Prince Creek Formation

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The Prince Creek Formation is a geological formation in Alaska with strata dating to the Late Campanian stage of the Late Cretaceous. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[1]

Age

The PCF ranges from Late Cretaceous (Campanian) to Paleogene in age. Due to a slight structural dip, the unit becomes progressively younger downriver (northward). Biostratigraphic analyses from the upper, vertebrate-bearing portion of the unit near Ocean Point indicate a temporal range from as old as late Campanian to as young as late Maastrichtian. Although previous radiometric dating suggested an early Maastrichtian age, more recent work indicates the fossiliferous beds near Ocean Point to be late Campanian in age (Druckenmiller et al. 2023).[2]

Habitat

File:Liscomb Bonebed hadrosaurids.png
Hadrosaurids of the Liscomb Bonebed in their habitat

During the time when the Prince Creek Formation was deposited, Earth was going through a global cooling phase.[3] The Prince Creek Formation depositional environment includes tidally influenced meandering rivers, anastomosed distributary channels, crevasse splays, levees, lakes, ponds, and mires.[4] Large amounts of plants material are represented by peridonoid dinocysts, algae, fungal hyphae, fern and moss spores, projectates, Wodehouseia edmontonicola, bisaccate pollen, taxodiaceous pollen, and pollen from trees, shrubs, and herbs. Preserved woody trunks show trees did not exceed 20cm in diameter and canopy heights were estimated to have been around 5-6 meters tall. Frequent false rings observed in the dendrochronology of the stumps were deduced to have been caused by sudden drops in temperature during the growing season to between Script error: No such module "convert". suggestive of more sub-arctic summer conditions. These trees were compared to the modern Picea mariana which is common throughout the modern North American Taiga. Another similarity to modern boreal forests is the presence of charcoal indicating frequent forest fires in the depositional environment.[5] Emerging methodologies using oxygen-18 isotope values from fossil vertebrate remains to estimate average meteoric water temperature have yielded highly accurate results. When applied to the Prince Creek Formation it estimated a mean annual temperature around Script error: No such module "convert"..[6] Mean annual precipitation was around Script error: No such module "convert"..[7] The paleolatitude of the formation at the time of deposition was around 80°N, high in the Arctic Circle, and would have likely experienced 120 days of winter darkness.[8][9]

Vertebrate paleofauna

Dinosaurs

Theropods

Indeterminate tyrannosaurid remains are present, mostly in the form of teeth. The teeth are from the Kikak-Tegoseak Quarry, Liscomb Quarry, and Byers Bed, totaling 8 teeth.[10] Fossils of crown or near-crown birds as well as members of Hesperornithes and Ichthyornithes have been reported in 2025, providing the oldest evidence of birds nesting at polar latitudes reported to date.[11]

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.
Theropods
Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images

Dromaeosaurus[10][12]

D. cf albertensis[10][12]

Liscomb Quarry[10]

Kikak-Tegoseak Quarry[10]

Byers Bed[10]

Fossilized teeth[10]

A dromaeosaur.

File:Dromaeosaurus Restoration.png

Ornithomimosauria indet.[13] Indeterminate[13] Old Bone Beach Distal metatarsal IV Possibly an ornithomimid.

Saurornitholestinae indet.[14]

Indeterminate

Pediomys Point - Liscomb Quarry[14]

Small dentary tip from a juvenile.[14]

A new species of dromaeosaurid closely related to Saurornitholestes.[14]

File:Prince Creek Formation fauna.png

Nanuqsaurus[15]

N. hoglundi[15]

Kikak-Tegoseak Quarry[15]

One partial skull including a bone near the front of the maxilla and the front of the lower jaw.[15]

Nanuqsaurus is a tyrannosaurid closely related to Lythronax, Tyrannosaurus, and Tarbosaurus.[15]

File:Nanuqsaurus.png

Saurornitholestes[10][12]

S. cf. langstoni[10][12]

Old Bone Beach[10]

Teeth[10]

A dromaeosaur.

File:Saurornitholestes digging Burrows wahweap.jpg

Troodon[15]

T. sp[15]

Kikak-Tegoseak Quarry[15]

Liscomb Quarry[10]

Byers Bed[10]

Magical Mystery Bar[16]

Dental remains,[15] including teeth.[10] Braincases have also been found.[16]

Remains of T. sp. are approximately 50% larger than specimens from Alberta and Montana.[15] Remains were previously assigned to T. formosus.[12] The most abundant theropod.[16] As of 2011, a dubious genus.[17]

File:Alaskan troodont.jpg

Ornithischians

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.
Ornithischians of the Prince Creek Formation
Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images

Alaskacephale[18]

A. gangloffi[18]

Kogosukruk Tongue[19]

A squamosal, and the back of the dome.[20]

The first pachycephalosaurine from Alaska discovered.[20]

File:Alaskacephale gangloffi copia.jpg

Pachyrhinosaurus[21][22]

P. perotorum[21][22]

Kikak-Tegoseak Quarry[21]

An abundance of skeletal remains,[21] including an immature juvenile.[22]

The youngest of the Pachyrhinosaurus species, found in one of the highest latitudes of centrosaurine discoveries.[21] A discovery in the Kikak-Tegoseak Quarry was identified in 2013 as a juvenile of Pachyrhinosaurus perotorum. This discovery shows that the crest started to develop in the front of the snout, then extending farther back until it reaches the eye.[22]

File:Pachyrhinosaurus Perotorum Alaska copyright web.jpg

Thescelosaurinae indet.[23]

Indeterminate

Teeth[23]

Remains previously attributed to Thescelosaurus.[23]

File:Parksosaurus Steveoc86.jpg

Leptoceratopsidae[8] Indeterminate Remains of adult and juvenile individuals[8]

Edmontosaurus[24]

E. cf. regalis[25]

Liscomb Bonebed[24]
Kikak-Tegoseak Quarry[21]

Disassociated parts from multiple juveniles

Originally identified as a distinct genus (Ugrunaaluk), recent studies have found it ontogenetically indistinguishable from Edmontosaurus.[24][25]

File:Edmontosaurus Perot Museum.jpg

Lambeosaurinae indet.[26] Indeterminate Liscomb Bonebed A supraoccipital The first confirmed lambeosaurine in the Prince Creek Formation.

File:Liscomb Bonebed Lambeosaurine.png

Ornithopoda indet.[23]

Indeterminate[23]

One tooth[23]

A single "hypsilophodontid" cheek tooth not attributable to Parksosaurus or Thescelosaurus.[23]

Mammals

Mammals of the Prince Creek Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images
Cimolodon[27] C. cf. nitidus Lower Maastrichtian Isolated teeth A small multituberculate.
Gypsonictops[27] G. sp. Lower Maastrichtian Isolated teeth A small eutherian.
Multituberculata indet.[27] Indeterminate Lower Maastrichtian Isolated teeth
Marsupialia indet.[27] Indeterminate Lower Maastrichtian Most common in the Prince Creek Formation
Sikuomys[28] S. mikros Lower Colville River. Upper Campanian A tiny eutherian.
Unnuakomys[29] U. hutchisoni Pediomys Point Lower Maastrichtian Over 60 specimens A small metatherian.

Cartilaginous fish

Cartilaginous fishes of the Prince Creek Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images
Squatina S. sp. An angelshark.[30] File:Squatina squatina.jpg

Ray-finned fish

Ray-finned fishes of the Prince Creek Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images
Acipenseridae indet. A sturgeon.[30]
Archaeosiilik[30] A. gilmulli A esocid salmoniform
?Beryciformes indet. Acanthomorph remains reminiscent of beryciforms.[30]
Cypriniformes indet.[30] A cypriniform, the oldest record of this order.[30]
Horseshoeichthys H. armaserratus An armigatid ellimmichthyiform.[30]
Neopterygii indet. A potential basal neopterygian, known from a scale similar to Belonostomus.[30]
Nunikuluk[30] N. gracilis A esocid salmoniform
Oldmanesox O. canadensis An esocid salmoniform.[30]
Polyodontidae indet. A paddlefish, potentially represented by two distinct forms.[30]
Sivulliusalmo[30] S. alaskensis A salmonid salmoniform, the oldest record of this family.

Plants

A Reinvestigation of the Parataxodium-type flora has revealed the assemblage was far more diverse than previously thought. However this sedimentary block’s stratigraphic origins are uncertain. No other in situ limestone blocks comparable to the Parataxodium-type flora have been located along the Colville River. Rivers upstream from the point of discovery cut through Upper Cretaceous deposits that range in age from Late Albian to Cenomanian. The diversity of flora present is more consistent with the Tuluvak Formation, which is dated to the Turonian-Coniacian.[31]

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.
Plants of the Prince Creek Formation[32]
Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images

Parataxodium[19]

P. wigginsii[19]

Kogosukruk Tongue?[19]

Previously thought to represent a single taxon, now shown to have included many distinct conifer morphotypes.[19][31]

Oncophoraceae indet. Kogosukruk Tongue?[31] A Dicranalean moss.[31]
Osmundastrum[31] O. cinnamomeum[31] Kogosukruk Tongue?[31]
Ginkgo[31] G. adiantoides[31] Kogosukruk Tongue?[31]
Pityophyllum[31] P. nordenskioldii[31] Kogosukruk Tongue?[31] Pinaceous needles.[31]
Sequioideae indet. Kogosukruk Tongue?[31] Previously included in Parataxodium.[31]
Taiwanioideae indet. Kogosukruk Tongue?[31] Previously included in Parataxodium.[31]
Cryptomerioideae indet. Kogosukruk Tongue?[31] Previously included in Parataxodium.[31]
Athrotaxoideae indet. Kogosukruk Tongue?[31] Previously included in Parataxodium.[31]
Archeampelos[31] A. sp. Kogosukruk Tongue?[31]
Cf. Cercidiphyllum cf. C. sp. Kogosukruk Tongue?[31]
Dicotyledon indet. Morphotype 2 Kogosukruk Tongue?[31]
Morphotype 3 Kogosukruk Tongue?[31]
Morphotype 4 Kogosukruk Tongue?[31]
Monocotyledon indet. Kogosukruk Tongue?[31]

Hollickia[19]

H. quercifolia[19]

Kogosukruk Tongue?[19]

Leaves[19]

An angiosperm, known from leaves.[19]

Quereuxia[19]

Q. angulata[19]

Kogosukruk Tongue?[19]

An aquatic angiosperm.[19]

Equisetites[19]

E. sp.[19]

Kogosukruk Tongue?[19]

A sphenophyte.[19]

Pulcheripollenites

P. krempii

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen spores

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

cf. Proteacidites

cf. P. sp.

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen spores

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

cf. Polycingulatisporites

cf. P. reduncus

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen spores

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Podocarpidites

P. sp.

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen spores

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Ovoidites

O.? sp.

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen spores

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

O. sp.

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen spores

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

O. parvus

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen spores

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

O. arcticus

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen spores

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Osmundacidites

O. wellmanii

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen remains

Common in the Early Maastrichtian. Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Mantonisporites

M. sp. indet.

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen remains

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Mancicorpus

M. pseudosenonicus

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen remains

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Lycopodiacidites

L. sp.

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen remains

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Lunatadinium

L. dissolutum

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen remains

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Indeterminate

Coleville River Bluff

Septate fungal hypha.

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Leosphaeridia

L. "stellata"

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen remains

Common in the Early Maastrichtian. Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Lairidordites

L. magnus

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen remains

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Laegivatosporites

L. sp.

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen remains

Indeterminate remains abundant in the Early Maastrichtian, and still numerous in the Late Maastrichtian. Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

L. sp.

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen remains

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Kurtzipites

K. trispissatus

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen remains

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Integricorpus

I. sp.

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen remains

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Ischyosporites

I. sp.

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen remains

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Inundatisporis

I. tappaniae

Coleville River Bluff

Samples of distinct pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Impardecispora

I. marylandensis

Coleville River Bluff

Samples of distinct pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Hannisporis

H. scollardensis

Coleville River Bluff

Samples of distinct pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

H. amplus

Coleville River Bluff

Samples of distinct pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Gleicheniidites

G. senonicus

Coleville River Bluff

Samples of distinct pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Foveosporites

F sp.

Coleville River Bluff

Samples of distinct pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Foraminisporis

F. undulosus

Coleville River Bluff

Samples of distinct pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Fibulapollis

F. scabratus

Coleville River Bluff

Samples of distinct pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Expressipollis

cf. E. accuratus

Coleville River Bluff

Samples of distinct pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Erdtmannipollis

E. procumbentformis

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen spores

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Dictyophyllidites

D. sp.

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen remains

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Deltoidospora

D. sp.

Coleville River Bluff

Preserved pollen samples

Very abundant in the early Maastrichtian and Indeterminate level of the formation, becoming rarer until the Middle/Late Maastrichtian. Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Cycadopites

C. fragilis

Coleville River Bluff

Samples of distinct pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Crassispora?

cf. C. apisulacea

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen samples

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

cf. Converrucosisporites

cf. C. sp.

Coleville River Bluff

Specimens of preserved pollen spores

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Clavatisporites

C. sp.

Coleville River Bluff

Preserved pollen samples

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Circulodinium

C. sp.

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen samples

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Cingutriletes

cf. C. congruens

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen remains

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Cingulizonates

C. bialatus

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen samples

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Cicatricosisporites

C. sp. 1

Coleville River Bluff

Distinct pollen remains

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

C. sp. 2

Coleville River Bluff

Preserved pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

cf. C. dorogensis

Coleville River Bluff

Fossilized pollen spores

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Cibotiumspora

C. sp.

Coleville Bluff Formation

Pollen spores

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Camarozonosporites

C. ambigens

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen specimens

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Botryococcus

B. braunii

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

File:Botryococcus braunii.jpg

Indeterminate

Coleville River Bluff

Bissacate gymnosperm pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Balmeisporites

B. sp.

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen spore remains

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Azonia

cf. A. cribrata

Coleville River Bluff

Carbonized pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Aquilapollenites

A. trialatus

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

A. sp. 2

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

A. sp. 3

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

cf. A. dentatus

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

A. amygdaloides

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen

Numerous in the Late Campanian, becoming abundant in the Maastrichtian. Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Annulispora

A. sp.

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Anacololsidites

A. sp. 1

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

A. sp. 2

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Alete

A. clavate

Coleville River Formation

Pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Aequitriradites

cf. A. spinulosus

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

Aequitriradite

A. sp.

Coleville River Bluff

Pollen

Also found in the Schrader Bluff Formation.

See also

References

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  1. ↑ Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Cretaceous, North America)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 574-588. Template:ISBN.
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  24. ↑ a b c Re-examination of the cranial osteology of the Arctic Alaskan hadrosaurine with implications for its taxonomic status Ryuji Takasaki, Anthony R. Fiorillo, Ronald S. Tykoski, Yoshitsugu Kobayashi.
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Bibliography

  • Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
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  • Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. 861 pp. Template:ISBN.

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