Chapter 7. The Irvington Biota Data and
Interpretation
The following list if Irvington animal and plant fossils is a good
example of how not to arrange data. Here again we must emphasize the common
sense of arranging data so that they can be easily understood and thus more
easily interpreted. How many carnivores are on the list? How many plants? Are
amphibians listed? In what order did the organisms evolve?
Sabercats (two kinds)
|
deer
|
oxlike animals
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Geese
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mammoths
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dire wolves
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Toads
|
ground
|
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squirrels
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oaks
|
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Coyotes
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horses
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antelopes
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Mastodons
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camels (two kinds)
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badgers
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Peccaries
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pocket mice
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seals
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Ground sloth (two kinds)
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freshwater clams
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rabbits
|
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Foxes
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freshwater fishes
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Voles
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frogs
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willows
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Ducks
|
pocket gopher
|
white-footed mice
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Turtles
|
bears
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cattails
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Freshwater snails
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wood rats
|
|
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