †Cimolichthys nepaholica
• Cladophlebis
• †Claosaurus
  • †Claosaurus agilis – type locality for species

• 

  †Clidastes
  • †Clidastes liodontus
  • †Clidastes velox
• Cliona
• †Collignoniceras
  • †Collignoniceras woollgari
• †Coniasaurus
• Corbula
• Crassostrea
• †Cretolamna
  • †Cretolamna appendiculata

• 

  †Cretoxyrhina
  • †Cretoxyrhina mantelli
• Ctenochelys
• Cucullaea
• †Cycadeoidea
• †Dakotasuchus – type locality for genus
  • †Dakotasuchus kingi – type locality for species
• †Dawndraco – type locality for genus
  • †Dawndraco kanzai – type locality for species
• †Desmatochelys
• †Discoscaphites
• †Dolichorhynchops – type locality for genus
  • †Dolichorhynchops osborni – type locality for species
• †Durania
• †Ectenosaurus
  • †Ectenosaurus clidastoides

• 

  †Elasmosaurus – type locality for genus
  • †Elasmosaurus nobilis – type locality for species
  • †Elasmosaurus platyurus – type locality for species
  • †Elasmosaurus sternbergi – type locality for species
• †Enchodus
  • †Enchodus gladiolus
  • †Enchodus petrosus
• †Euspira
• †Fagus
• †Gegania
• †Gervillia
  • †Gervillia mudgeana
  • †Gervillia mudgenana

• 

  †Gillicus
  • †Gillicus arcuatus
• Gleichenia
• †Globidens
• †Gryphaea
  • †Gryphaea corrugata
  • †Gryphaea hilli
  • †Gryphaea mucronata
  • †Gryphaea navia
• †Halisaurus
  • †Halisaurus sternbergi – type locality for species

• 

  †Hesperornis – type locality for genus
  • †Hesperornis crassipes – type locality for species
  • †Hesperornis gracilis – type locality for species
  • †Hesperornis regalis – type locality for species
• †Heteroceras
• †Hierosaurus – type locality for genus
• †Hoploscaphites
  • †Hoploscaphites nicolletii
• †Iaceornis
  • †Iaceornis marshi – type locality for species
• †Ichthyornis – type locality for genus
  • †Ichthyornis dispar – type locality for species

• 

  †Inoceramus
  • †Inoceramus cuvieri
  • †Inoceramus ginterensis
  • †Inoceramus tenuistriatus – tentative report
• †Ischyrhiza
  • †Ischyrhiza mira
• †Jeletzkytes
  • †Jeletzkytes nodosus
• †Leiosphaeridia
• †Leptostyrax
• †Linearis
• †Lingula
• Linuparus
• Lopha
• †Magnoavipes
• Marsilea
• †Mathilda

• 

  †Megacephalosaurus – type locality for genus
  • †Megacephalosaurus eulerti – type locality for species
• Membranipora
• †Modiolus
• †Niobrarasaurus
  • †Niobrarasaurus coleii – type locality for species
• †Niobrarateuthis
  • †Niobrarateuthis bonneri – type locality for species
  • †Niobrarateuthis walkeri – type locality for species
• Nucula

• 

  †Nyctosaurus
  • †Nyctosaurus bonneri – type locality for species
  • †Nyctosaurus gracilis – type locality for species
  • †Nyctosaurus nanus – type locality for species
• †Ogmodirus – type locality for genus
• Ostrea
• †Pachyrhizodus
  • †Pachyrhizodus caninus – or unidentified comparable form
  • †Pachyrhizodus minimus
• †Parahesperornis – type locality for genus
  • †Parahesperornis alexi – type locality for species
• †Pecten
• Pholadomya
• Pinus
• †Placenticeras
  • †Placenticeras meeki
• Platanus

• 

  †Platecarpus
  • †Platecarpus planifrons – type locality for species
  • †Platecarpus tympaniticus
• †Platyceramus
  • †Platyceramus platinus
• †Platypterygius – or unidentified comparable form
• †Plesiochelys
• †Plesiosaurus
• Plicatula

• 

  †Polycotylus – type locality for genus
  • †Polycotylus latipinnis – type locality for species
• †Prisca – tentative report
• †Protocardia
• †Protosphyraena
  • †Protosphyraena tenuis
• †Protostega
• †Pseudoperna
  • †Pseudoperna congesta

• 

  †Pteranodon – type locality for genus
  • †Pteranodon comptus – type locality for species
  • †Pteranodon longiceps – type locality for species
  • †Pteranodon sternbergi – type locality for species
• †Pteria
• †Pterotrigonia
• †Ptychodus
  • †Ptychodus anonymus – or unidentified comparable form
  • †Ptychodus decurrens
  • †Ptychodus mortoni
  • †Ptychodus occidentalis
  • †Ptychodus whipplei
• †Ptychotrygon
  • †Ptychotrygon triangularis
• Quercus
• †Repichnia
• Rhinobatos
  • †Rhinobatos incertus
• †Rhizocorallium
• Sassafras

• 

  †Scapanorhynchus
  • †Scapanorhynchus rhaphiodon
• †Scaphites
• †Scolicia
• Scyliorhinus
• †Selmasaurus
  • †Selmasaurus johnsoni – type locality for species
• †Sequoia
• Serpula
• †Silvisaurus – type locality for genus
  • †Silvisaurus condrayi – type locality for species
• Squalicorax
  • †Squalicorax curvatus
  • †Squalicorax falcatus
  • †Squalicorax kaupi
  • †Squalicorax pristodontus – or unidentified comparable form
  • †Squalicorax volgensis
• Sterculia

• 

  †Styxosaurus – type locality for genus
  • †Styxosaurus snowii – type locality for species
• Tellina
• †Terminonaris
• †Toxochelys
  • †Toxochelys latiremis
• Trachycardium
• †Tragodesmoceras
• †Trinacromerum – type locality for genus
  • †Trinacromerum bentonianum – type locality for species
• Turritella

• 

  †Tylosaurus
  • †Tylosaurus dyspelor
  • †Tylosaurus kansasensis – type locality for species
  • †Tylosaurus proriger
• †Uintacrinus
  • †Uintacrinus socialis
• †Urenchelys

• 

  †Xiphactinus
  • †Xiphactinus audax
• Yoldia

Cenozoic

Selected Cenozoic taxa of Kansas

• Acris
  • †Acris crepitans
• †Adelphailurus

• 

  †Aelurodon
• Agkistrodon
• †Agriocharis
• †Agriotherium
• †Alforjas
• †Allogona
  • †Allogona profunda
• †Ambystoma
  • †Ambystoma maculatum
  • †Ambystoma tigrinum

• 

  †Amebelodon
• Amia
  • †Amia calva
• †Amphimachairodus
• Anas
  • †Anas crecca
• †Aphelops
• Aplodinotus
  • †Aplodinotus grunniens – or unidentified comparable form
• †Arctodus
  • †Arctodus pristinus – or unidentified comparable form
  • †Arctodus simus
• †Astrohippus
• Baiomys
• †Barbourofelis
• Bassariscus
• Bison
  • †Bison antiquus – type locality for species
  • †Bison bison

  • 

    †Bison latifrons
• Blarina
  • †Blarina brevicauda
  • †Blarina carolinensis
• †Borophagus
  • †Borophagus diversidens
  • †Borophagus hilli
  • †Borophagus pugnator
  • †Borophagus secundus – type locality for species
• Botaurus
• Bufo
  • †Bufo cognatus
  • †Bufo hemiophrys
  • †Bufo marinus
  • †Bufo woodhousei
• †Calippus

• 

  †Camelops
• Candona
• Canis
  • †Canis armbrusteri
  • †Canis dirus
  • †Canis edwardii
  • †Canis ferox
  • †Canis latrans
  • †Canis lepophagus
• †Capromeryx
• †Carpocyon
• Carychium
  • †Carychium exiguum
• Castor
  • †Castor canadensis
• †Castoroides
  • †Castoroides ohioensis – or unidentified comparable form
• †Catostomus
  • †Catostomus commersoni
• Celtis

• 

  †Ceratogaulus
  • †Ceratogaulus hatcheri
  • †Ceratogaulus minor
• †Cervalces
  • †Cervalces scotti
• Cervus
  • †Cervus elaphus
• Chaetodipus
  • †Chaetodipus hispidus
• Chara
• †Chasmaporthetes
• Chelydra

  • 

    †Chelydra serpentina
• Chrysemys
  • †Chrysemys picta
• †Cionella
  • †Cionella lubrica
• Clethrionomys
  • †Clethrionomys gapperi
• Cnemidophorus
  • †Cnemidophorus sexlineatus
• Coluber
  • †Coluber constrictor

• 

  †Cosoryx
  • †Cosoryx furcatus
• Crotalus
  • †Crotalus viridis
• †Cryptantha
• Cryptotis
  • †Cryptotis parva
• Cynomys
  • †Cynomys gunnisoni – or unidentified comparable form
  • †Cynomys ludovicianus
• Deroceras
• Diadophis
  • †Diadophis punctatus

• 

  †Dinohippus
• Dipodomys
  • †Dipodomys ordii – or unidentified comparable form
• †Dipoides
• Discus
• Egretta
• Elaphe – type locality for genus
  • †Elaphe obsoleta
  • †Elaphe vulpina
• Emydoidea
• †Epicyon
  • †Epicyon haydeni
• Equus
  • †Equus conversidens
  • †Equus francisci
  • †Equus giganteus – or unidentified comparable form
  • †Equus niobrarensis
  • †Equus scotti

  • 

    †Equus simplicidens
• †Eucastor
• †Euconulus
  • †Euconulus fulvus
• †Eucyon
  • †Eucyon davisi
• Eumeces
  • †Eumeces fasciatus
  • †Eumeces obsoletus
  • †Eumeces septentrionalis
• Felis
• Ferrissia
• †Fundulus
• Gastrocopta
  • †Gastrocopta armifera
• Geochelone
• Geomys
  • †Geomys bursarius
• Gerrhonotus
• †Gigantocamelus
• †Gnathabelodon

• 

  †Gomphotherium
• Gopherus
• Graptemys
  • †Graptemys geographica
• Grus
  • †Grus americana
• Gyraulus
  • †Gyraulus parvus
• Hawaiia
  • †Hawaiia minuscula
• Helicodiscus
  • †Helicodiscus parallelus
• Helisoma
  • †Helisoma anceps
  • †Helisoma trivolvis

• 

  †Hemiauchenia
  • †Hemiauchenia macrocephala
• †Hesperotestudo
• Heterodon
  • †Heterodon nasicus
  • †Heterodon platyrhinos
• †Hipparion
• †Hippotherium
• Holbrookia
  • †Holbrookia maculata

• 

  †Holmesina
• Homo
  • †Homo sapiens
• †Homotherium
  • †Homotherium serum
• Hyla
  • †Hyla cinerea – or unidentified comparable form
  • †Hyla gratiosa – or unidentified comparable form
  • †Hyla squirella – or unidentified comparable form
  • †Hyla versicolor

• 

  †Hypohippus
• †Hypolagus
• Ictalurus
  • †Ictalurus melas
  • †Ictalurus punctatus
• †Ictiobus
• †Ischyrocyon – tentative report
• Kinosternon
  • †Kinosternon flavescens
  • †Kinosternon subrubrum

• 

  Lampropeltis
  • †Lampropeltis calligaster
  • †Lampropeltis getulus
• Lasiurus
  • †Lasiurus cinereus
• Lepisosteus
  • †Lepisosteus osseus
  • †Lepisosteus platostomus – tentative report
• Lepomis
  • †Lepomis cyanellus
  • †Lepomis humilis – or unidentified comparable form

• 

  †Leptocyon
• Lepus
  • †Lepus californicus – or unidentified comparable form
• †Longirostromeryx
• Lontra
  • †Lontra canadensis
• Lymnaea
• Lynx
• †Machairodus
• Macrochelys
  • †Macrochelys temminckii
• †Mammut
  • †Mammut americanum
• †Mammuthus

  • 

    †Mammuthus columbi
• Martes
• †Megalonyx
  • †Megalonyx jeffersonii
  • †Megalonyx leptostomus
• †Megantereon
• †Megatylopus
• †Menetus
• Mephitis
  • †Mephitis mephitis – tentative report
• †Merychyus
• Micropterus
  • †Micropterus punctulatus – or unidentified comparable form
• Microtus
  • †Microtus ochrogaster
  • †Microtus pennsylvanicus
• †Minytrema – tentative report
• Musculium
  • †Musculium transversum
• Mustela
  • †Mustela richardsonii – or unidentified comparable form
• †Mylagaulus

• 

  †Mylohyus
  • †Mylohyus fossilis
• Myotis
• †Nannippus
• †Nassella
• Neofiber
• Neogale
  • †Neogale frenata – or unidentified comparable form
  • †Neogale vison
• †Neohipparion
• Neotoma
  • †Neotoma floridana – or unidentified comparable form
  • †Neotoma micropus
• Nerodia
  • †Nerodia sipedon
• Nesovitrea
• †Nimravides

• 

  †Nothrotheriops
• Notiosorex
  • †Notiosorex crawfordi
• †Notropis – tentative report
• Odocoileus
• Ondatra
  • †Ondatra zibethicus
• Onychomys
  • †Onychomys leucogaster – or unidentified comparable form
• Ophisaurus
  • †Ophisaurus attenuatus
• Ortalis
• Oryzomys
  • †Oryzomys palustris
• †Panicum
  • †Panicum elegans
• Panthera
  • †Panthera leo

• 

  †Paramylodon
  • †Paramylodon harlani
• †Pediomeryx
• †Peraceras
• Perca
  • †Perca flavescens
• Perognathus
• Peromyscus
• Phenacomys
  • †Phenacomys intermedius – or unidentified comparable form
• Phrynosoma
  • †Phrynosoma cornutum
• Physa
• Pisidium
• Pituophis
  • †Pituophis catenifer
  • †Pituophis melanoleucus

• 

  †Platybelodon
• †Platygonus
  • †Platygonus compressus – or unidentified comparable form
• Plegadis – or unidentified comparable form
• †Pleiolama
• †Plesiogulo
• †Pliohippus
• †Pomoxis
• †Potamocypris
• †Pratifelis
  • †Pratifelis martini – type locality for species
• †Procamelus
• †Procastoroides
• Procyon
  • †Procyon lotor

• 

  †Protohippus
• †Protolabis
• Pseudacris
  • †Pseudacris triseriata
• Pseudemys
• †Pseudhipparion
• Puma
  • †Puma concolor
• Pupilla
• Pupoides

• 

  †Ramoceros
• †Rana
  • †Rana areolata – or unidentified comparable form
  • †Rana catesbeiana
  • †Rana pipiens
• †Rana areolata – or unidentified comparable form
  • †Rana catesbeiana
  • †Rana pipiens
• †Regina
• Reithrodontomys
  • †Reithrodontomys humulis
  • †Reithrodontomys megalotis
  • †Reithrodontomys montanus – or unidentified comparable form
• Rhinocheilus – tentative report
  • †Rhinocheilus lecontei

• 

  †Rhynchotherium
• †Satherium
  • †Satherium piscinarium
• Scalopus
  • †Scalopus aquaticus
• Scaphiopus
• Sceloporus
  • †Sceloporus undulatus
• †Semotilus
  • †Semotilus atromaculatus – or unidentified comparable form
• Sigmodon
• Sistrurus
  • †Sistrurus catenatus

• 

  †Smilodon
• †Soergelia
  • †Soergelia mayfieldi – or unidentified comparable form
• Sorex
  • †Sorex arcticus
  • †Sorex cinereus
  • †Sorex palustris
• Spea
  • †Spea bombifrons
• Spermophilus
  • †Spermophilus franklinii – or unidentified comparable form
  • †Spermophilus richardsonii
  • †Spermophilus tridecemlineatus
• Sphaerium
• Spilogale
  • †Spilogale putorius
• Stagnicola

• 

  †Stegomastodon
  • †Stegomastodon mirificus
• †Stenotrema
• Sternotherus
  • †Sternotherus odoratus
• Storeria
  • †Storeria dekayi – or unidentified comparable form
• Succinea
  • †Succinea ovalis
• Sylvilagus
  • †Sylvilagus floridanus
• Synaptomys
• Tapirus
  • †Tapirus veroensis
• Taxidea
  • †Taxidea taxus

• 

  †Teleoceras
• Terrapene
  • †Terrapene carolina
• Thamnophis
  • †Thamnophis proximus
  • †Thamnophis radix
  • †Thamnophis saurita – or unidentified comparable form
  • †Thamnophis sirtalis
• Thomomys
  • †Thomomys talpoides
• Trachemys

  • 

    †Trachemys scripta
• †Trigonictis
  • †Trigonictis macrodon
• Trionyx
• Tropidoclonion
  • †Tropidoclonion lineatum
• Tympanuchus – or unidentified comparable form
• Urocyon
  • †Urocyon cinereoargenteus
  • †Urocyon progressus
• †Ustatochoerus
• Vallonia
  • †Vallonia gracilicosta
  • †Vallonia pulchella
• Valvata
  • †Valvata tricarinata
• Vertigo
  • †Vertigo ovata
• Vulpes

  • 

    †Vulpes velox
• Zapus
  • †Zapus hudsonius
• Zonitoides
  • †Zonitoides arboreus
  • †Zonitoides nitidus

References

• Various Contributors to the Paleobiology Database. "Fossilworks: Gateway to the Paleobiology Database". Retrieved 17 December 2021.