La Colonia Formation

La Colonia Formation
Stratigraphic range: Maastrichtian
Type Geological formation
Overlies Cerro Barcino Formation
Location
Region Chubut Province
Country  Argentina

The La Colonia Formation is a geological formation in Argentina whose strata date back to the Late Cretaceous. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[1]

Originally thought to be Campanian in age or earlier, studies of underlying formations have made a Maastrichtian (70–66 million years ago) age more likely.[2]

Flora

The paleoflora was known for its aquatic components, Paleoazolla and Regnellidium.[3] However, recent paleobotanical discoveries at the Cañadón del Irupé locality have revealed the presence of a more diverse range of plants associated with these water bodies, including pteridophytes, gymnosperms, and various angiosperms.[3] Among these are fossil leaves and fruits assignable to Nelumbonaceae.[3]

Fauna

Turtles

Turtles reported from the La Colonia Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images

Patagoniaemys

P. gasparinae

"skull fragments and several postcranial elements including a nearly complete vertebral column."[4]

Mammals

Over 300 mammal specimens have been found in the La Colonia formation.[5]

Mammals of the La Colonia Formation
Taxa Presence Notes Images

Argentodites coloniensis

A possible gondwanatherian or multituberculate.

Reigitherium bunodontum

Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs reported from the La Colonia Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images

Carnotaurus[6]

C. sastrei[7]

"Nearly Complete skeleton and skull."[8]

An abelisaurid.
Carnotaurus

Hadrosauridae indet.

Indeterminate

An indeterminate hadrosaurid.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Cretaceous, South America)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 600-604. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  2. ↑ Rauhut, O.W.M.; Cladera, G.; Vickers-Rich, P.; Rich, T.H. (2003). "Dinosaur remains from the Lower Cretaceous of the Chubut Group, Argentina". Cretaceous Research 24 (5): 487–497. doi:10.1016/S0195-6671(03)00067-3.
  3. 1 2 3 Gandolfo, Maria A.; Ruben N. Cuneo (February 2005). "Fossil Nelumbonaceae from the La Colonia Formation (Campanian–Maastrichtian, Upper Cretaceous), Chubut, Patagonia, Argentina". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 133 (3–4): 170. doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2004.09.007. ISSN 0034-6667.
  4. ↑ Juliana Sterli and Marcelo S. De la Fuente (2011). "A new turtle from the La Colonia Formation (Campanian–Maastrichtian), Patagonia, Argentina, with remarks on the evolution of the vertebral column in turtles". Palaeontology 54 (1): 63–78. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2010.01002.x.
  5. ↑ Rougier, G.W.; Chornogubsky, L.; Casadio, S.; Arango, N.P.; Giallombardo, A. (2009). "Mammals from the Allen Formation, Late Cretaceous, Argentina". Cretaceous Research 30 (1): 223–238. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2008.07.006.
  6. ↑ Rauhut, O.W.M. (2004). "Provenance and anatomy of Genyodectes serus, a large-toothed ceratosaur (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from Patagonia". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 24 (4): 894–902. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2004)024[0894:PAAOGS]2.0.CO;2.
  7. ↑ Leanza, H. A., Apesteguı́a, S., Novas, F. E., & de la Fuente, M. S. (2004). Cretaceous terrestrial beds from the Neuquén Basin (Argentina) and their tetrapod assemblages. Cretaceous Research, 25(1), 61-87.
  8. ↑ "Table 3.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 49.


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