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Alcobaça Formation

The Alcobaça Formation, previously known as the Guimarota Formation and also known as the Consolação Unit,[1] is a geological formation in Portugal.[2] It dates back to the Kimmeridgian stage of the Late Jurassic. It is an important source of information on the diversity of Late Jurassic mammals.[3][4] Many of the fossils were collected from the now disused and flooded Camadas de Guimarota coal mine.

Vertebrate paleofauna

Dinosaur eggs are geographically located in Lisbon District, Portugal.[5] Dinosaur tracks are geographically located in Leiria District, Portugal.[6]

Chondrichthyes

Chondrichthyes of the Alcobaça Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic Position Material Notes Images
Hybodus[7] Indeterminate Guimarota Isolated Teeth
Asteracanthus[7] A. biformatus Guimarota isolated teeth, fin-spine and a head-spine
Polyacrodus[7] Indeterminate Guimarota Isolated teeth and a fin-spine
Orectolobiformes[7] Indeterminate Guimarota One isolated tooth
Batomorphii[7] Indeterminate Guimarota Isolated teeth

Osteichthyes

Osteichthyes of the Alcobaça Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic Position Material Notes Images
Macromesodon[7] Indeterminate Guimarota Isolated teeth
Proscinetes[7] Indeterminate Guimarota Isolated teeth and prearticulars
"Lepidotes"[7] Indeterminate Guimarota isolated lateral teeth, lower jaws, ganoid scales and isolated skull bones Two species of different size can be distinguished from the fossil material[7]
Ionoscopidae[7] Indeterminate Guimarota Isolated teeth
Macrosemiidae[7] Indeterminate Guimarota Isolated grasping tooth
Caturus?[7] Indeterminate Guimarota Isolated Teeth and a partial skull
Pachycormidae[7] Indeterminate Guimarota

Amphibians

Albanerpetontids are one of the most numerous faunal components of the Guimarota mine with around 9000 isolated remains, including parts of the skull and limbs. Remains of indeterminate salamanders and frogs are also present but far rarer.[7]

Amphibians of the Alcobaça Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
cf. Celtedens[7] Indeterminate Porto Pinheiro Albanerpetontid
cf. Marmorerpeton[7] Indeterminate Guimarota Indeterminate salamander
Discoglossidae[7] Indeterminate Guimarota Indeterminate frog

Choristoderes

Choristoderes of the Alcobaça Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Cteniogenys Indeterminate Guimarota

Ornithischians

Indeterminate euornithopod remains located in Lisbon District.[5] Indeterminate stegosaurid remains present in Lisbon District.[5]

Ornithischians of the Alcobaça Formation
Genus Species District Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images
Dacentrurus[5] D. armatus[5] Lisboa[5]
Eousdryosaurus[8] E. nanohallucis Lisboa[5]
Stegosaurus[9] S. cf. ungulatus "...one tooth, five cervical vertebrae (including the axis), five dorsal vertebrae, cervical and dorsal ribs, three caudal vertebrae, chevrons, preacetabular process of the left ilium, right tibia, fibula, astragalus and [calcaneus], a cervical plate, and several fragments of plates."
Trimucrodon[5] T. cuneatus[5] Lisboa[5] Later determined to be indeterminate ornithischian remains.[5]

Saurischians

Indeterminate sauropod remains located in Leiria and Lisboa.[10]

Saurischians of the Alcobaça Formation
Genus Species District Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images
Allosaurus[6] A. europaeus[11] Leiria[6] A partial skeleton (MNHNUL/AND.001) including parts of the skull.[12]
Aviatyrannis A. jurassica Guimarota
Lusotitan[5] L. atalaiensis[5] Lisboa[5]
Ceratosaurus[5] Indeterminate[5] Lisboa[5]
Dinheirosaurus[5] D. lourinhanensis[5] Lisboa[5] "[Two] cervicals, [nine] dorsals, ribs, limb elements."[13]
Lourinhasaurus[5] L. alenquerensis[5] Lisboa[5]
Megalosaurus[5] M. insignis[5] Lisboa[5] Later determined to be indeterminate theropod remains.[5]

Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs of the Alcobaça Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic Position Material Notes Images
aff. Rhamphorhynchus[7] Indeterminate Guimarota Isolated Fragments
Pterodactyloidea[7] Indeterminate Guimarota Teeth

Turtles

Turtles of the Alcobaça Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Peltochelys P. duchastelli Guimarota
Platychelys Indeterminate Guimarota
Pleurosternidae Indeterminate Guimarota

Lepidosauromorphs

Lepidosauromorphs of the Alcobaça Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Becklesius B. hoffstetteri Guimarota Paramacellodid lizard
Dorsetisaurus D. purbeckensis Guimarota Anguimorph lizard
Marmoretta[14] M. drescherae Guimarota Basal Lepidosauromorph
Portugalophis P. lignites Guimarota Stem-snake
Saurillodon S. proraformis Guimarota A lizard
Saurillus S. henkeli, cf. obtusus Guimarota A lizard
cf. Opisthias[15] Indeterminate Andrés, Pombal A rhynchocephalian

Crocodyliformes

Crocodyliformes of the Alcobaça Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Goniopholis G. baryglyphaeus Guimarota A goniopholidid
Knoetschkesuchus K. guimarotae Guimarota An atoposaurid
Lisboasaurus L. mitracostatus Guimarota
Machimosaurus M. hugii Guimarota A marine machimosaurid

Mammals

Mammals of the Alcobaça Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Bathmochoffatia B. hapax Guimarota A paulchoffatiid multituberculate
Bernardodon B. sp, B. atlanticus Porto Pinheiro A pinheirodontid multituberculate
Drescheratherium D. acutum Guimarota A paurodontid dryolestidan
Dryolestes D. leirensis Guimarota A dryolestid dryolestidan
Ecprepaulax E. anomala Porto Pinheiro A pinheirodontid multituberculate
Guimarotodon G. leiriensis Guimarota A paulchoffatiid multituberculate
Guimarotodus G. inflatus Guimarota A dryolestid dryolestidan
Haldanodon H. exspectatus Guimarota A docodont
Henkelodon H. naias, H. sp Guimarota A paulchoffatiid multituberculate
Henkelotherium H. guimarotae Guimarota A dryolestidan
Iberodon I. quadrituberculatus Porto Pinheiro A pinheirodontid multituberculate
Kielanodon K. hopsoni Guimarota A paulchoffatiid multituberculate
Krebsotherium K. lusitanicum Guimarota A dryolestid dryolestidan
Kuehneodon K. guimarotensis, K. dietrichi, K. simpsoni, K. uniradiculatus, K. sp Guimarota A paulchoffatiid multituberculate
Laolestes L. andresi Porto Pinheiro A dryolestid dryolestidan
Meketibolodon M. robustus Guimarota A paulchoffatiid multituberculate
Meketichoffatia M. krausei, M. sp Guimarota A paulchoffatiid multituberculate
Nanolestes N. krusati Porto Pinheiro A cladotherian
N. drescherae Guimarota
Paulchoffatia P. delgadoi Guimarota A paulchoffatiid multituberculate
Pinheirodon P. sp, P. vastus, P. pygmaeus Porto Pinheiro A pinheirodontid multituberculate
Plesiochoffatia P. thoas, P. peperethos Guimarota A paulchoffatiid multituberculate
Portopinheirodon P. asymmetricus Porto Pinheiro A dryolestid dryolestidan
Priacodon Indeterminate Porto Pinheiro A triconodontid
Proalbionbaatar P. plagiocyrtus Guimarota A multituberculate of uncertain placement
Pseudobolodon P. dryas, P krebsi, P. oreas Guimarota A paulchoffatiid multituberculate
Renatodon R. amalthea Guimarota A paulchoffatiid multituberculate
? Tinodon Indeterminate Porto Pinheiro A tinodontid symmetrodont
Xenachoffatia X. oinopion Guimarota A paulchoffatiid multituberculate
Paulchoffatiidae Indeterminate Guimarota 4 distinct genera with 7 species
Pinheirodontidae Indeterminate Porto Pinheiro
Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Invertebrate Paleofauna

Ostracods

Ostracods of the Alcobaça Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic Position Material Notes Images
Cetacella[7] C. armata Cetacella is a typical component of Late Jurassic brackish water environments in Europe. Member of the Cypridacea[7]
C. inermis
C. striata
Theriosynoecum[7] T. wyomingense Member of the Cytheracea
Bisulcocypris[7] B. pahasapensis Member of the Cytheracea
Timiriasevia[7] T. guimarotensis Member of the Cytheracea
Poisia[7] P. bicostata Member of the Cytheracea
P. clivosa
Dicrorygima[7] D. reticulata Member of the Cytheracea
Darwinula[7] D. leguminella Member of the Darwinulacea

Mollusca

Bivalves

Bivalves of the Alcobaça Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic Position Material Notes Images
Isognomon[7] I. rugosus Guimarota Dozens of well preserved shells sometimes making up entire stratigraphic layers This genus is regarded as an indicator for brachyhaline water conditions and it was likely buried in its natural habitat[7]
"Unio" "U." cf. alcobacensis Guimarota Dozens of well preserved shells with articulated valves freshwater clam

Gastropods

Gastropods of the Alcobaça Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic Position Material Notes Images
Teinostoma[7] Indeterminate Guimarota Shells Boring traces of clionidid sponges on the shells of this taxon indicate a marine lifestyle[7]
Cryptaulax[7] Indeterminate Guimarota Shells
Melampoides[7] M. jurassicus Guimarota Shells Boring traces of clionidid sponges on the shells of this taxon indicate a marine lifestyle, modern relatives like Melampus also venture onto land, which can also be expected from M. jurassicus[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ Mateus, O.; Dinis, J.; Cunha, P. P. (2017-09-28). "The Lourinhã Formation: the Upper Jurassic to lower most Cretaceous of the Lusitanian Basin, Portugal – landscapes where dinosaurs walked". Ciências da Terra / Earth Sciences Journal. 19 (1): 75–97. doi:10.21695/cterra/esj.v19i1.355. hdl:10316/79879. ISSN 2183-4431.
  2. ^ Fürsich, Franz T.; Schneider, Simon; Werner, Winfried; Lopez-Mir, Berta; Pierce, Colm S. (2021-09-13). "Life at the continental–marine interface: palaeoenvironments and biota of the Alcobaça Formation (Late Jurassic, Central Portugal), with a formal definition of the unit appended". Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments. 102 (2): 265–329. doi:10.1007/s12549-021-00496-x. ISSN 1867-1608.
  3. ^ "Guimarota". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  4. ^ "Porto Pinheiro, Lourinha". Paleobiology Database. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "16.4 Distrito do Lisboa, Portugal; 1. Camadas de Alcobaça," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 548.
  6. ^ a b c "16.1 Distrito do Leiria, Portugal; 3. Camadas de Alcobaça," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 548.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah Palmer, Douglas (September 2001). "M ARTIN , T. & K REBS , B. (eds) 2000. Guimarota. A Jurassic Ecosystem . 155 pp. München: Verlag Dr. Friedrich Pfeil. Price DM 120.00 (hard covers). ISBN 3 931516 80 6". Geological Magazine. 138 (5): 619–630. doi:10.1017/S0016756801316084. ISSN 0016-7568.
  8. ^ Fernando Escaso; Francisco Ortega; Pedro Dantas; Elisabete Malafaia; Bruno Silva; José M. Gasulla; Pedro Mocho; Iván Narváez; José L. Sanz (2014). "A new dryosaurid ornithopod (Dinosauria, Ornithischia) from the Late Jurassic of Portugal". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 34 (5): 1102–1112. Bibcode:2014JVPal..34.1102E. doi:10.1080/02724634.2014.849715. S2CID 86780835.
  9. ^ Escaso, Fernando; Ortega, Francisco; Dantas, Pedro; Malafaia, Elisabete; Pimentel, Nuno L.; Pereda-Suberbiola, Xabier; Sanz, José Luis; Kullberg, José Carlos; Kullberg, María Carla (2006-12-23). "New evidence of shared dinosaur across Upper Jurassic Proto-North Atlantic: Stegosaurus from Portugal". Naturwissenschaften. 94 (5): 367–374. Bibcode:2007NW.....94..367E. doi:10.1007/s00114-006-0209-8. PMID 17187254. S2CID 10930309.
  10. ^ "16.1 Distrito do Leiria, Portugal; 3. Camadas de Alcobaça," and "16.4 Distrito do Lisboa, Portugal; 1. Camadas de Alcobaça," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Pages 548-549.
  11. ^ Burigo, André; Mateus, Octávio (January 2025). "Allosaurus europaeus (Theropoda: Allosauroidea) Revisited and Taxonomy of the Genus". Diversity. 17 (1): 29. doi:10.3390/d17010029. ISSN 1424-2818.
  12. ^ Burigo, André; Mateus, Octávio (January 2025). "Allosaurus europaeus (Theropoda: Allosauroidea) Revisited and Taxonomy of the Genus". Diversity. 17 (1): 29. doi:10.3390/d17010029. ISSN 1424-2818.
  13. ^ "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 265.
  14. ^ Guillaume, A. R. D.; Puértolas-Pascual, E.; Moreno-Azanza, M. (2025). "Revisiting the choristodere and stem-lepidosaur specimens of the Guimarota Beds (Kimmeridgian, Portugal): taxonomic implications". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 70 (1): 77–96. doi:10.4202/app.01202.2024.
  15. ^ Malafaia, E.; Ortega, F.; Escaso, F.; Dantas, P.; Pimentel, N.; Gasulla, J. M.; Ribeiro, B.; Barriga, F.; Sanz, J. L. (2010). "Vertebrate fauna at the Allosaurus fossil-site of Andrés (Upper Jurassic), Pombal, Portugal". Journal of Iberian Geology. 36 (2): 193–204. doi:10.5209/rev_JIGE.2010.v36.n2.7. ISSN 1698-6180.

Bibliography

  • Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; Osmólska, Halszka (2004), The Dinosauria, 2nd edition, Berkeley: University of California Press, pp. 1–880, ISBN 0-520-24209-2, retrieved 2019-02-21{{citation}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)