The Cucaracha Formation (Tca)[1] is a geologic formation in Panama . It preserves vertebrate and plant fossils dating back to the Neogene period ; Early to Middle Miocene epochs (Hemingfordian ).[2] Fossils of the crocodylian Centenariosuchus , the turtle Rhinoclemmys panamaensis and the artiodactyl Paratoceras have been found in the formation.[3]
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The Cucaracha Formation is approximately 125 metres (410 ft) thick,[4] and dated to 19 to 14 Ma.[5]
Color key
Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text ; crossed out taxa are discredited.
Mammals
Bats
More information Bats reported from the Cucaracha Formation, Genus ...
Bats reported from the Cucaracha Formation
Genus Species Presence
Material Notes Images
Americanycteris [6] [7]
A. cyrtodon
Centenario Bridge & Hodges Hill
Partial jaw & right premolar
A leaf-nosed bat , first reported as a new "large insectivorous phyllostomine "
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Carnivorans
More information Carnivorans reported from the Cucaracha Formation, Genus ...
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Rodents
More information Rodents reported from the Cucaracha Formation, Genus ...
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Ungulates
More information Ungulates reported from the Cucaracha Formation, Genus ...
Ungulates reported from the Cucaracha Formation
Genus Species Presence
Material Notes Images
Anchitherium [6] [8] [10]
A. clarencei
Gaillard Cut & Centenario Bridge
Mandible fragment, upper cheek tooth & maxilla
An equid
Archaeohippus [6] [8]
A. sp.
Gaillard Cut
Calcaneus & tooth
An equid
Cynorca [6] [11]
C. occidentale
Gaillard Cut, Centenario Bridge & Hodges Hill
Jaw elements with teeth
Species reassigned to the genus Tedfordhyus [12]
Floridaceras [6] [8]
F. whitei
Gaillard Cut
Jaws, teeth & femur fragment
A rhinoceros
Floridatragulus [6]
cf. F. nanus
Gaillard Cut
A camelid
Machaeromeryx [6]
cf. M. sp.
Gaillard Cut
A moschid
Menoceras [6] [8]
M. barbouri
Gaillard Cut
Teeth & limb elements
A rhinoceros
Merycochoerus [6] [8]
M. matthewi
Gaillard Cut
Skull elements
An oreodont
Parablastomeryx [6]
cf. P. sp.
Gaillard Cut
A moschid
Paratoceras [6] [8] [13]
P. coatesi
Gaillard Cut, Centenario Bridge, Hodges Hill & Cartagena Hill
Skull elements, teeth & limb fragments
A protoceratid , first reported as P. wardi
P. wardi
Gaillard Cut
Skull elements, teeth & limb fragments
Remains reassigned to P. coatesi
Tedfordhyus [6] [11]
T. occidentalis
Gaillard Cut, Centenario Bridge & Hodges Hill
Jaw elements with teeth
A peccary , originally named Cynorca occidentale
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Reptiles
Birds
More information Birds reported from the Cucaracha Formation, Genus ...
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Crocodilians
More information Crocodilians reported from the Cucaracha Formation, Genus ...
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Squamates
More information Squamates reported from the Cucaracha Formation, Genus ...
Squamates reported from the Cucaracha Formation
Genus Species Presence
Material Notes Images
Boa [17]
B. cf. B. constrictor
Cartagena Hill & Hodges Hill
Incomplete vertebrae
A boid snake
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Turtles
More information Turtles reported from the Cucaracha Formation, Genus ...
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Plants
More information Plants reported from the Cucaracha Formation, Genus ...
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Rodríguez-Reyes, Oris; Falcon-Lang, Howard; Gasson, Peter; Collinson, Margaret; Jaramillo, Carlos (October 2014). "Fossil woods (Malvaceae) from the lower Miocene (early to mid-Burdigalian) part of the Cucaracha Formation of Panama (Central America) and their biogeographic implications". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology . 209 : 11–34. Bibcode :2014RPaPa.209...11R . doi :10.1016/j.revpalbo.2014.05.006 . ISSN 0034-6667 .
Bibliography
Kirby, Michael Xavier; Jones, Douglas S.; MacFadden, Bruce J. (2008), "Lower Miocene Stratigraphy along the Panama Canal and Its Bearing on the Central American Peninsula", PLoS ONE , 3 (7): 1–14, Bibcode :2008PLoSO...3.2791K , doi :10.1371/journal.pone.0002791 , PMC 2464738 , PMID 18665219
Stewart, R.H.; Stewart, J.L.; Woodring, W.P. (1980), Geologic Map of the Panama Canal and Vicinity (PDF) , USGS , p. 1, retrieved 2019-02-09
Woodring, W.P (1957), Geology and Paleontology of Canal Zone and Adjoining Parts of Panama - 306A Geology and description of Tertiary mollusks (Gastropods: Trochidae to Turritellidae) (PDF) , USGS , pp. 1–186, retrieved 2019-02-09