Wind River Formation

The Wind River Formation is a geologic formation in Wyoming in the Wind River Basin. It preserves fossils dating back to the Paleogene period. A recent study by Stanford suggests that fracking has contaminated the entire ground water resource in the basin.^[1]

Wind River Formation
Stratigraphic range: Paleogene
Type	Geological formation
Location
Region	Wyoming
Country	United States

Wind River Formation at Hell's Half Acre, Natrona County, Wyoming.

Fossil content

Mammals

Apatotheres

Apatotheres reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Apatemys	A. bellulus	Lost Cabin Member.[2]		Also found in the Willwood Formation.[2]

Cimolestans

Cimolestans reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Palaeosinopa	P. incerta	Lost Cabin Member.[2]		A pantolestid also known from the Willwood and San Jose formations .[2]
	P. sp.	Lost Cabin Member.[3]		A pantolestid.

Leptictids

Leptictids reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Palaeictops	P. bicuspis	Lost Cabin Member.[2]		Also known from the Willwood Formation.[2]

Primatomorphs

Primatomorphs reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Absarokius	A. sp.	Cottonwood Creek, Lysite Member.[3]		An omomyid.
Arapajovius	A. cf. gazini	[3]
Copelemur	C. feretutus	Lysite Member.[3]	"ACM 4326, an isolated right M1".[3]	A notharctine.

Rodents

Rodents reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Paramys	P. sp.	Lost Cabin Member.[3]	"ACM 327, a right mandible with M1 through M3 and partial P4".[3]

Ungulates

Ungulates reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Diacodexis	D. secans		AMNH 4899 (left and right P4-M3).[3]	A dichobunid.

Reptiles

Squamates

Squamates reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Ototriton	O. solidus	Lysite Member.[4]	ACM 3539.[4]	A worm lizard.
Protorhineura	P. hatcherii	[4]		A worm lizard also known from the Brule & White River formations.
Spathorhynchus	S. fossorium	[4]		A worm lizard also known from the Bridger Formation.

Invertebrates

Insects

Insects reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Phyllocnistis		Near Dubois, Wyoming.[5]	Mine on a leaflet impression of Cedrela.[5]

Plants

Plants reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Cedrela		Near Dubois, Wyoming.[5]	Leaflet impression.[5]

See also

• Earth sciences portal
• Paleontology portal

• List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Wyoming
• Paleontology in Wyoming