Cerro del Pueblo Formation explained

Cerro del Pueblo Formation
Type:Geological formation
Age:Campanian
~
Period:Campanian
Prilithology:Mudstone, sandstone
Otherlithology:Siltstone, conglomerate, limestone
Region:Coahuila
Coordinates:26.1°N -101.1°W
Paleocoordinates:32.2°N -75.5°W
Unitof:Difunta Group
Underlies:Cerro Huerta Formation
Overlies:Parras Shale
Thickness:160m (530feet)
Extent:Parras Basin

The Cerro del Pueblo Formation is a geological formation in Coahuila, Mexico, whose strata date back to the latest Campanian of the Late Cretaceous, just before the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[1] The formation is believed to correlate with the Baculites reesidesi and Baculites jenseni ammonite zones, which dates it to 73.63-72.74 Ma.[2]

The Cerro del Pueblo Formation includes marine, brackish, and non-marine environments, and was laid down in a coastal lowland environment, with Coahuila being on the edge of the Western Interior Seaway at the time. Fossils are abundant in the Cerro del Pueblo Formation, and include dinosaurs and other vertebrates, plants and seeds, and invertebrates including oysters, snails, and other molluscs. The formation is underlain by the Parras Shale and is overlain by the Cerro Huerta Formation.

Dinosaurs

Ornithischians

Remains of the following ornithischians have been found in the formation:

Ankylosaurs

Ankylosaurs of the Cerro del Pueblo Formation
Genus Species Material Notes Images
AnkylosauriaIndeterminateA femur fragment, phalanx and a possible osteoderm.Indeterminate ankylosaur remains.
AnkylosauridaeIndeterminateOsteoderms.Indeterminate ankylosaurid remains.
NodosauridaeIndeterminateA caudal vertebra, osteoderms and a tooth.Indeterminate nodosaurid remains.

Ceratopsians

Ceratopsians of the Cerro del Pueblo Formation
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Centrosaurinae[3] IndeterminateA partial right squamosal.Probably represents a new taxon.
CeratopsidaeIndeterminateSquamosal fragment, metatarsal, metacarpal, sacral vertebrae, proximal end of femora, proximal end of ulna, possible frill fragments and teeth.Indeterminate ceratopsid remains.
ChasmosaurinaeIndeterminateSupraorbital horncores, an orbit, dorsal vertebra, indeterminate cranial fragments, limb bones, and unspecified postcranial elements pertaining to juvenile specimens.Indeterminate chasmosaurine remains belonging to juvenile specimens.

Ornithopods

Ornithopods of the Cerro del Pueblo Formation
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Coahuilasaurus[4] C. lipaniA kritosaurin hadrosaurid
HadrosauridaeIndeterminateA braincase, postorbital, quadrate, laterosphenoid, dentaries, mandibles, maxillae, cervical vertebrae, dorsal vertebrae, sacral vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, neural spines, ribs, ilium, femora, fibulae, tibiae, humeri, ulnae, metatarsals, metacarpals, pedal phalanxes, pedal phalanges, pedal ungula, phalanges, phalanxes, various bone fragments, fibulae, scapulae, radii, coracoids, astragali, indeterminate pelvic bones, ossified tendons, isolated teeth and integumentary impressions.Indeterminate hadrosaurid remains from numerous specimens.
Kritosaurus[5] K. navajoviusPredentary, symphyseal processes, rostral portion of dental battery of dentaries, rostral region of premaxillae, and fragments of maxilla.A kritosaurin hadrosaurid, originally referred to K. navajovius, but reclassified to Coahuilasaurus.
LambeosaurinaeIndeterminateMaxillae, premaxillae, quadrate, partial braincase, dentaries, cervical vertebrae, dorsal vertebrae, sacral vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, neural spines, ribs, ilia, ischium, femora, fibulae, tibiae, humeri, ulnae, metatarsals, metacarpals, pedal phalanges, phalanges, pedal unguals, astragali, radii, scapulae, pubes and other unprepared elements.Indeterminate lambeosaurine remains from numerous specimens, including a large hadrosaurid.
Latirhinus[6] L. uitstlaniCaudal vertebrae, scapulae, humeri, ulnae, coracoid, metacarpals, manual ungual, ilia, ischia, femora, tibiae, fibula, and astragalus.Holotype specimen is chimeric as it consists of multiple individuals. Some material from the holotype specimen is assigned to Lambeosaurinae indet. and Saurolophinae indet..[7]
SaurolophinaeIndeterminateA braincase, brain endocast, dentaries, maxillae, cervical vertebrae, dorsal vertebrae, sacral vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, chevrons, neural spines, ribs, ilium fragments, femora, fibulae, tibiae, humeri, ulnae, metatarsals, phalanges, phalanxes, scapulae, a possible coracoid, radii, ossified tendons, and undescribed juvenile specimens.Indeterminate saurolophine remains from numerous specimens, including juvenile individuals.
Tlatolophus[8] T. galorumAn almost complete skull, mandible, partial ilium, partial ischium, a femur, scapula, coracoid, sacral vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, and chevrons.A parasaurolophin hadrosaur, closely related to Charonosaurus and Blasisaurus.
VelafronsV. coahuilensis[9] Dentaries, predentaries, ceratobranchial, premaxillae, maxillae, jugal, quadrate, nasal, skull roof, cervical vertebrae, dorsal vertebrae, sacral vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, neural arches, cervical ribs, ribs, chevrons, scapula, coracoids, humeri, ulnae, radii, metacarpals, manual phalanges, ilium, ischia, pubes, femora, tibiae, astragalus, metatarsals and pedal phalanges.A lambeosaurine hadrosaurid known only from a juvenile specimen.

Thescelosaurids

Saurischians

Remains of the following saurischians have been found in the formation:

Theropods

Theropods of the Cerro del Pueblo Formation
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Caenagnathidae3 tibia fragments, distal, proximal and medial shaft elements respectively.[11] An oviraptorosaur. Two different morphotypes are suggested, a small one, less than a meter in length. And a big morphotype, almost reaching two meters.
DromaeosaurinaeIndeterminateA pedal ungual and dentary teeth.Indeterminate dromaeosaurine remains.
Labocania[12] L. aguillonaeA teratophonein tyrannosaurine
OrnithomimidaeIndeterminateDorsal vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, femora, fibulae, tibiae, metatarsals, ungual manuals, ungual pedals, phalanxes, manual phalanxes, manual phalanges, pedal phalanges, pedal phalanxes, pubes and tarsals.Indeterminate ornithomimid remains.
Paraxenisaurus[13] P. normalensisCaudal vertebrae, femur, peses, manual phalanxes, manual ungual, tarsals, metatarsals, metacarpals, pedal phalanx, pedal phalanges, and pedal unguals.Represents the first known deinocheirid from North America.
cf. RichardoestesiaIndeterminateA tooth.A taxon only known from teeth.
SaltillomimusS. rapidusPartial skeleton.[14] An informally named ornithomimosaur.
SaurornitholestinaeIndeterminateA pedal ungual, manual unguals and teeth.Indeterminate saurornitholestine remains.
TheropodaIndeterminateA neural arch, complete and fragmented pedal and manual phalanxes, manual unguals, unspecified vertebra, complete and fragmented caudal vertebrae, chevron, proximal end of femur, and unidentified bone fragments.Indeterminate theropod remains.
TroodontidaeIndeterminateA pedal phalanx and a tooth.Indeterminate troodontid remains.
TyrannosauridaeIndeterminateA caudal vertebra, indeterminate vertebrae, tibia, fibula, fragments of ungual phalanges, phalanges, and teeth.Indeterminate tyrannosaurid remains.

Other Fossils

Turtles

Turtles of the Cerro del Pueblo Formation
Genus SpeciesMaterialNotes Images
Mexichelys[16] M. coahuilaensisNew genus for Euclastes coahuilaensis, sea turtle
Chedighaii[17] C. hutchisoniA bothremydid turtle

Other vertebrates

Fish

Fish of the Cerro del Pueblo Formation
Genus SpeciesMaterialNotes Images
LepisosteusL. sp.
AmiidaeIndet.

Fossil eggs

Mammals

Mammals of the Cerro del Pueblo Formation
Genus SpeciesMaterialNotes Images
Cimolomyidae indet.A cimolomyid multituberculate.
PediomysP. cf. elegansA pediomyid tribosphenidan.
Taeniolabidoidae indet.A taeniolabidoid multituberculate.
TurgidodonT. cf. russelliAn alphadontid marsupialiform.

See also

References

Bibliography

Further reading

Notes and References

  1. Weishampel et al., 2004, pp.574-588
  2. Fowler. Denver Warwick. 2017-11-22. Revised geochronology, correlation, and dinosaur stratigraphic ranges of the Santonian-Maastrichtian (Late Cretaceous) formations of the Western Interior of North America. PLOS ONE. 12. 11. e0188426. 10.1371/journal.pone.0188426. 1932-6203. 5699823. 29166406. 2017PLoSO..1288426F. free.
  3. Ramírez-Velasco. A. A.. Hernández-Rivera. R.. 2015. Diversity of late cretaceous dinosaurs from Mexico. Boletín Geológico y Minero. 126. 1. 63–108.
  4. Longrich. N.R.. Ramirez Velasco. A.A.. Kirkland. J.. Bermúdez Torres. A.E.. Serrano-Brañas. C.I.. Coahuilasaurus lipani, a New Kritosaurin Hadrosaurid from the Upper Campanian Cerro Del Pueblo Formation, Northern Mexico.. Diversity. 2024. 16. 9 . 531. 10.3390/d16090531. free .
  5. Prieto-Márquez . A. . 2013 . Skeletal morphology of Kritosaurus navajovius (Dinosauria:Hadrosauridae) from the Late Cretaceous of the North American south-west, with an evaluation of the phylogenetic systematics and biogeography of Kritosaurini . Journal of Systematic Palaeontology . 12 . 2 . 133–175 . 10.1080/14772019.2013.770417. 2014JSPal..12..133P . 84942579 .
  6. Prieto-Márquez . Albert . Serrano Brañas . Claudia Inés . Latirhinus uitstlani, a 'broad-nosed' saurolophine hadrosaurid (Dinosauria, Ornithopoda) from the late Campanian (Cretaceous) of northern Mexico . Historical Biology . 24 . 6 . 607–619 . 2012 . 10.1080/08912963.2012.671311 . 2012HBio...24..607P . 128964878 .
  7. Ángel Alejandro Ramírez-Velascoa . Jesús Alvarado-Ortegab . 2021 . Review of the taxonomic affinities of Latirhinus uitstlani, an emblematic Mexican hadrosaurid. Journal of South American Earth Sciences. 110 . 10.1016/j.jsames.2021.103391 . 2021JSAES.11003391R .
  8. Ramírez-Velasco. Á. A.. Aguilar. F. J.. Hernández-Rivera. R.. Gudiño Maussán. J. L.. Rodriguez. M. L.. Alvarado-Ortega. J.. 2021. Tlatolophus galorum, gen. et sp. nov., a parasaurolophini dinosaur from the upper Campanian of the Cerro del Pueblo Formation, Coahuila, northern Mexico. Cretaceous Research. 126. Article 104884. 10.1016/j.cretres.2021.104884. 2021CrRes.12604884R .
  9. Gates . Terry A. . Sampson, Scott D. . Delgado de Jesús, Carlos R. . Zanno, Lindsay E. . Eberth, David . Hernandez-Rivera, René . Aguillón Martínez, Martha C. . Kirkland, James I. . 2007 . Velafrons coahuilensis, a new lambeosaurine hadrosaurid (Dinosauria: Ornithopoda) from the Late Campanian Cerro del Pueblo Formation, Coahuila, Mexico . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology . 27 . 4 . 917–930 . 10.1671/0272-4634(2007)27[917:VCANLH]2.0.CO;2. 86157621 .
  10. Rivera-Sylva. Héctor E.. Frey. Eberhard. Stinnesbeck. Wolfgang. Amezcua. Natalia. Flores. Flores Huert. 2018. First occurrence of Parksosauridae in Mexico, from the Cerro del Pueblo Formation (Late Cretaceous; late Campanian) at Las Águilas, Coahuila. Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana. 70. 3. 779–784 . 10.18268/BSGM2018v70n3a10 . 202193814 . free.
  11. Serrano-Brañas . Claudia Inés . Espinosa-Chávez . Belinda . Maccracken . S. Augusta . Guevara . Daniela Barrera . Torres-Rodríguez . Esperanza . 2022-09-30 . First record of caenagnathid dinosaurs (Theropoda, Oviraptorosauria) from the Cerro del Pueblo Formation (Campanian, Upper Cretaceous), Coahuila, Mexico . Journal of South American Earth Sciences . 119 . en . 104046 . 10.1016/j.jsames.2022.104046 . 0895-9811. free . 2022JSAES.11904046S .
  12. Rivera-Sylva . Héctor E. . Longrich . Nicholas R. . A New Tyrant Dinosaur from the Late Campanian of Mexico Reveals a Tribe of Southern Tyrannosaurs . 2024 . Fossil Studies . 2 . 4 . 245–272 . 10.3390/fossils2040012 . free .
  13. Serrano-Brañas. Claudia Inés. Espinosa-Chávez. Belinda. Maccracken. S. Augusta. Gutiérrez-Blando. Cirene. de León-Dávila. Claudio. Ventura. José Flores. April 2020. Paraxenisaurus normalensis, a large deinocheirid ornithomimosaur from the Cerro del Pueblo Formation (Upper Cretaceous), Coahuila, Mexico. Journal of South American Earth Sciences. 101. en. 102610. 10.1016/j.jsames.2020.102610. 2020JSAES.10102610S. 218968100 .
  14. Web site: Fossil vertebrates from the Cerro del Pueblo Formation, Coahuila, Mexico, and the distribution of Late Campanian (Cretaceous) terrestrial vertebrate faunas - ProQuest . 2024-11-18 . www.proquest.com . en.
  15. Lockley, M.; Harris, J.D.; and Mitchell, L. 2008. "A global overview of pterosaur ichnology: tracksite distribution in space and time." Zitteliana. B28. p. 187-198. .
  16. James F. Parham. Nicholas Pyenson. Nicholas D. Pyenson. 2010. New Sea Turtle from the Miocene of Peru and the Iterative Evolution of Feeding Ecomorphologies since the Cretaceous. Journal of Paleontology. 84. 2. 231–247. 10.1666/09-077R.1. 2010JPal...84..231P . 62811400.
  17. Gaffney . Eugene S. . Tong . Haiyan . Meylan . Peter A. (Peter Andre) . 2006 . Evolution of the side-necked turtles : the families Bothremydidae, Euraxemydidae, and Araripemydidae ; Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History, no. 300 . American Museum of Natural History.