SOUTH CAROLINA.
(Map [19].)
1. Charleston, Charleston County.—In 1860 (Holmes’s “Post-Pliocene Fossils of South Carolina,” p. 106, plate XVII, figs. 2, 3), Leidy described briefly and figured 2 injured upper cheek-teeth of a tapir found in the Pleistocene of Ashley River, and referred by him to Tapirus americanus fossilis, on the supposition that they were not different from those of the existing South American tapir, but larger. The larger of the two teeth (fig. 2) appears to have had a fore-and-aft diameter of about 29 mm. It seems, therefore, to belong to Leidy’s species Tapirus haysii. Under the same name, T. americanus fossilis, Leidy illustrated (figs. 11, 12) a lower molar found on Ashley River. This appears to be too small to have belonged to T. haysii. Instead, however, of referring it to T. americanus (=T. terrestris) it may possibly be found to belong to T. veroensis Sellards, the lower molars of which are not certainly known. The length of the tooth figured by Leidy is that of a second molar of T. terrestris, but the width is greater than in the latter.
In the Charleston Museum is a part of a left ramus of the lower jaw of a tapir likewise referred to T. veroensis Sellards. This fragment contains all 3 of the true molars. The following measurements were secured:
| Measurements, in millimeters, of lower molars of tapirs in the Charleston Museum. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tapirus veroensis? | Tapirus haysii. | |||
| Length. | Width. | Length. | Width. | |
| Length of all 3 molars combined | 66 | 79 | ||
| First molar | 20 | 17 | 25 | 28 |
| Second molar | 23 | 18.5 | 26 | 31.5 |
| Third molar | 24 | 18 | 28 | 32 |
In the collection of Charles C. Pinckney, at Lambs, South Carolina, are 2 tapir teeth, one of which is an upper molar, not yet come into use, apparently the last tooth of the right side. The length of the crown is 25.5 mm., the width in front 27.5 mm., behind about 23 mm. In front is a pretty strong cingulum, but there is none behind. This tooth is referred to Tapirus haysii.
In the Scanlan collection from Charleston, now the property of Yale University, are various specimens of tapirs. An upper left second molar is slightly worn. The length is 24 mm., the width 30 mm. The outer border of the crown makes a right angle with the anterior border; in T. terrestris the outer anterior corner is considerably less than a right angle. In the latter the hinder faces of the protocone and of the hypocone are concave; in the tooth here described both hinder faces are swollen, and the crests appear more depressed than in T. terrestris. It is regarded as belonging to T. haysii.
In the Scanlan collection are 3 lower molars which the writer refers to T. haysii. The following are the measurements:
| Measurements, in millimeters, of lower molars of tapirs in the Scanlan collection. | ||
|---|---|---|
| Length. | Width. | |
| Left third? molar, with the rear cingulum broken off | 28± | 22.5 |
| Left second molar | 25.5 | 21 |
| Right second molar | 27 | 21 |
In the Scanlan collection is a fragment of the left maxilla with 4 teeth, the last premolar and the 3 molars. The specimen resembles figure [1] of Leidy’s plate XVII of Holmes’s “Post-Pliocene Fossils of South Carolina.” The teeth of the Scanlan specimens are, however, less worn. The hinder molar had not yet come through the gum. The specimen is referred to T. terrestris. The following are the measurements:
| Measurements, in millimeters, of upper teeth of Tapirus terrestris. | ||||
| Tooth. | Tapir from Charleston. | T. terrestris, U. S. Nat. Mus. No. 238110 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length. | Width. | Length. | Width. | |
| Pm1 | 19 | 24.5 | 19 | 25 |
| M1 | 20 | 25.5 | 21 | 23 |
| M2 | 22.5 | 28 | 23.5 | 27 |
| M3 | 24.5 | 27.5 | 25.5 | 26 |
The molar teeth have an acute angle between the anterior and the outer borders, and the front and the hinder faces of the protocone and the hypocone are not so swollen as in the tooth referred to T. haysii. In apparently every respect the teeth of the fossil agree with the teeth of Tapirus terrestris from Brazil. It is to be hoped that before long a good skull of the Pleistocene tapir whose teeth so closely resemble those of T. terrestris will be discovered. If the two prove to be the same species it will seem that only the descendants of those which migrated to North America perished during the Glacial period.
There is another tooth, an upper left second molar, of T. terrestris in the Scanlan collection; also the rear half of an upper molar labeled as coming from Bull River. Other fragments of teeth are recorded as coming from Ashley River.
In the Charleston Museum (No. 13495) is a part of the left ramus of the lower jaw with the 3 molars. On measurement it is found that the teeth and jaw agree closely with those of T. terrestris.