Huincul Formation

Huincul Formation
Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Type	Approximate paleocoordinates	46°06′S 46°00′W / 46.1°S 46.0°W / -46.1; -46.0
Region	Mendoza, Río Negro & Neuquén Provinces
Country	Argentina
Extent	Neuquén Basin
Type section
Named for	Plaza Huincul
Named by	Keidel
Year defined	1929
Huincul Formation (Argentina)

The Huincul Formation is a

The type locality of the Huincul Formation is near the town of Plaza Huincul in Neuquén Province after which the formation was named by Wichmann in 1929.^[3] This formation conformably overlies the Candeleros Formation, and it is in turn overlain by the Lisandro Formation.

The Huincul Formation is thought to represent an arid environment with ephemeral or seasonal streams.^[4] In some areas, it is up to 250 metres (820 ft) thick. It is mainly composed of green and yellow sandstones and can easily be differentiated from the overlying Lisandro Formation, which is red in color. The Candeleros Formation, underlying the Huincul, is composed of darker sediments, making all three formations easily distinguishable.^[2][5]

Paleobiota

Dinosaur

Ornithischians

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.

Ornithischians of the Huincul Formation
Taxa	Species	Locality	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Chakisaurus[8]	C. nekul	Pueblo Blanco Natural Reserve		Multiple partial skeletons belonging to individuals of different ages	An ornithopod ; the first ornithischian named from the Huincul Formation

Saurischians

Sauropods

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.

Sauropods of the Huincul Formation
Genus	Species	Locality	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Argentinosaurus	A. huinculensis	Las Overas	Neuquén Group.	Seven dorsal vertebrae, partial sacrum, partial dorsal rib, fibula, and potentially other hindlimb bones	A titanosaur
Bustingorrytitan	B. shiva	Villa El Chocón.		Four specimens are known, together including parts of the dentary and postcranial skeleton.	A titanosaur
Cathartesaura	C. anaerobica[9]	La Buitrera	Neuquén Basin	A fossil consists of a partial skeleton including vertebrae and limb bones.	A rebbachisaurid
Choconsaurus	C. baileywillisi[10]	Villa El Chocón.	Neuquén Group.	Partial skeleton without a skull, MMCh-PV 44/10.	A titanosaur
Chucarosaurus	C. diripienda	Violante farm.	Neuquén Group.	A complete left humerus, partial left radius, complete left metacarpal II, left ischium, partial left femur and fibula, partial right tibia, and partial indeterminate metapodial.[11]	A titanosaur.
Limaysaurus	L. tessonei	Villa El Chocón.	Neuquén Group.		A rebbachisaurid
Sidersaura	S. marae	Barda Atravesada de Las Campanas	Neuquén Group.	Two partial skeletons consist of a braincase fused to the skull roof and partial neurocranium, partial dorsal vertebrae, a dorsal rib, two metacarpals, a partial pelvic girdle including an incomplete ilium, ischia, and pubes, and the left femur and fibula fourteen caudal vertebrae with some haemal arches, a partial left scapula, right pubic peduncle, part of both tibiae and fibulae, and several bones from the feet, including metatarsals, phalanges, and ungual phalanges.	A rebbachisaurid

Theropods

Theropods of the Huincul Formation
Taxa	Species	Locality	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Aoniraptor	A. liberataem			Sacral vertebra, six proximal caudal vertebrae, four mid-caudal vertebrae.[12]	A fragmentary theropod originally described as a megaraptoran.
Gualicho	G. shinyae			A partial skeleton lacking the skull along with four vertebrae of the back, three vertebrae of the middle tail, ribs, a basket of belly ribs, the left shoulder girdle, the left forelimb, the right lower arm, the lower ends of both pubic bones, the right thighbone, the lower end of the left thighbone, the upper ends of the right shinbone and calf bone, elements of both metatarsi and three toes of the right foot (Holotype MPCN PV 0001).	A theropod of uncertain affinities
Huinculsaurus	H. montesi			Several vertebrae[13]	A noasaurid
Ilokelesia	I. aguadagrandensis			Fragmented skull and the axial, appendicular skeleton.	An abelisaurid
Mapusaurus[14]	M. roseae			Multiple skeletal specimens.	A carcharodontosaurid
Meraxes	M. gigas[15]			A nearly complete skull, pectoral and pelvic elements, partial forelimbs, complete hindlimbs, fragmentary ribs, and cervical and dorsal vertebrae, a sacrum, and several complete caudal vertebrae.	A carcharodontosaurid
Overoraptor	O. chimentoi[16]			Skeletal specimen consists of two phalanges and a metacarpal of the right hand, two hemal arches, the right scapula, the right ulna, a partial ilium, a partial pubis, two metatarsals from each foot, and several phalanges and unguals from the left foot.	A paravian .
Skorpiovenator	S. bustingorryi			A preserved skeleton.	An abelisaurid
Taurovenator[12]	T. violantei[12]			An isolated right postorbital.	A carcharodontosaurid
Tralkasaurus	T. cuyi			An incomplete skeleton ( MPCA-Pv 815), which comprises a maxilla; dorsal, sacral, and caudal vertebrae; cervical ribs; and a badly-preserved pubis.	An abelisaurid

Other reptiles

Apart from the taxa named here, fossils of unnamed squamates and neosuchian crocodyliforms have been discovered in the formation.^[17]

See also

• List of fossil sites
• List of dinosaur bearing rock formations

References