Quiriquina Formation

The Quiriquina Formation is a geological formation in Chile whose strata date back to the Late Cretaceous. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.^[1] The glauconitic sandstones and conglomerates of the formation were deposited in a marine environment.^[2]

Quiriquina Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late Maastrichtian
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Arauco Group
Underlies	Lebu Group
Overlies	Granitic rocks
Lithology
Primary	Sandstone
Other	Conglomerate
Location
Coordinates	33.5°S 71.7°W / -33.5; -71.7
Approximate paleocoordinates	35.6°S 59.2°W / -35.6; -59.2
Region	Bío Bío, Concepción & Valparaíso Regions
Country	Chile
Extent	Arauco Basin
Type section
Named for	Quiriquina Island
Named by	Biró-Bagóczky
Year defined	1982
Quiriquina Formation (Chile)

Paleofauna

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.

Reptiles

Birds

Birds reported from the Quiriquina Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Neogaeornis[3][4]	N. wetzeli	Bahía San Vicente	Two tarsometatarsi	A diving bird, possibly a vegaviid

Mosasaurs

Mosasaurs reported from the Quiriquina Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
cf. Halisaurinae indet.[5]	Indeterminate	Loanco	Isolated tooth (SGO.PV.6629)	A halisaurine, another specimen formerly given the same classification has been reclassified as Halisaurus sp.
Halisaurus[5][6][7]	H. sp.	Cocholgüe	Jaw elements (CPOC/Q/3105)	Specimen formerly classified as cf. Plotosaurus sp. and cf. Halisaurinae indet.
Mosasauridae indet.[5][8]	Indeterminate	Quiriquina Island	Dorsal vertebra (CPMC 18)	A mosasaur, specimen is too fragmentary and eroded for more precise identification
	Indeterminate	Algarrobo	Isolated tooth (SGO.PV.6570) Three isolated tooth crowns (SGO.PV.6571)	Material resembles the teeth of a specimen now referred to Halisaurus sp. (CPOC/Q/3105)
Plotosaurus[6][7]	cf. P. sp.	Cocholgüe	Jaw elements (CPOC/Q/3105)	Specimen reassigned to Halisaurus sp.
Tylosaurinae indet.[5]	Indeterminate	Cocholgüe Loanco	Two teeth (MPC 11000 & MPC 11001)	A tylosaurine

Plesiosaurs

Plesiosaurs reported from the Quiriquina Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Aristonectes[9][10][11][12]	A. quiriquinensis	Cocholgüe Las Tablas Bay	Partial skeleton (SGO.PV.957) Postcranial skeleton of a juvenile (SGO.PV.260) Complete femur (SGO.PV.135) Partial humerus (SGO.PV.169) Caudal vertebrae (SGO.PV.94)	An aristonectine, some specimens of this species were formerly reported as Aristonectinae indet. or Mauisaurus sp.
Aristonectinae indet.[9][10]	Indeterminate	Las Tablas Bay	Postcranial skeleton of a juvenile (SGO.PV.260)	Specimen reassigned to Aristonectes quiriquinensis
Cimoliasaurus[4][13][14]	C. andium		Vertebrae and limb elements	An elasmosaurid, species now deemed a nomen dubium
Elasmosauridae indet.[8][14]	Indeterminate	Algarrobo	21 articulated vertebrae (SGO.PV.90) 17 teeth (SGO.PV.6572)	An elasmosaurid
	Indeterminate	Mariscadero	Postcranial skeleton (SGO.PV.6506)	May represent the same species as material referred to the dubious "Cimoliasaurus" andium
Mauisaurus[12][15]	M. sp.	Las Tablas Bay	Complete femur (SGO.PV.135) Partial humerus (SGO.PV.169)	Specimens reassigned to Aristonectes quiriquinensis
Plesiosauria indet.[8]	Indeterminate	Algarrobo	Partial left propodial (SGO.PV.6638)	May represent a young individual
Pliosaurus[4][13]	P. chilensis		Vertebrae and limb elements (now lost)	Species now deemed a nomen dubium, material actually represents an elasmosaurid and not a pliosaur
Wunyelfia[16]	W. maulensis	Pelluhue	Partial skeleton (SGO.PV.6507)	An aristonectine

Turtles

Turtles reported from the Quiriquina Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Australobaena[17][18]	A. chilensis	Quiriquina	Skull (SFMF R 4151)	A baenid
Chelonioidea indet.[8]	Indeterminate	Algarrobo	Partial left humerus (MPC.11001)	A sea turtle
cf. Dermochelyidae indet.[8]	Indeterminate	Algarrobo	Associated ilium, scapula and pubis (SGO.PV.6573)	A possible dermochelyid, though the feature used to diagnose it as such may also be present in some protostegids
Euclastes[19]	E. sp.	Cocholgüe	Skull (SGO.PV.6504)	A pancheloniid
Testudines indet.[8]	Indeterminate	Algarrobo	Neural plate (MPC.11003) Peripheral plate (MPC.11002)	A turtle, specimens cannot be identified more precisely

Fish

Bony fish

Bony fish reported from the Quiriquina Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Belonostomus[4][20]	B. longirostris	Algarrobo	Two rostrum fragments (SGO-PV 788 & SGO PV 790) Predentary (SGO-PV-789)	An aspidorhynchid
Enchodus[21]	E. sp.	Algarrobo	Abdominal centrum (SGO.PV.6825) Dermopalatine with attached fang (SGO.PV.6820a) Broken dermopalatine with attached broken fang (SGO.PV.6820b) Incomplete right articular (SGO.PV.6824) Two isolated fangs (SGO.PV.6519)	An aulopiform
Pachycormidae indet.[21]	Indeterminate	Algarrobo	Six teeth (SGO.PV.6620)	Specimens resemble the teeth of Protosphyraena but are much smaller
Pachyrhizodus[21]	P. sp.	Algarrobo	Three isolated teeth (SGO.PV.6571)	A crossognathiform

Cartilaginous fish

Cartilaginous fish reported from the Quiriquina Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Biropristis[22]	B. landbecki	Algarrobo	Oral teeth	A sawskate
Callorhynchus[4]	C. sp.		Dental plates	A ratfish
Carcharias[4]	C. sp.		Teeth	A sand shark
Centrophoroides[4]	C. sp.		Teeth	A dogfish shark
Chimaera[4]	C. sp.		Dental plates	A ratfish
Dasyatidae gen. et. sp. nov.[4]	New species		Teeth	An unnamed species of stingray
Edaphodon[4]	E. sp.		Dental plates	A ratfish
Ischyrhiza[4][22]	I. chilensis	Algarrobo	Rostral teeth	A sawskate
Orectolobiformes gen. et. sp. nov.[4]	New species		Teeth	An unnamed species of carpet shark
Paraorthacodus[4]	P. sp.		Teeth	A paraorthacodontid
Squatina[4]	S. sp.		Teeth	An angelshark

Crustaceans

Crustaceans reported from the Quiriquina Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Anomura indet.[23]	Indeterminate	Algarrobo	Broken dactylus tip (SGO.PI.6408)	A possible hermit crab
Protocallianassa[23][24]	P. saetosa	Algarrobo Loanco	Multiple specimens	A callianassid

Molluscs

Bivalves

Bivalves reported from the Quiriquina Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Cardium[24]	C. acuticostatum	Loanco	82 specimens	A cockle

Cephalopods

Cephalopods reported from the Quiriquina Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Anagaudryceras[25]	A. politissimum	Las Tablas Colchogüe Tomé	Five specimens	A gaudryceratid ammonite
	A. subtilineatum	Colchogüe Tomé Lirquén	Three juvenile specimens	A gaudryceratid ammonite
Baculites[25]	B. anceps	Colchogüe Las Tablas Lirquén San Vicente Santa Sabina Tomé	40 specimens	A baculitid ammonite
	B. huenickeni	Colchogüe Las Tablas San Vicente Santa Sabina	32 specimens	A baculitid ammonite
Diplomoceras[24][25]	D. cylindraceum	Colchogüe Las Tablas Loanco San Vicente	Seven specimens	A diplomoceratid ammonite
Gaudryceras[25]	G. kayei	Colchogüe San Vicente Las Tablas Lirquén Tomé	Six specimens	A gaudryceratid ammonite
Eubaculites[24][25]	E. carinatus	Colchogüe Las Tablas Laguna Lo Méndez Lirquén Loanco	56 specimens	A baculitid ammonite
Grossouvrites[24][25]	G. gemmatus	Las Tablas Loanco San Vicente	Nine specimens	A kossmaticeratid ammonite
	G. joharae	Colchogüe Las Tablas Loanco	Six specimens	A kossmaticeratid ammonite
Gunnarites[25]	G. cf. bhavaniformis	San Vicente	Two fragments	A kossmaticeratid ammonite
Hoploscaphites[25]	H. constrictus quiriquiniensis	Colchogüe Dichato	51 specimens	A scaphitid ammonite
Hypophylloceras[25]	H. (Neophylloceras) hetonaiense	Las Tablas Colchogüe Tomé Lirquén	20 specimens	A phylloceratid ammonite
	H. (Neophylloceras) inflatum	Las Tablas Tomé	Seven specimens	A phylloceratid ammonite
	H. (Neophylloceras) ramosum	Las Tablas Los Viejos Colchogüe Tomé	17 specimens	A phylloceratid ammonite
	H. (Neophylloceras) surya	Las Tablas Colchogüe	Three specimens	A phylloceratid ammonite
Kitchinites[25]	K. darwini	Colchogüe Las Tablas Santa Sabina	30 specimens	A desmoceratid ammonite
	K. ifrimae	Colchogüe	Four specimens	A desmoceratid ammonite
	K. vicentensis	San Vicente	Four specimens	A desmoceratid ammonite
Kossmaticeras[25]	K. (Natalites) erbeni	Colchogüe Las Tablas San Vicente Tomé	Nine specimens	A kossmaticeratid ammonite
Maorites[25]	M. densicostatus	Colchogüe Las Tablas	Six specimens	A kossmaticeratid ammonite
Menuites[25][26]	M. gerardoi	San Vicente	Seven specimens	A pachydiscid ammonite
	M. fresvillensis	Las Tablas San Vicente	Eight specimens	A pachydiscid ammonite
Naefia[27]	N. neogaeia	Quiriquina Island	Shell	A groenlandibelid
Pachydiscus[25]	P. (Pachydiscus) gutierrezi	Colchogüe Las Tablas Lirquén Puente Perales	14 specimens	A pachydiscid ammonite
	P. (Pachydiscus) jacquoti chilensis	Colchogüe Las Tablas	Three specimens	A pachydiscid ammonite
Phyllopachyceras[25]	P. forbesianum	Las Tablas	One specimen	A phylloceratid ammonite
Phylloptychoceras[25]	P. sp.	Tomé	Five fragments	A diplomoceratid ammonite
Pseudophyllites[24][25]	P. indra	Colchogüe Las Tablas Loanco	Five specimen	A tetragonitid ammonite
Trachybaculites[25]	T. vicentei	San Vicente	One specimen	A baculitid ammonite
Zelandites[25]	Z. varuna	Colchogüe Las Tablas Los Viejos Lirquén Tomé	11 specimens	A gaudryceratid ammonite

Gastropods

Gastropods reported from the Quiriquina Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Anisomyon[28]	A. patelliformis			A siphonariid
Austrosphaera[28]	A. difficilis			A buccinoid
Avellana[28]	A. (Eriptycha) chilensis			A ringiculid
Brunonia[28]	B. sp.			A carinariid
Calyptraea[28]	C. (Trochita) laevis			A calyptraeid
Concepcionella[28]	C. bonillana
Crenilabium[28]	C. (Nonacteonina) chilensis			An acteonid
	C. (Eacteon) valdovinosensis	Quiriquina Island		An acteonid
Gyrodes[28]	G. (Dockeryella) euryomphalus			A naticid
Petropoma[28]	P. biroensis	Quiriquina Island		A colloniid
Polinices[28]	P. (Polinella) ganae			A naticid
Pyrifusus[28]	P. (Deussenia) gigantea	Quiriquina Island		A pholidotomid
Pyropsis[28]	P. (Chilenopsis) quinzioensis	Quiriquina Island		A pyropsid
Tegula[28]	T. ovallei		Numerous specimens, very common	A tegulid
Tephlon[28]	T. tummidus			A pugnellid
Trochifusus[28]	T. hombroniana			A pyropsid

See also

• Arauco Basin
• Dorotea Formation
• List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
• Quiriquina Island