Paraná Formation Explained

Paraná Formation
Period:Miocene
Type:Geological formation
Age:Late Miocene
Region:Entre Ríos Province

The Paraná Formation is a geologic formation in Argentina. It preserves fossils dating back to the late Miocene epoch.

Fossil content

Mammals

Cetaceans

Cetaceans reported from the Paraná Formation
Genus Species Presence MaterialNotes Images
cf. Aulophysetercf. A. sp.Cantera del Puerto Viejo near Paraná, Entre Ríos.[1] Incomplete tooth (MACN Pv 8926).Now deemed an indeterminate physeteroid.[2]
Balaenidae gen. et. sp. indet.IndeterminateRight tympanic bulla (MACN Pv 13221).A balaenid.
BalaenopteraB. sp.Right tympanic bulla (MACN Pv 13220).A rorqual.
Balaenopteridae indet.South Bank of Ensenada Creek.[3] Cubitus & radius (CICYTTP-PV-1-197) bearing bite marks matching Cosmopolitodus hastalis.A rorqual.
Physeteroidea gen. et. sp. indet.IndeterminateCantera del Puerto Viejo near Paraná, Entre Ríos.An almost complete tooth (MAS Pv 1361) & a fragmentary tooth (MACN Pv 8926).Previously identified as cf. Aulophyseter sp.
Platanistoidea indet.Left tympanic bulla (MACN Pv 15997).A relative of river dolphins.
PontistesP. rectifrons[4] A pontoporiid.
PrionodelphisP. roveretiA single tooth.[5] A dubious delphinoid, other specimens once referred to this taxon are now thought to represent monachine seals.

Rodents

Rodents reported from the Paraná Formation
Genus Species Presence MaterialNotes Images
cf. Cardiatheriumcf. C. sp. indet.La Juanita locality.[7] Left isolated cheek tooth (CICYTTP-PV-M-1-147) & right upper cheek tooth (CICYTTP-PV-M-1-148).A hydrochoerine.
Caviidae gen. & sp. indet.IndeterminateLa Juanita locality.A left upper M1-2 (CICYTTP-PV-M-2-267).A cavy.
PlesiacarechimysP. nov. sp.?La Juanita locality.Right lower molar (CICYTTP-PV-M-1-145).An octodontoid.

Sirenians

Sirenians reported from the Paraná Formation
Genus Species Presence MaterialNotes Images
DioplotheriumD. sp.Cliffs along Paraná River, Villa Urquiza.[8] Upper left molar (CORD-PZ 4301).A dugongid.
MetaxytheriumM. sp.Cerro La Matanza locality, Victoria City.Posterior end of both maxillae (MASP 373).A dugongid.

Xenarthrans

Birds

Birds reported from the Paraná Formation
Genus Species Presence MaterialNotes Images
PelecanusP. paranensisCerro La Matanza locality, Victoria City.[9] A nearly complete pelvis (CICYTTP-PV-A-3-277).A pelican.
cf. Phoenicopteruscf. P. sp. indet.La Juanita locality.Fragment of shaft with distal end of left tibiotarsus (CICYTTP-PV-A-1-12).A flamingo.

Fish

Bony fish

Bony fish reported from the Paraná Formation
Genus Species Presence MaterialNotes Images
SiluroidaeUndeterminedAbundant fragmentary specimens.[10] Evidently represents extant catfish genera.
Tetraodontidae indet.IndeterminateLa Juanita & Toma Vieja localities.[11] Several premaxillary beaks.Remains of pufferfish.

Rays

Rays reported from the Paraná Formation
Genus Species Presence MaterialNotes Images
DynatobatisD. paranensisDermal tubercles.
MyliobatisM. americanusDetached teeth.
RajaR. agassiziDermal tubercles.Moved to the genus Rioraja.
RiorajaR. agassiziiDermal tubercles.A skate, originally reported as Raja agassizi.

Sharks

Sharks reported from the Paraná Formation
Genus Species Presence MaterialNotes Images
CarchariasC. (Prionodon) obliquidensTeeth.Junior synonym of Squalus obliquidens.[12]
CarcharodonC. megalodonTeeth.Reassigned to the genus Otodus.
C. sp.Arroyo Ensenada valley.[13] 2 teeth (UAP 1301 & 1303).Related to the great white shark.
CestracionC. paranensis2 teeth.Cestracion is now a junior synyonym of Heterodontus.
CosmopolitodusC. hastalisSeveral teeth.A mackerel shark, originally reported as Oxyrhina hastalis.
GaleocerdoG. aduncusTooth.A requiem shark.
HemipristisH. serraA few well-preserved upper teeth.A large weasel shark.
HeterodontusH. paranensis2 teeth.A bullhead shark, originally reported as Cestracion paranensis.
MegascyliorhinusM. trelewensisLa Juanita locality.[14] 4 anterior teeth.A ground shark, specimens originally labelled "Squatina".
OdontaspisO. elegansTeeth.
OtodusO. megalodonTeeth.A megatooth shark, originally reported as Carcharodon megalodon.
OxyrhinaO. hastalisSeveral teeth.Reassigned to the genus Cosmopolitodus.
SqualusS. obliquidensTeeth.Originally reported as Carcharias (Prionodon) obliquidens.

Invertebrates

Bivalves

Bivalves reported from the Paraná Formation
Genus Species Presence MaterialNotes Images
AequipectenA. paranensisValves.[15] A scallop.
AmusiumA. darwinianumA scallop.
ErodonaE. doellojuradoiLa Juanita & La Paz.[16] 260 specimens.An erodonid.
FlabellipectenF. oblongusValves.A scallop.
PolymesodaP. muravchikiLa Juanita.13 specimens.A cyrenid.

Bryozoans

Bryozoans reported from the Paraná Formation
Genus Species Presence MaterialNotes Images
AcanthodesiaA. cf. sulcataPunta Gorda, near Diamante, Entre Ríos.[17] Fragments of colonies (MLP 13471 to 13476).A cheilostomatid.
MicroporellaM. sp.Punta Gorda, near Diamante, Entre Ríos.Fragments of colonies (MLP 13477 to 13483).A microporellid.
SchizoporellaS. sp.Punta Gorda, near Diamante, Entre Ríos.Fragments of colonies (MLP 13474, MLP 13484 to 13488).A schizoporellid.
Schizoporellidae indet.IndeterminatePunta Gorda, near Diamante, Entre Ríos.Fragments of colonies (MLP 13489).A schizoporellid.
SchizosmittinaS. sp.Punta Gorda, near Diamante, Entre Ríos.Fragments of colonies (MLP 13486, MLP 13490 to 13492).A bitectiporid.
TubuliporaT. sp.Punta Gorda, near Diamante, Entre Ríos.Two colonies (MLP 13493 & MLP 13494).A tubuliporid.

Echinoderms

Echinoderms reported from the Paraná Formation
Genus Species Presence MaterialNotes Images
AbertellaA. sp.[18] A sand dollar.
AmplasterA. alatusA sand dollar.
A. ellipticusA sand dollar.
MonophorasterM. duboisiA sand dollar.
NeognathostomataIndeterminateAn immature specimen.A sea urchin.
OphiocomaO. sp.A brittle star.
OphiothrixO. sp.A brittle star.

Plants

Plants reported from the Paraná Formation
Genus Species Presence MaterialNotes Images
AstroniumxylonA. parabalansaeToma Vieja fossil locality.[19] Fossil wood.An anacardiaceaen.
LaurophyllumL. sp.Villa Urquiza.[20] Leaves.A lauraceaen.
MyrciophyllumM. paranaesianumVilla Urquiza.Leaves.A myrtaceaen.
OcoteaO. sp.Villa Urquiza.[21] Leaves.A lauraceaen.
PiptadenioxylonP. paraexcelsaToma Vieja fossil locality.Fossil wood.A mimosoid.
SchinusS. aff. terebinthifoliusVilla Urquiza.Leaves.An anacardiaceaen.
SolanumxylonS. paranensisToma Vieja fossil locality.[22] Fossil wood.A nightshade.

Correlations

Laventan

Laventan correlations in South America
Formation Paraná Map
Basin align=center rowspan=17
Boreostemma align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Hapalops align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Miocochilius align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Theosodon align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Xenastrapotherium align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Rodents align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Birds align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Terror birds align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Reptiles align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Insects align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Fluvial Fluvio-deltaic Fluvio-lacustrine Fluvio-deltaic Fluvial

Volcanic Yes

Huayquerian

Huayquerian correlations in South America
Formation Paraná Map
Basin align=center rowspan=17

Cardiatherium align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Lagostomus align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Macroeuphractus align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Proeuphractus align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Pronothrotherium align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Pseudotypotherium align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Thylacosmilus align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Xotodon align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Rodents align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Reptiles align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Birds align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Terror birds align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center align=center
Aeolian-fluvial Fluvio-deltaic Fluvial Fluvio-lacustrine Fluvial Fluvio-lacustrine Fluvio-deltaic

Volcanic Yes

Notes and References

  1. Agnolin . Federico . Lucero . Sergio . December 2004 . Registros de cetáceos del Mioceno Tardío de Entre Ríos, Argentina . Revista de biología marina y oceanografía . en . 39 . 2 . 10.4067/S0718-19572004000200007 . 0718-1957. free .
  2. Pérez . Leandro M. . Cione . Alberto L. . Cozzuol . Mario . Varela . Augusto N. . June 2011 . A Sperm Whale (Cetacea: Physeteroidea) from the Paraná Formation (Late Miocene) of Entre Rís, Argentina. Environment and Taphonomy . Ameghiniana . en . 48 . 4 . 648–654 . 10.5710/AMGH.v48i3(425) . 129118367 . 0002-7014.
  3. Noriega . Jorge Ignacio . Cione . Alberto Luis . Aceñolaza . Florencio Gilberto . 2007-09-05 . Shark tooth marks on Miocene balaenopterid cetacean bones from Argentina . Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen . en . 245 . 2 . 185–192 . 10.1127/0077-7749/2007/0245-0185 . 0077-7749.
  4. Cozzuol . Mario A. . April 1996 . The record of aquatic mammals in southern South America . Münchner Geowiss. Abh. . 30 . 321–342.
  5. Muizon . Christian de . Hendey . Q. B. . 1980 . Late Tertiary seals of the south Atlantic Ocean . Annals of the South African Museum. Annale van die Suid-Afrikaanse Museum . 82 . 91–128 . 0303-2515.
  6. de Muizon . Christian . Bond . Mariano . 1982 . Le Phocidae (Mammalia) de la Formation Parana (Entre Rios, Argentine). . Bull. Mus. Natn. Hist. Nat., Paris . French . 165–207.
  7. Candela . Adriana M. . Bonini . Ricardo A. . Noriega . Jorge I. . November 2012 . First continental vertebrates from the marine Paraná Formation (Late Miocene, Mesopotamia, Argentina): Chronology, biogeography, and paleoenvironments . Geobios . en . 45 . 6 . 515–526 . 10.1016/j.geobios.2012.05.003. 2012Geobi..45..515C . 128431992 .
  8. Vélez-Juarbe . Jorge . Noriega . Jorge I. . Ferrero . Brenda S. . 2012 . FOSSIL DUGONGIDAE (MAMMALIA, SIRENIA) FROM THE PARANÁ FORMATION (LATE MIOCENE) OF ENTRE RÍOS PROVINCE, ARGENTINA . Ameghiniana . 49 . 4 . 585–593 . 10.5710/AMGH.27.6.2012.568 . 11336/72358 . 56435219 . 0002-7014. free .
  9. Noriega . Jorge I. . Cenizo . Marcos . Brandoni . Diego . Pérez . Leandro M. . Tineo . David E. . Diederle . Juan M. . Bona . Paula . 2023-05-09 . A new pelican (Aves: Pelecanidae) from the Upper Miocene of Argentina: new clues about the origin of the New World lineages . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology . 42 . 5 . en . 10.1080/02724634.2023.2202702 . 258605013 . 0272-4634.
  10. Woodward . Arthur Smith . 1900 . I.—On some fish-remains from the Parana formation, Argentine Republic . The Annals and Magazine of Natural History; Zoology, Botany, and Geology . 6 . 31 . 1–7 . 10.1080/00222930008678334 . 0374-5481.
  11. 2021 . Tetraodontiformes (Osteichthyes, Actinopterygii) from the Miocene of Argentina: with the southernmost record of fossil Tetraodontidae . Comptes Rendus Palevol . en . 20 . 27 . 585–596.
  12. Web site: Squalus obliquidens Shark-References . 2023-05-21 . shark-references.com.
  13. Cione . Alberto Luis . Cabrera . Daniel Alfredo . Barla . María Julia . 2012-03-01 . Oldest record of the Great White Shark (Lamnidae, Carcharodon; Miocene) in the Southern Atlantic . Geobios . en . 45 . 2 . 167–172 . 10.1016/j.geobios.2011.06.002 . 2012Geobi..45..167C . 0016-6995. 11336/139163 . free .
  14. Cione . Alberto Luis . Mennucci . Jorge . P&eacute . Leandro . rez . Mar&iacute . Barla . a Julia . 2008-01-01 . Megascyliorhinus trelewensis (Neoselachii) in the Middle-Upper Miocene of Parana, Central Eastern Argentina . Instituto Superior de Correlacion Geologica, Serie Miscelanea . English . 17 . 1 . 41–49.
  15. Martín Pérez . Leandro . Griffin . Miguel . Iturerría . Santiago Genta . June 2011 . Pectínidos de la Formación Paraná (Mioceno) Entre Ríos, Argentina . Serie Correlación Geológica . Spanish . 27 . 1 . 66–75.
  16. Péreza . Leandro M. . Iturrería . Santiago F. Genta . Griffini . Miguel . October 2010 . Paleoecological and Paleobiogeographic Significance of Two New Species of Bivalves in the Paraná Formation (Late Miocene) of Entre Ríos Province, Argentina . Malacologia . en . 53 . 1 . 61–76 . 10.4002/040.053.0104 . 85017087 . 0076-2997.
  17. Muravchik . Martín . Griffin . Miguel . 2004 . Bryozoans from the Paraná Formation (Miocene), in Entre Ríos province, Argentina . PDF . Ameghiniana . es . 41 . 1 . 3–12 . 1851-8044.
  18. Martínez . Sergio . Pérez . Leandro M. . del Río . Claudia J. . 2021-10-02 . Echinoderms from the upper Miocene Paraná Formation of Argentina . Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology . en . 45 . 4 . 435–442 . 10.1080/03115518.2021.1985609 . 243479952 . 0311-5518.
  19. Franco . María Jimena . 2008-11-30 . Leños fósiles de la Formación Paraná (Mioceno Medio), Toma Vieja, Paraná, Entre Ríos, Argentina: registro de bosques estacionales mixtos . Ameghiniana . 45 . 4 . 669–717.
  20. Anzótegui . Luisa M. . Aceñolaza . Pablo G. . 2008-05-14 . Macrofloristic assemblage of the Parana Formation (Middle-Upper Miocene) in Entre Rios (Argentina) . Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen . en . 248 . 2 . 159–170 . 10.1127/0077-7749/2008/0248-0159 . 0077-7749. 11336/80848 . free .
  21. Aceñolaza . Pablo G. . Aceñolaza . Florencio G. . 1996 . IMPRONTAS FOLIARES DE UNA LAURACEAE EN LA FORMACIÓN PARANÁ (MIOCENO SUPERIOR), EN VILLA URQUIZA, ENTRE RÍOS . es . 33 . 2 . 155–159 . 1851-8044.
  22. Franco . M. Jimena . Brea . Mariana . 2023-02-27 . Redescription of Solanumxylon paranensis, Late Miocene of Paraná Formation (Entre Ríos, Argentina): A Reliable Fossil Wood of Solanaceae . Ameghiniana . 60 . 1 . 10.5710/AMGH.13.10.2022.3518 . 253105168 . 0002-7014.