Allen Formation

Geological formation in Argentina From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Allen Formationmap

The Allen Formation is a geological formation in Argentina whose strata date back to the Late Cretaceous (middle Campanian to early Maastrichtian.[1] Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[2] Indeterminate chelid remains and other vertebrates have also been discovered in this formation.[3]

Quick Facts Type, Unit of ...
Allen Formation
Stratigraphic range: Mid Campanian-Maastrichtian
~73–69 Ma
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Outcrop of the Allen and Anacleto Formations at Auca Mahuida
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofMalargüe Group
UnderliesJagüel Formation
OverliesAnacleto Formation
Thicknessup to 70 m (230 ft)
Lithology
PrimaryMudstone, sandstone
OtherLimestone
Location
Coordinates40.0°S 66.6°W / -40.0; -66.6
Approximate paleocoordinates42.8°S 52.2°W / -42.8; -52.2
RegionNeuquén, Río Negro & La Pampa Provinces
CountryArgentina
ExtentNeuquén Basin
Type section
Named byUliana & Dellapé
Year defined1981
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Allen Formation (Argentina)
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Description

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Fauna of Allen Formation

Uliana and Dellapé defined the formation's stratotype in 1981 in the eastern area of the Bajo de Añelo, where the relation between the base and top is clearly exposed. The deposits are mostly clastic, interbedded with banks of limestone and layers of anhydrite, which were defined as continental and shallow marine facies associated with semiarid conditions.[4]

The interpreted sedimentary paleoenvironments range from purely continental such as ephemeral lacustrine, aeolian and fluvial systems to coastal marine paleoenvironments with development of estuaries and tidal flats, followed by a lagoon sedimentary stage from marsh to sea with carbonate precipitation in an area protected from waves, ending with a retraction leading to the accumulation of evaporites.[4]

Armas and Sánchez performed a detailed facies analysis of the formation in 2015, where the authors concluded the formation represents a hybrid coastal system of tidal flats, dominated by Atlantic ingressions, with a large storm influence in some areas linked to aeolian systems.[5]

Fossil content

Summarize
Perspective
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Life restoration of Dinosaurs discovered from Allen Formation

Dinosaurs

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.

Dinosaur eggs are known from the formation.[6]

Ornithischians

Ankylosaurs
More information Genus, Species ...
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Ankylosauria[7] Indeterminate Arriagada Farm Two teeth, five osteoderms, and a partial sacrum Fossil remains possibly belonging to a parankylosaur distinct from Patagopelta
Patagopelta P. cristata Salitral Moreno locality Lower Tooth, three posterior dorsal vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, two caudal centra, right femur, partial cervical half ring, and osteoderms. A parankylosaur[8]
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Hadrosaurs
More information Genus, Species ...
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Bonapartesaurus B. rionegrensis Salitral Moreno and Islas Malvinas. Lower A partial skeleton. A hadrosaur
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Kelumapusaura K. machi Upper Partial skull, a cervical vertebrae, several sacrals, sternal rib and sternal plate, and multiple referred specimens found in a bonebed A saurolophine hadrosaur[9]
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Lapampasaurus L. cholinoi Lower Elements of the axial and appendicular skeleton of a subadult individual A hadrosaur[10]
Willinakaqe W. salitralensis Salitral Moreno site. Lower A right premaxilla. A saurolophine hadrosaur[11]
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Saurischians

Sauropods
More information Genus, Species ...
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Aeolosaurus Indeterminate Lower A titanosaur[6]
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Bonatitan

B.reigi[12]

Lower Braincases, caudal vertebrae, and several limb elements A titanosaur[12]
Menucocelsior M. arriagadai Lower Seventeen caudal vertebrae and several appendicular bones: a right humerus, a left fibula and some metapodial. A titanosaur[13]
Panamericansaurus P. schroederi "Five tail vertebrata, sacral vertebrae, left humerus and rib fragments" A titanosaur[6][14]
Pellegrinisaurus? P. powelli Lower (if it is from the formation) "Dorsal and caudal vertebrae, partial femur" A titanosaur[6][14]
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Rocasaurus R. muniozi Lower "Partial postcranial skeleton" A titanosaur[6][15]
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Theropods

More information Genus, Species ...
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Austroraptor A. cabazai Lower A fragmentary skeleton including parts of the skull, lower jaw, a few neck and torso vertebrae, some ribs, a humerus, and assorted bones from both legs A dromaeosaurid
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Bonapartenykus B. ultimus Upper A holotype consists of a mid-dorsal vertebra, both scapulocoracoids, left tibia and femur, left pubis articulated with the pubic peduncle of the ilium, the anterior blade of the left ilium, and two partially preserved eggs. An alvarezsauroid
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Lamarqueavis L. australis Lower "Right coracoid with damaged sternal and omal extremities, and lacking acrocoracoidal process" An ornithuran[16]
Limenavis L. patagonica Lower "Partial forelimb" An ornithuran[6][17]
Niebla N. antiqua Upper Braincase, fragmentary jaw and teeth, relatively complete scapulocoracoid, dorsal ribs, and incomplete vertebrae. An abelisaurid[18]
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Quilmesaurus Q. curriei Upper Femur and distal tibia An abelisaurid[6][19]
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Pterosaurs

Fragmentary fossils are known from the formation.[6]

More information Genus, Species ...
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Aerotitan A. sudamericanus Bajo de Arriagada Upper Partial rostrum The first unambiguous azhdarchid from South-America[20]
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Fish

More information Genus, Species ...
Genus[3] Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Atlantoceratodus A. patagonicus 3 tooth plates A ceratorontiform lungfish[21]
Belonostomus B. lamarquensis A aspidorhynchid fish[22]
Chondrichthyes indeterminate 11 vertebral centra
Diplomystidae indeterminate 4 incomplete pectoral spines
Siluriformes indeterminate 5 incomplete pectoral spines
Lepisosteidae indeterminate 6 vertebral centra
Teleostei indeterminate 10 isolated teeth
cf. Percichthyidae indeterminate 19 fragmentary vertebrae
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Squamata

More information Genus, Species ...
Genus[3][23] Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Patagoniophis P. parvus incomplete trunk vertebra
Alamitophis A. argentinus incomplete trunk vertebra
Madtsoiidae indeterminate incomplete trunk vertebra
 ?Scincoidea indeterminate incomplete left maxilla
Pleurodonta indeterminate incomplete left maxilla
Teiioidea indeterminate incomplete right maxilla
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Turtles

More information Genus, Species ...
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Iaremys I. batrachomorpha A chelid turtle[24]
Trapalcochelys T. sulcata A meiolaniform turtle[25]
Yaminuechelys Y. gasperinii A chelid turtle
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Rhynchocephalia

More information Genus, Species ...
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Lamarquesaurus L. cabazai Cerro Tortuga [26]
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Plesiosauria

More information Genus, Species ...
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Kawanectes K. lafquenianum
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Frogs

Unnamed frogs belonging to the family Calyptocephalellidae and Leptodactylidae, and those with no family designation were also found.[27][3]

More information Genus, Species ...
GenusSpeciesLocation Stratigraphic position MaterialNotesImages
Calyptocephalella C. satan Calyptocephalellid frog[28]
Kuruleufenia K. xenopoides Pipid frog[29]
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Mammals

The mammal fauna of the Allen Formation is known from seven teeth, which document the presence of several species.[30]

More information Genus, Species ...
GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialNotesImages
Mesungulatum M. lamarquensis Cerro Tortuga Two upper molars and a fragmentary lower molar A dryolestoid
Groebertherium G. stipanicici Cerro Tortuga One upper molar A dryolestoid
cf. Brandonia sp. Cerro Tortuga One lower molar A dryolestoid
Barberenia B. allenensis Cerro Tortuga One upper molariform A dryolestoid
Solanutheirum S. walshi Cerro Tortuga A right lower molar and left dentary fragment. A meridiolestid.[31]
Trapalcotherium T. matuastensis Cerro Tortuga One first lower molar A gondwanathere
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Plants

More information Genus, Species ...
GenusSpeciesLocation Stratigraphic position MaterialNotesImages
Podocarpoxylon P. mazzonii Valcheta Petrified Forest, Río Negro Province.[32] Fossil wood[32]
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See also

References

Further reading

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