The most notable animal fossils, and the best studied aspect of island paleontology, are the pygmy mammoth (Mammuthus exilis). Remains of this species have been known on the Channel Islands since 1856 when they were discovered by a coast and geodetic survey. In 1994 a nearly complete adult skeleton was discovered and excavated on Santa Rosa. Please visit the The Pygmy Mammoth under the History & Culture section or download the Paleontological Resource Inventory for more information. |
Last updated: September 23, 2022