Paleoenvironmental framework of dinosaur tracksites and other ichnofossils in Early Cretaceous mixed siliciclastic-carbonate deposits in the Neuquén Basin, northern Patagonia (Argentina)

Pazos, Pablo J.; Lazo, Darío G.; Tunik, Maísa; Marsicano, Claudia Alicia; Fernández, Diana Elizabeth; Aguirre-Urreta, Marı́a B.

doi:10.1016/j.gr.2012.02.003

Cited by 39 publications

(21 citation statements)

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“…It comprises mixed carbonate-siliciclastic marine and marginal-marine deposits (Spalletti et al, 2001a;Lazo et al, 2005;Pazos and Fernández, 2010;Fernández and Pazos, 2012). The uppermost part of the unit was tidally influenced (Pazos et al, 2012;Fernández and Pazos, 2013), while the lowermost levels have been interpreted as an open marine ramp under fluctuating rates of siliciclastic input and carbonate productivity (Spalletti et al, 2001b;Comerio et al, 2018). This highly fossiliferous unit presents varied and abundant evidence of invertebrate fauna (e.g., Aguirre-Urreta, 2003;Cichowolski, 2003;Lazo et al, 2005Lazo et al, , 2009Rodríguez, 2007;Taylor et al, 2009;Aguirre-Urreta et al, 2011;Luci et al, 2013;Fernández and Pazos, 2013;Cataldo, 2014).…”

Section: Geological Setting Study Area and Paleoenvironmental Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brittle stars from the Lower Cretaceous of Patagonia: first ophiuroid articulated remains for the Mesozoic of South America

Fernández

Giachetti

Stöhr

et al. 2019

andgeo

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The first articulated remains of ophiuroids for the Mesozoic of South America are described from the Lower Cretaceous of Neuquén Basin, Argentina. The taxonomic analysis allows the assignment of the material described herein to the extinct genus Ophiopetra. The specimens belong to a new species, but considering the poor preservation, a new name is not introduced, as it would be based on an incomplete diagnosis. Certain characteristics (e.g., the diameter of the disc, the width/height ratio of the vertebrae) suggest that these ophiuroids are paedomorphic specimens. In light of the latest classification of the Ophiuroidea, and new insights on the spine articulation microstructure of Ophiopetra lithographica presented herein, a transfer of Ophiopetra to the family Ophionereididae within the order Amphilepidida is proposed. This material expands the palaeogeographic record of this genus, since it represents the first remains of Ophiopetra described in the Southern Hemisphere. It is also the first Cretaceous record of the genus worldwide.

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Section: Geological Setting Study Area and Paleoenvironmental Contextmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brittle stars from the Lower Cretaceous of Patagonia: first ophiuroid articulated remains for the Mesozoic of South America

Fernández

Giachetti

Stöhr

et al. 2019

andgeo

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“…Tracemakers were deposit-or detritus-feeders, probably worm-like organisms (annelids) (Heinberg & Birkelund, 1984;Gibert & Benner, 2002;Gibert & Ekdale, 2002;Fürsich et al, 2006). Gastropods or crustaceans have also been suggested as potential producers of Gyrochorte (Chen et al, 2011;Pazos et al, 2012; Bayet-Goll & Neto de Carvalho, 2016; references therein). Schlirf (2000) regarded Gyro chorte as an arthropod trace (see also Uchman & Tchoumatchenco, 2003).…”

Section: Gyrochorte Heer 1865mentioning

confidence: 99%

Coniacian sandstones from the North Sudetic Synclinorium revisited: palaeoenvironmental and palaeogeographical reconstructions based on trace fossil analysis and associated body fossils

Chrząstek

Wypych

2018

Geologos

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The Coniacian quartz sandstones (Żerkowice Member, Rakowice Wielkie Formation) that crop out at quarries near Czaple-Nowa Wieś Grodziska (North Sudetic Synclinorium) contain a low-diversity assemblage of trace fossils:Gyrochorteisp.,Ophiomorpha nodosaLundgren, 1891,Ophiomorphaisp.,Phycodescf.curvipalmatum(Pollard, 1981), ?Phycodesisp.,Planolitescf.beverleyensis(Billings, 1862),Thalassinoides paradoxicusWoodward, 1830 and ?Thalassinoidesisp. Moreover, interesting compound burrow systems, here referred to asThalassinoides-Phycodescf.palmatusand ?Thalassinoides-Phycodes, were recognised at the Czaple Quarry. Additionally, ?Gyrochorteisp.,Phycodescf.flabellum(Miller and Dyer, 1878) and ?Treptichnusisp. were encountered at correlative levels in the Rakowice Małe Quarry. Some of these ichnotaxa have not been recorded previously from Coniacian sandstones of the Żerkowice Member. Additionally, in slabs of these sandstones, the gastropodNerinea bicinctaBronn, 1836 and the bivalveLima haidingeriZittel, 1866 were found. These interesting finds, in particular the gastropods, were already noted from the study area in the first half of the twentieth century by Scupin (1912–1913). Ethologically, the trace fossil assemblage is represented by domichnia or domichnia/fodinichnia (Ophiomorpha,Thalassinoides), fodinichnia (Phycodes) and pascichnia (Gyrochorte,Planolites). The compound burrow systems (Thalassinoides-Phycodes) are interpreted as dwelling/feeding structures. The possible tracemakers are crustaceans (Ophiomorpha,Thalassinoides) or worm-like animals (annelids and other) (Planolites, ?Phycodes,Gyrochorteand ?Treptichnus). The assemblage of trace fossils is characteristic of theSkolithosichnofacies andCruzianaichnofacies, typical of shallow-marine settings. Ichnological studies, as well as the presence of accompanying fossils (bivalves, gastropods), confirm the palaeoenvironmental reconstruction of the Żerkowice Member sandstones by Leszczyński (2010). That author interpreted the Coniacian sandstones as bar and storm deposits laid down in a shallow epicontinental sea (mainly the foreshore-upper shoreface; up to the middle shoreface) under normal oxygenation and salinity, in soft substrate, above fair-weather wave base. The deposition of the Żerkowice Member sandstones is linked to a regression that started after uplift of the southeastern part of the North Sudetic Synclinorium.

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“…Considering the first evidence for dinosaurs from South America came from Colombia (Buffetaut, 2000;Degenhardt in Mahlmann, 1840), body and trace fossils of these large terrestrial Mesozoic reptiles are tantalizingly rare in this country. Most South American dinosaurs are known from Argentina and Brasil (e.g., Bittencourt & Langer, 2011;Costa da Silva et al, 2012;de la Fuente et al, 2007;Díaz-Martínez et al, 2016;Francischini et al, 2015;Leonardi, 1989;Pazos et al, 2012;Weishampel et al, 2004), and indicate taxonomic dissimilarity from Laurasian dinosaurs (Cox, 1974;Gheerbrant & Rage, 2006;Canudo et al, 2009). This leaves a considerable gap in our understanding of the dinosaurs from northwestern Gondwana, and their relationships with the more southerly Gondwanan and southern Laurasian realms.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Chapter 11

SGC¹

2019

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Dinosaur remains from northwestern South America are rare, with only extremely scarce fossil evidence recovered from Colombia. Here we report six dinosaur footprints preserved on a sub-vertical bedding plane of the upper Valanginian -lower Hauterivian Batá Formation, Santa María, Boyacá Department, Colombia. The Batá Formation consists of a thick succession of conglomerates and sandstones with shale intercalations interpreted as deposited along the palaeoshoreline of an epicontinental seaway. Four of the footprints form a trackway made by a single dinosaur, which is interpreted as a sub-adult ornithopod, estimated at 8 m in length, weighing around 2.5 metric tons, and travelling at an average walking speed of almost 5 km/h. The footprints are assigned to the ichnogenus Iguanodontipus, and were probably produced by an iguanodontian dinosaur. Prior to this work, Iguanodontipus was considered an exclusively European taxon, making this a unique record of the ichnogenus in Gondwana. The presence of Iguanodontipus in northern South America suggests an Early Cretaceous sweepstake, with dinosaurs crossing Tethys Ocean into modern-day northern Africa, and migrating along the northern shores of Gondwana into modern-day South America. Range extension of iguanodontian ornithopods southwards into Gondwana during the Early Cretaceous was apparently prevented by the Central Gondwana Desert Belt, possibly as a result of the palaeoecology of these dinosaurs, which seem to have had an affinity for environments rich in water and lush vegetation. A migration route across Tethys and the Central Gondwana Desert Belt helps explain similarities between northern Gondwanan and southern Laurasian dinosaurs, and the differences between northern and southern Gondwanan faunas, during the Early Cretaceous.

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Paleoenvironmental framework of dinosaur tracksites and other ichnofossils in Early Cretaceous mixed siliciclastic-carbonate deposits in the Neuquén Basin, northern Patagonia (Argentina)

Cited by 39 publications

References 50 publications

Brittle stars from the Lower Cretaceous of Patagonia: first ophiuroid articulated remains for the Mesozoic of South America

Brittle stars from the Lower Cretaceous of Patagonia: first ophiuroid articulated remains for the Mesozoic of South America

Coniacian sandstones from the North Sudetic Synclinorium revisited: palaeoenvironmental and palaeogeographical reconstructions based on trace fossil analysis and associated body fossils

Chapter 11

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