Cucaracha Formation

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]

Cucaracha Formation
Stratigraphic range: Early Burdigalian-Mid Langhian (Hemingfordian-Barstovian) 19–14 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Type	Formation
Underlies	Pedro Miguel & La Boca Formations
Overlies	Culebra Formation
Thickness	~125 m (410 ft)
Lithology
Primary	Sandstone, conglomerate
Other	Claystone
Location
Coordinates	9.0°N 79.6°W / 9.0; -79.6
Approximate paleocoordinates	8.4°N 77.5°W / 8.4; -77.5
Region	Panamá Province
Country	Panama
Extent	Panama Basin
Cucaracha Formation (Panama)

The Cucaracha Formation is approximately 125 metres (410 ft) thick,^[4] and dated to 19 to 14 Ma.^[5]

Fossil content

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.

Mammals

Bats

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"

Carnivorans

Carnivorans reported from the Cucaracha Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Bassaricyonoides[6]	B. sp.	Gaillard Cut		A procyonid
Daphoenodon[6]	cf. D. sp.	Gaillard Cut		A bear dog
Hemicyonidae indet.[8]	Indeterminate	Gaillard Cut	Radius & ulna fragment	A bear
Tomarctus[6][8]	T. brevirostris	Gaillard Cut	Jaw & teeth	A borophagine dog

Rodents

Rodents reported from the Cucaracha Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Nototamias[6]	N. sp.	Gaillard Cut		A ground squirrel
Petauristodon[6]	P. sp.	Gaillard Cut		A flying squirrel
Proheteromys[6]	P. sp.	Gaillard Cut		A heteromyid
Texomys[6][9]	T. stewarti	Pedro Miguel Lock & Gaillard Cut	Teeth	A jimomyid

Ungulates

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

Reptiles

Birds

Birds reported from the Cucaracha Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Accipitridae indet.[14]	Indeterminate	West side of the Panama Canal	Talon	A large eagle, talon resembles those of the crowned eagle and martial eagle

Crocodilians

Crocodilians reported from the Cucaracha Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Centenariosuchus[15]	C. gilmorei	Hodges Hill	Skull & jaw	A caiman
	cf. C. gilmorei	Centenario Bridge	Right angular	A caiman
Dadagavialis[16]	D. gunai	East margin of the Panama Canal	Partial snout	A gavialid
	cf. D. gunai	Centenario Bridge	Partial mandible	A gavialid
Eusuchia indet.[15]	Indeterminate	Panama Canal Zone	Headless skeleton	Osteoderms comparable to those of gavialids such as Gavialosuchus, but crocodilian osteoderms are non-diagnostic

Squamates

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

Turtles

Turtles reported from the Cucaracha Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Podocnemididae indet.[18]	Incertae sedis	Centenario Bridge	Right epiplastron	A side-necked turtle
Rhinoclemmys[18]	R. panamaensis	Centenario Bridge	Shell elements	A geoemydid turtle
	R. sp.	Centenario Bridge & Culebra Reach	Isolated bones	A geoemydid turtle
Staurotypus[18]	S. moschus	Centenario Bridge	Peripheral part of shell	A kinosternid turtle
Testudinidae indet.[18]	Incertae sedis	Culebra Reach	Shell & limb elements	A tortoise
Trionychidae indet.[18]	Incertae sedis	Centenario Bridge	Right costal	A softshell turtle

Plants

Plants reported from the Cucaracha Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Ampelorhiza[19]	A. heteroxylon	Culebra Cut	Roots	A member of Paullinieae
Antrocaryon[20]	A. panamaensis	Lirio East	Endocarps	A member of Anacardiaceae
Dracontomelon[20]	D. montesii	Lirio East	Endocarps	A member of Anacardiaceae
Guazumaoxylon[21]	G. miocenica	Hodges Hill	Wood	A member of Malvaceae, similar to Guazuma
Mammea[22]	M. paramericana	Northern Lirio East	Stem	A member of Calophyllaceae
Oreomunnea[23]	O. grahamii	Lirio East	Nuts	A member of Juglandaceae
Panascleroticoxylon[24]	P. crystallosa	Hodges Hill	Wood	A member of Malpighiales
Parinari[25]	P. panamensis	Lirio East, Gold Hill & Empire sites	Endocarps	A member of Chrysobalanaceae
Parinarioxylon[25]	P. panamensis	Lirio East	Wood	A member of Chrysobalanaceae
Periplanetoxylon[21]	P. panamense	Hodges Hill	Wood	A member of Malvaceae
Prioria[26]	P. canalensis	Hodges Hill	Wood	A legume
	P. hodgesii	Hodges Hill	Wood	A legume
Rourea[27]	R. blatta	Northern Lirio East site	Wood	A liana belonging to the Connaraceae
Spondias[20]	S. rothwellii	Lirio East	Endocarps	A member of Anacardiaceae

See also

• List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Panama