Richly fossiliferous marine deposits of Pleistocene age are associated with three major erosion surfaces in the Talara region of northwestern Peru. The fauna, geomorphology, and geologic history of the deposits are described in detail. A terrestrial vertebrate fauna from tar seep deposits on the oldest surface is compared with those of Carolinian deposits of Ecuador and the La Brea (California) deposits. The climate represented by these deposits is essentially similar to that of the present day.