Osteichthyes

Two fish taxa have been recovered from the Pipe Creek Sinkhole, these include the bullhead (Ameiurus sp. - pictured, and a sunfish (Centrarchidae).

Amphibia

Frogs are the most abundant vertebrate fossils at the Pipe Creek Sinkhole. Recovered taxa include Rana cf. R. catesbeiana (bullfrog), Rana pipiens complex (see photo), and Rana sp. indet. A toad, Bufo sp., and salamander (Plethodontidae) have also been recovered.

Reptilia: Pond Turtles

Pond turtles are another abundant group at the Pipe Creek Sinkhole. Taxa recovered include Chrysemys picta (painted turtle - pictured), Trachemys scripta (slider turtle) & Emydoidea blandingii (Blanding's turtle). Another aquatic turtle recovered was Chelydra serpenrtina (snapping turtle).

Reptilia: Pond Turtles

Among the many ongoing studies is one which seeks to examine growth rates to infer climate. Growth is determined by examining growth annuli in cross-sections of the femurs.

Reptilia: Tortoises

The giant tortoise, Hesperotestudo, was another turtle discovered from the site. These turtes reached lengths of over a meter.

Reptilia: Snakes

Another rich group of vertebrates at the Pipe Creek Sinkhole are the snakes. As many as 13 taxa have been recovered. These include Coluber constrictor (blue racer), Paracoluber storei (extinct racer), Elaphe sp. (ratsnake), Elaphe cf. E. vulpina (fox snake), cf. Heterodon sp. (hognose snake), Paleoheterodon tiheni (extinct hognose snake), Lampropeltis cf. L. triangulum (milk snake), Opheodrys cf. O. vernalis (green snake), Nerodia cf. N. erythrogaster (red-belly water snake), Nerodia sp. (water snake), cf. Regina sp. (crayfish snake), Thamnophis sp. (garter or ribbon snake), and Sistrurus cf. S. catenatus (massasauga rattlesnake).

Aves: Birds

Fossils of only one bird have been recovered. These are of a small passerine bird.

Mammalia: Talpidae (Moles & Desmans)

This group is represented by fossils of only one unidentified taxon.

Mammalia: Castoridae (Beavers)

This group is represented by fossils of either the extant genus Castor or the extinct genus Dipoides.

Mammalia: Sciuridae (Squirrels)

The squirrels are represented by fossils of two taxa, Spermophilus nr. S. howelli and Spermophilus sp.

Mammalia: Geomyidae (Pocket Gophers)

One species of pocket gopher was represented, Geomys cf. G. adamsi.

Mammalia: Cricetidae (Rats & Mice)

Three extinct taxa, representing new species were recovered: Ogmodontomys n. sp., Pliophenacomys n. sp., and Symmetrodontomys n. sp. A representative of a common extant taxon, Peromyscus sp., was also recovered.

Mammalia: Lagomorphidae (Rabbits & Hares)

One representative: Hypolagus cf. H. fontinalis. This taxon is now extinct.

Mammalia: Artiodactyla (Even-toed Ungulates)

This group is represented by an extinct llama (Hemiauchenia sp.), two extinct camels (Titanotylopus or Gigantocamelus and Aepycamelus sp.), an unidentified large peccary, and an unidentified deer probably referable to the genus Odocoileus.

Mammalia: Perissodactyla (Horses, rhinoceroses & Tapirs)

Among the most spectacular vertebrates recovered from the Pipe Creek Sinkhole is the extinct rhinoceros, Teleoceras. A life model of this species is on display at the Indiana State Museum in Indianapolis (see photo), as are a number of the actual fossils from Pipe Creek.

Mammalia: Carnivora: Borophagus

Borophagus is a hyena-like carnivore. Although it shared many of the anatomical and ecological characteristics with the hyena, Borophagus was a bit smaller, about the size of a modern wolf.

Mammalia: Carnivora: Plionarctos edensis (bear)

Plionarctos is a large Pliocene bear and an ancestor of the giant short-faced bear of the Pleistocene epoch.

Invertebrate Animals

Invertebrate fossils at the Pipe Creek Sinkhole include a few internal molds of gastropods, some partial beetle elytra, and a number of species of ostracods. The ostracods include the following taxa: Candona cf. C. crogmaniana, Candona aff. C. elliptica, Cypridopsis aff. C. okeechobei, Cypridopsis cf. C. vidua, and Potamocypris aff. P. unicaudata.