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  • 21 Aug, 2019

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Redonda Formation

The Redonda Formation is a geologic formation exposed in eastern New Mexico. It contains vertebrate fossils of the late Triassic Period. Fossil theropod tracks have been reported from the formation.

Description

The formation consists of interbedded fine-grained red-brown sandstone and mudstone. It conformably overlies the Bull Canyon Formation and underlies the Entrada Formation.

The formation is interpreted as having been deposited in a lake with an area of about 5,000 square kilometres (1,900 sq mi).

Fossils

The formation has few fossil plants, with only Neocalamites reported, but it contains abundant invertebrate fossils (conchostracans and ostracods) and a diverse assemblage of vertebrate fossils.

Vertebrate fauna

Fish

fish of the Redonda Formation
Taxa Presence Notes Images

Cionichthys

Skull fragments A redfieldiid
Semionotus

Ceratodus

A lungfish

Coelacanthidae indet.

Fragmentary material Possibly assignable to Chinlea or Quayia

Hemicalypterus

scales A dapediid

Semionotus

Abundant, found in large deathbeds A semionotid

Synornichthys

Skull fragments A redfieldiid

Stereospondyls

Stereospondyls of the Redonda Formation
Taxa Presence Notes Images

Apachesaurus

Numerous specimens

A metoposaurid, possibly juveniles of Koskinodon

Apachesaurus

Synapsids

Synapsids of the Redonda Formation
Taxa Presence Notes Images

Redondagnathus

teeth

A trirachodontid cynodont

Archosauriforms

Archosauriforms of the Redonda Formation
Taxa Presence Notes Images

Apachesuchus

Osteoderms

An aetosaur similar to Neoaetosauroides

Redondasaurus
Vancleavea

Redondasaurus

Numerous skulls and other skeletal remains

A phytosaur

Redondasuchus

Osteoderms and other fragments

A typothoracisine aetosaur related to Typothorax

Redondavenator

Snout bones and a scapulocoracoid

A large, predatory basal crocodylomorph

Vancleavea

Osteoderms An unusual non-archosaurian archosauriform

History of investigation

The unit was first named as the Redonda Member of the Chinle Formation by Dobrovolny and Summerson in 1947. Griggs and Read raised the unit to formation rank in 1959, and also assigned an age of late Triassic based on the presence of tracks of a bipedal dinosaur and of a phytosaur skull.

See also

References

  1. ^ Dobrovolny and Summerson 1947
  2. ^ Griggs and Read 1959
  3. ^ Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution." Pp. 517-607.
  4. ^ Lucas and Hunt 1989

Bibliography

  • Dobrovolny, Ernest; Summerson, C.H. (1947). "Geology of northwestern Quay County, New Mexico". U.S. Geological Survey Oila Nd Gas Investigations Map. OM-62. doi:10.3133/om62.
  • Griggs, R.L.; Read, C.B. (1959). "Revisions in Stratigraphic Nomenclature in Tucumcari-Sabinoso Area, Northeastern New Mexico: GEOLOGICAL NOTES". AAPG Bulletin. 43 (8): 2003–2007. doi:10.1306/0BDA5E8E-16BD-11D7-8645000102C1865D.
  • Lucas, S.G.; Hunt, A.P. (1989). "Revised Triassic stratigraphy in the Tucumcari basin, east-central New Mexico". In Lucas, S.G.; Hunt, A.P. (eds.). Dawn of the age of dinosaurs in the American southwest. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. pp. 150–170. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  • Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. 861 pp. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.