Lourinhã Formation

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Template:Short description Script error: No such module "Infobox".Template:Template otherScript error: No such module "check for unknown parameters". The Lourinhã Formation (Script error: No such module "IPA".) is a fossil-rich geological formation in western Portugal, named for the municipality of Lourinhã. The formation is mostly Late Jurassic in age (Kimmeridgian/Tithonian), with the top of the formation extending into the earliest Cretaceous (Berriasian). It is notable for containing a fauna especially similar to that of the Morrison Formation in the United States and a lesser extent to the Tendaguru Formation in Tanzania. There are also similarities to the nearby Villar del Arzobispo Formation and Alcobaça Formation. Besides the fossil bones, Lourinhã Formation is well known for the fossil tracks and fossilized dinosaur eggs.[1][2]

The Lourinhã Formation includes several lithostratigraphic units, such as Praia da Amoreira-Porto Novo Members, Praia Azul Member, the Santa Rita Member, and the Assenta Member.[3] The stratigraphy of the formation is complex and controversial, with the constituent member beds belonging to the formation varying between different authors.[4]

Lithology and depositional history

Depositional history

File:Geological map of Lusitanian Basin.png
Location of the Lusitanian basin within the Iberian Peninsula

The Lourinhã Formation is located within the Lusitanian Basin, a mostly onshore North South orientated rift basin within western Portugal, formed during the Opening of the North Atlantic Ocean, with sediment deposition beginning during the Late Triassic-Early Jurassic. It primarily consists of syn-rift near-coastal continental siliciclastic sediments, with several marine intercalations. The primary flow direction was North to South, originating from Galicia and flowing between the Iberian landmass to the east and the now largely submerged Berlengas horst, a north–south oriented ridge, to the west.

Stratigraphy

The unit was first formally proposed by Hill in 1988.

The stratigraphy of the Lourinhã Formation is complex and varies between sub-basins with several competing stratigraphic proposals and there is currently no consensus on the matter, one of the most recent stratigraphies,[4] divides the formation into three members which are from oldest to youngest the Praia da Amoreira-Porto Novo Member, Praia Azul Member, and the Assenta Member.

Praia da Amoreira-Porto Novo Member

The Praia da Amoreira-Porto Novo Member is composed of the Priaia de Amoreira Member, which consists of massive mudrock-sand with metre thick sandstone lenses, with massive mudrock with calcrete. The overlying Poto Novo Mb. consists of massive bodies of sandstone, often cross bedded. The environment of deposition is interpreted as a meandering fluvial system, while the Porto Novo Mb is interpreted as a deltaic deposit. It is interpreted to be latest Kimmeridgian in age, and overlies the Consolacao Unit at the top of the Aulacostephanus eudoxus ammonite zone.[4][5]

Praia Azul Member

The Praia Azul Member, formerly known as the Sobral unit/member is 80 to 130 metres thick and consists of tabular marls and mudstones, with rare sandstones bodies. There are three distinct laterally extensive (>20 km) thin shelly carbonate horizons within this member, indicating brief marine transgressions. South of Santa Cruz primarily consists of sandstone with rare conglomerate. The age is considered to be latest Kimmeridgian to earliest Tithonian, correlated to the ammonite zones of Hybonoticeras beckeri and Hybonoticeras hybonotum.[4][5]

Santa Rita Member + Assenta Member

The Santa Rita Member in the Consolação sub-basin and its lateral equivalent in the Turcifal Basin the Assenta Member is around 300 metres thick and predominantly consists of mudstones with frequent layers of caliche. Near the top of the member several layers of tens of metres thick nodular and marly bioclastic limestones are present, containing marine benthic forams, the nodularity is derived from intense Thalassinoides burrowing. It is predominately late Tithonian in age, with the last few metres probably being earliest Berriasian, with the top of the formation roughly correlative with the base of the magnetochron M18n. (~144.7 Ma)[6][4] The environment of deposition is interpreted as being an upper fluvial-dominated delta to meandering fluvial systems flowing on a paralic plain.

Fauna

Dinosaurs

In a 2003 study, an analysis of all Portuguese dinosaurs was published. The study created a cladogram showing the possible relations of all Portuguese dinosaurs, including those at the time known from the Lourinhã Formation.[7]

Script error: No such module "Clade".

Ornithischia

Template:Paleobiota-key-compact

Ornithopods
Genus Species Member Material Notes Images
Ankylopollexia indet.[8] Indeterminate
  • Praia Azul Member
  • Santa Rita Member
 Appendicular, axial, and cranial elements

Camptosaurus[9]

Intermediate[9]

Limb material[9]

Now referred to its own genus, Draconyx, along with some other material.[9]

Draconyx[9]

D. loureiroi[9]

Praia Azul Member[10]

One partial skeleton[10]

File:Draconyx.png
Dryosauridae indet.[8] Indeterminate Praia Azul Member Appendicular, axial, and cranial elements
Eousdryosaurus[11] E. nanohallucis[11] Praia da Amoreira-Porto Novo Formation[11] A partial postcranial skeleton.
Hesperonyx[12] H. martinhotomasorum Porto Novo Member Bones from the fore- and hindlimbs A dryomorphan iguanodontian with uncertain affinities
File:Hesperonyx UDL.png

Ornithopoda indet.[13]

Intermediate[13]

A single track[13]

Gigantic track indicating an ornithopod with a hip height of 2.5 meters. No known Jurassic Ornithopod reaches this size; only known evidence for such sizes in this group at the time. Found alongside Deltapodus print.[13]

Phyllodon[7]

P. henkelli.[7]

Two teeth

Template:Paleobiota-key-compact

Thyreophorans
Genus Species Member Material Notes Images

Dacentrurus[14]

D. armatus[14]

  • Santa Rita Member[15]
  • Praia Azul Member[15]
 A stegosaurid, material referred to Miragaia may represent this taxon
File:Dacentrurus armatus.png

Deltapodus[16]

D. brodricki[16]

Eleven tracks; Nine pes and two manus prints.[16]

The tracks can be separated into three different morphologies, though all fall within range of the Ornithopodsociation of the pes and manus tracks to the same taxon cannot be directly supported. Preserve various well preserved skin impressions. Largest prints are larger than those from the type horizon. The tracks are individually represented and do not form any sort of trackway, thought one print is associated with giant ornithopod track,[13] potentially representing that the creatures were traveling together or were otherwise going to a similar location. Another is similarly associated with theropod and sauropod prints.[16]

Dracopelta[7] D. zbyszewskii[7] Assenta Member An ankylosaur.
Miragaia[17] M. longicollum[17]
  • Santa Rita Member[15]
  • Praia Azul Member[15]
 Holotype, neck, partial skull, forelimbs, ribs. Tentative juvenile specimen assigned to this taxon.[17] Stegosaur with unusually long neck of 17 cervicals, with more neck vertebrae than most sauropods.[17] Probably a junior synonym of Dacentrurus.[18][19]
File:Miragaia longicollum.png

Template:Paleobiota-key-compact

Other Ornithiscians
Genus Species Member Material Notes Images

Trimucrodon[7]

T. cuneatus[7]

Amoreira-Porto Novo Member[20]

3 isolated teeth.

Alocodon[7]

A. kuehnei[7]

Saurischia

Template:Paleobiota-key-compact

Sauropods
Genus Species Member Material Notes Images

Dinheirosaurus[21]

D. lourinhanensis[21] Praia da Amoreira-Porta Novo Member[21] One specimen. Vertebrae; potentially other parts of the body.[21] A diplodocid. Tschopp et al. (2015) sunk the genus into Supersaurus.[21]
File:Dinheirosaurus lourinhanensis.jpg
Dinheirosaurus
File:Lusotitan.jpg
Lusotitan
File:ZBY atlanticus one turiasaurian of Portugal.jpg
Zby

Diplodocidae indet.[22]

Intermediate[22]

One Dorsal Vertebra[22]

Regarded by Mannion et al. (2012) as being unique from Dinheirosaurus and possibly indicating another diplodocid in the formation, but being non-diagnostic it doesn't warrant description.[22]

Lourinhasaurus[23]

L. alenquerensis[23]

Praia Azul Member A partial postcranial skeleton. Possibly a Camarasaurid Macronarian.[23]

Lusotitan[24][25]

L. atalaiensis[24][25]

Praia Azul Member

Fragmentary material.[24]

A large brachiosaur, a close relative of Brachiosaurus proper.[24]

Oceanotitan O. dantasi[26] Praia da Amoreira-Porta Novo Member scapula, almost all of the pelvis, a complete leg sans the toes, and nine caudals. A titanosauriform
Zby[20] Z. atlanticus[20] Amoreira-Porto Novo Member[20] Holotype: Tooth, cervical neutral arch, forelimb, various other fragments.[20] A turiasaur.[20]
Theropods
Genus Species Member Material Notes Images
Abelisauridae indet.[27] Intermediate[27] Praia da Amoreira-Porto Novo Member[4] Teeth; ML 966, Ml 327.[27] Potentially diagnostic abelisaur teeth.[27]

Allosaurus[28][29]

A. europaeus[28]

Praia Azul Member[4]

Two specimens, covering much of the body.[30]

Only European species of Allosaurus.

File:Allosaurus Life Restoration.jpg
Allosaurus europaeus

A. fragilis[29]

Praia Azul Member[4]

Two specimens, covering much of the body.[30]

Now thought to represent a specimen of A. europaeus.[28]

Ceratosaurus[28][31][32]

C. sp.[28][31]

Praia da Amoreira-Porto Novo Member[28][31][20]

Four specimens; teeth, a femur.[28][31]

Potentially a synonym of the type species, C. nasicornis. Sometimes referred to as C. sp., giving indication of possible distinctiveness or of being intermediate.[20]

File:Ceratosaurus nasicornis DB.jpg
Ceratosaurus
Dendroolithidae[2] Indeterminant Fragments of multiple eggs in a clutch, with associated embryonic remains.[2] Probably eggs of Torvosaurus.[2]
Lusovenator[33] L. santosi[33]
  • Praia de Amoreira Member[33]
  • Assenta Member[33]
 Two partial postcranial skeletons.[33] Earliest known Carcharodontosaurian from Laurasia.[33]

Lourinhanosaurus[7][34]

L. antunesi[7][34]

Praia Azul Member[34]

Three individuals, one largely complete; over 100 eggs with significant amount of skeletal material.[34]

Has come out in various places in the tree, erroneously said to be a megalosaur,[28] mostly accepted to be a carnosaur, probably allosauroid, or basal coelurosaur. Currently unstable on the tree.[34]

File:Lourinhanosaurus antunesi reconstruction.png
Lourinhanosaurus
File:Lourinhanosaurus antunesi baby.jpg
Embryo

Megalosaurus[27]

M. insignis[27]

Teeth.[27]

Invalid. Teeth belong to various other theropod taxa.[27]

M. pombali[27]

Teeth.[27]

Invalid. Teeth belong to various other theropod taxa[27]

M. sp.[27]

Tooth fragment.[27]

Invalid; Dubious.[27]

Richardoestesia[27]

R. aff. gilmorei[27]

Tooth; ML 939[27]

Only definite record of this taxon is from the Late Cretaceous of North America, despite erroneous and referrals from other sites in Portugal. Probably a close relative of Richardoestesia and not an actual representation of the taxon.[27]

Torvosaurus[28][35]

T. gurneyi[35]

  • Praia da Amoreira-Porto Novo Member[35]
  • Praia Azul Member?[36]

Maxilla, Teeth, Femur; Egg clutch and embryos.[2][28][35][37]

Largest known European theropod. Previous known as Portugal populations of the type species, or as T. sp., before description in early 2014.[35]

File:Torvosaurus gurneyi.png
Skeletal restoration showing the size of T. gurneyi, known remains highlighted.

T. tanneri[35]

Praia da Amoireira-Porto Novo[20][37]

Maxilla, Teeth, Femur; Probable embryo.[34][35]

Now described as a distinct species of Torvosaurus, T. gurneyi. Sometimes referred to as T. sp. in the past.[35]

Pterosaurs

Genus Species Member Material Notes Images
Dsungaripteroidea indet.[38] Indeterminate Praia da Amoreira-Porto Novo Member Proximal right femur A very large femur of a basal dsungaripteroid
Rhamphorhynchidae[39] Indeterminate Tooth
Lusognathus L. almadrava Skull and cervical vertebrae Ctenochasmatid
File:Lusognathus.png
Pteraichnus[40] Partial tracks

Mammaliaformes

Docodonta

Genus Species Member Material Notes

Haldanodon

Haldanodon expectatus

Partial skeleton and isolated bones

Semi-aquatic forager.

Cladotheria

Genus Species Member Material Notes

Nanolestes

Nanolestes drescherae

Right lower molar.

Amphitheriidae; small omnivore or insectivore.

Guimarotodus

Guimarotodus inflatus

Right mandible.

Dryolestidae; insectivore or omnivore.

Krebsotherium

Krebsotherium lusitanicum

Left mandible.

Dryolestidae; insectivore or omnivore.

Drescheratherium

Drescheratherium acutum

Upper jaw.

Paurodontidae; herbivore.

Multituberculata

Genus Species Member Material Notes
Kuehneodon K. hahni A member of the family Paulchoffatiidae

Amphibians

Genus Species Member Material Notes
Celtedens Indeterminate Porto Novo/Praia da Amoreira, Praia Azul Frontal bones,[41] along with other parts of the skull and limbs[39] An albanerpetontid.
Urodela[39] Indeterminate Atlas vertebra A salamander, suggested to belong to Scapherpetontidae.
"Discoglossidae"[39] Indeterminate Partial left humerus A primitive frog

Squamates

Genus Species Member Material Notes
Paramacellodidae[39] Indeterminate Frontal and dentary bones Scincomorph lizard

Crocodyliformes

Genus Species Member Material Notes
Ophiussasuchus O. paimogonectes Praia Azul Member Partial skull Goniopholidid
Goniopholididae Indeterminate Teeth[42] and partial skeleton.[43] An aquatic neosuchian
Bernissartiidae Tooth[42]
Lusitanisuchus Teeth, and partial skull and jaw fragments[42] A mesoeucrocodylian of uncertain placement
Atoposauridae Teeth[42]
File:Knoetschkesuchus2.jpg
Mesoeucrocodylia Teeth[42] Distinct from Lusitanisuchus

Fish

Genus Species Member Material Notes
Hybodus[44] H. cf. reticulatus Teeth A hybodontid shark
Pycnodontiformes[39] Indeterminate
Lepidotes sensu lato[39] A ginglymodian
Caturus[39] An amiiform

Flora

Genus Species Member Material Notes Images
Pterophyllum P. mondeguensis[45] Bennettitales leaf
Otozamites[4] Bennettitales leaf
Cupressinocladus[4] Conifer leaves
Protocupressinoxylon[46] Conifer wood
Prototaxoxylon[46]
Classopollis[4] Pollen of Cheirolepidiaceae conifers

Correlation

Template:Early Cretaceous stratigraphy of Iberia

See also

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Weishampel, David B. et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Jurassic, Europe)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd ed., Berkeley: University of California Press. pp. 545–549. Template:ISBN.
  4. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  5. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ a b c d e f Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  11. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  13. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ a b c d e f g h i Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Template:Open access
  22. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ a b c Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ a b c d Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  25. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ a b Allosauruseuropaeus. archosaur.us
  31. ↑ a b c d Mateus, O. and Antunes M. T. (2000). Ceratosaurus sp. (Dinosauria: Theropoda) in the Late Jurassic of Portugal. Abstract volume of the 31st International Geological Congress. Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
  32. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  33. ↑ a b c d e f Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ a b c d e f Lourinhanosaurusantunesi. archosaur.us
  35. ↑ a b c d e f g h Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ a b Torvosaurusgurneyi. archosaur.us
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ a b c d e f g h Guillaume, Alexandre Renaud Daniel Microvertebrates of the Lourinhã Formation (Late Jurassic, Portugal) (2018) PhD thesis https://run.unl.pt/handle/10362/58236
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ J. Pais Upper Jurassic Plants from Cabo Mondego (Portugal) Separata do Boletim da Sociedade Geologica da Portugala, 19 (1974), pp. 19-45
  46. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".

Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters".

Bibliography

  • Antunes, M.T. and Mateus, O. (2003). Dinosaurs of Portugal. C. R. Palevol, 2:77–95
  • Mateus, O. (2006). "Late Jurassic dinosaurs from the Morrison Formation, the Lourinhã and Alcobaça Formations (Portugal), and the Tendaguru Beds (Tanzania): a comparison," in Foster, J.R. and Lucas, S. G. R.M., eds., 2006, "Paleontology and Geology of the Upper Jurassic Morrison Formation." New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 36
  • Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".

External links

Retrieved from "http://debianws.lexgopc.com/wiki143/index.php?title=Lourinhã_Formation&oldid=5294976"