Fram Formation Explained

Fram Formation
Type:Geological formation
Period:Devonian
Prilithology:Siltstone
Otherlithology:Sandstone
Coordinates:77.164917, -86.269283
Unitof:Okse Bay Group
Underlies:Hell Gate Formation
Overlies:Hecla Bay Formation
Thickness:10 to 20 meters
Extent:Ellesmere Island
Map:File:Ellesmere Island - Tiktaalik discovery site.png

The Fram Formation is an Upper Devonian (Frasnian) sequence of rock strata on Ellesmere Island that came into prominence in 2006 with the discovery in its rocks of examples of the transitional fossil, Tiktaalik, a sarcopterygian or lobe-finned fish showing many tetrapod characteristics. Fossils of Laccognathus embryi, a porolepiform lobe-finned fish, and Qikiqtania, a close relative of Tiktaalik, were also found in the formation. The Fram Formation is a Middle to Upper Devonian clastic wedge forming an extensive continental facies consisting of sediments derived from deposits laid down in braided stream systems that formed some 375 million years ago,[1] at a time when the North American craton ("Laurentia") was straddling the equator.

Paleobiota

Vertebrates

Genus Species Location Material Notes Images
AsterolepidoideiIndeterminateNV0207 locality, near the mouth of Vendom Fiord.[2] A placoderm.
AsterolepisA. alticristataNV2K17 locality.Numerous specimens.A placoderm.
A. cf. radiataNV2K17 locality.Multiple plates.A placoderm.
A. sp. indet.Locality NV0205.Anterior median dorsal plate (NUFV 1287).A placoderm.
BothriolepididaeSp. indet.NV0402, NV2K15, NV2K05, NV2K01 & NV2K07 localities.Partial cephalic skeleton (NUFV 1292) & several plates.A placoderm.
BothriolepisB. sp. indet.NV2K17 & NV0402 localities.Anterior median dorsal plate (NUFV 847), visceral impressions of a partial thoracic skeleton (NUFV 1294) and of a posterior median dorsal plate (NUFV 1293).A placoderm.
EusthenopteronE. jenkinsiNV2K17 locality.[3] A tristichopterid.
HoloptychiusH. bergmanniNV2K17 locality (77º09.895’N, 86º16.157’W) near the eastern arm of Bird Fiord.[4] A holoptychiid.
LaccognathusL. embryiSpecimens from at least 22 individuals known.[5] A holoptychiid.
QikiqtaniaQ. wakeiSite NV0401 (77° 10.235′ N, 86° 11.279′ W)[6] Specimen preserving the "lower jaws, partial left upper jaw and palate in articulation, gulars, ceratohyals, an articulated left pectoral fin and articulated scales from the dorsal midline, flank and lateral line series"An elpistostegalian.
TiktaalikT. roseaeSite NV2K17, southern Ellesmere Island"Based on a suite of specimens (NUFV 108–135) from a single locality (NV2K17). Three specimens (NUFV 108–110) preserve skulls, pectoral girdles and fins in articulation."[7] A stegocephalian.

See also

References

Notes and References

  1. [Palynology|Fossil pollen]
  2. Downs . Jason P. . Daeschler . Edward B. . Lo . Nathanael . Carey . Emily N. . Shubin . Neil H. . October 2019 . Asterolepis alticristata n. sp. (Antiarchi) from the Upper Devonian (Frasnian) of Nunavut, Canada, and a report on the antiarch diversity of the Fram Formation . Geodiversitas . 41 . 1 . 679–698 . 10.5252/geodiversitas2019v41a19 . 1280-9659. free .
  3. Jason P. Downs . Edward B. Daeschler . Alison M. Long . Neil H. Shubin . 2018 . Eusthenopteron jenkinsi sp. nov. (Sarcopterygii, Tristichopteridae) from the Upper Devonian of Nunavut, Canada, and a review of Eusthenopteron taxonomy . Breviora . 562 . 1–24 . 10.3099/MCZ44.1 . 51883892 .
  4. Downs, Jason P.; Daeschler, Edward B.; Jenkins, Farish A.; Shubin, Neil H. (2013-03). "Holoptychius bergmannisp. nov. (Sarcopterygii, Porolepiformes) from the Upper Devonian of Nunavut, Canada, and a Review of Holoptychius Taxonomy". Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia. 162 (1): 47–59. doi:10.1635/053.162.0104. ISSN 0097-3157.
  5. https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02724634.2011.599462 Jason P. Downs; Edward B. Daeschler; Farish A. Jenkins Jr.; Neil H. Shubin (2011). "A new species of Laccognathus (Sarcopterygii, Porolepiformes) from the Late Devonian of Ellesmere Island, Nunavut, Canada". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology. 31 (5): 981–996. doi:10.1080/02724634.2011.599462
  6. Stewart, Thomas A.; Lemberg, Justin B.; Daly, Ailis; Daeschler, Edward B.; Shubin, Neil H. (2022-07-20). "A new elpistostegalian from the Late Devonian of the Canadian Arctic". Nature. doi:10.1038/s41586-022-04990-w. ISSN 0028-0836.
  7. https://www.nature.com/articles/nature04639 Edward B. Daeschler, Neil H. Shubin and Farish A. Jenkins Jr, 2006. "A Devonian tetrapod-like fish and the evolution of the tetrapod body plan" Nature, April 2006, pp 757ff (pdf file)