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A sediment sample collected from the ceiling of a small cave in Sullivan County, Tennessee has yielded a unique assemblage of vertebrate remains. Paleontological interest in collection was driven by the obvious presence of hellbender (Cryptobranchus alleghaniensis) remains on the surface of the sample. Screening and processing revealed an unusual fauna lacking in typical terrestrial trogloxenes (ex. bats, packrats). Instead, this sample is dominated by Cottus sp. (sculpin) remains, with an incredible number of individuals represented in the small sediment sample.
Numerous disarticulated but evidently complete skeletons of these fish, as well as at least two hellbenders, suggest minimal transportation of these animals prior to deposition and indicate a local source for these remains. Other animals are represented only by fragmentary or isolated remains which suggests they were already fragmentary/isolated prior to transport or they were transported a long distance. Sedimentological and contextual evidence supports deposition during a backflooding event.
This collection provides additional evidence for the troglophilic nature of Cottus sp. sculpin and potential evidence for utilization of caves by hellbenders. Future work will include radiometric dating of remains and additional collection of sediment samples.
Shay Maden, Blaine W. Schubert, Davis Gunnin, and Keila Bredehoeft