Kirtland Formation

Coordinates: 36°42′29″N 108°21′00″W / 36.708°N 108.350°W / 36.708; -108.350
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Kirtland Formation
Ma
Approximate paleocoordinates
42°36′N 76°18′W / 42.6°N 76.3°W / 42.6; -76.3
Region New Mexico
Country USA
ExtentSan Juan Basin
Type section
Named forKirtland Post Office
Named byC.M. Bauer
Year defined1916
Kirtland Formation is located in the United States
Kirtland Formation
Kirtland Formation (the United States)
Kirtland Formation outcrops near Coal Creek

The Kirtland Formation (originally the Kirtland Shale) is a

geological formation.[1]

Description

The Kirtland Formation is the product of alluvial muds and

United States of America
.

The base of the Kirtland Formation and its lowest sub-unit, the Hunter Wash member, has been dated to 75.02 ± 0.13 Ma.[2] Together with the upper part of the underlying Fruitland Formation, this contains fossils representing the Hunter Wash local fauna. The border between the Hunter Wash member and overlying Farmington member dates to approximately 74 million years ago. The top of the Farmington member and bottom of the overlying De-na-zin member has been radiometrically dated to 73.83 ± 0.18 Ma ago. The top of the De-na-zin member, which contains the Willow Wash local fauna, has been dated to 73.49 ± 0.25 Ma ago.[1]

Overlying the De-na-zin member is a unit called the Naashoibito member This has often been considered to be part of the Kirtland formation, but more recently has been transferred back to the overlying Ojo Alamo Formation, which it had originally been part of.[1]

History of investigation

The formation was named by C.M. Bauer in 1916 for exposures near the Kirtland Post Office.[3]

Stratigraphy

Upper Cretaceous stratigraphy of the San Juan Basin

Vertebrate paleofauna

Saurischians

Saurischians
of the Kirtland Formation
Genus Species Member Material Notes Images

Alamosaurus[4]

A. sanjuanensis[4]

Specimens actually from the Naashoibito member of the Ojo Alamo Formation[5]
Alamosaurus
Bistahieversor
Saurornitholestes
Struthiomimus

Aublysodon[6]

A. mirandus[6]

Remains are now referred to Bistahieversor, although these remains may possibly have come from the Fruitland Formation.[7]
Bistahieversor[8] B. sealeyi[8] An articulated skull and undescribed postcranial skeleton of an adult individual, and an incomplete skull and postcranial skeleton of a juvenile individual.[8] A eutyrannosaur tyrannosauroid also known from the Fruitland Formation.[8]
Caenagnathidae[9] Indeterminate[9] A nearly complete right tibia[9] Indeterminate caenagnathid remains.[9]

Daspletosaurus[6]

Indeterminate[6]

Remains are now referred to Bistahieversor, although these remains may possibly have come from the Fruitland Formation.[7]
Dromaeosauridae[10] Indeterminate[10] Numerous isolated teeth.[10] Indeterminate dromaeosaurid remains.[10]
Ornithomimidae[10] Indeterminate[10] A distal end of a phalanx, and [two] partial manual unguals.[10] Indeterminate ornithomimid remains.[10]
Saurornitholestes[11] S. sullivani[11] A nearly complete frontal.[11] A saurornitholestine dromaeosaurid, sister taxa to Saurornitholestes langstoni.[11]
"Saurornitholestes" "S." robustus[12] A nearly complete frontal.[12] Originally assigned to Saurornitholestes, actually a
troodontid.[13]
cf. Struthiomimus[10] cf. S. altus[10] A centrum of a dorsal vertebra, distal portion of a metatarsal, and proximal phalanx.[10] Indeterminate remains that may belong to Struthiomimus altus.[10]
Tyrannosauridae[10] Indeterminate[10] A partial skeleton, dentary, metatarsal, and numerous teeth.[10] Indeterminate tyrannosaurid material.[10]

Ornithischians

Ornithischians
reported from the Kirtland Formation
Genus Species Member Material Notes Images

Ahshislepelta[14]

A. minor[14] A partial girdle, scapulocoracoids, humerus, proximal portion of the radius, cervical and/or dorsal vertebrae, complete and fragmentary thoracic osteoderms, and other unidentifiable postcranial fragments.[14] An ankylosaurine ankylosaurid part of the Hunter Wash Member.[14]
Bisticeratops
Kritosaurus
Naashoibitosaurus
Nodocephalosaurus (right)
Pentaceratops
Sphaerotholus
Stegoceras
Terminocavus
Navajoceratops
Titanoceratops
Ziapelta

Anasazisaurus[15]

A. horneri[15] An incomplete skull consisting of premaxillae, nasals, maxilla, lacrimal, jugal, prefrontal, postorbital, squamosal, frontal, parietal, and fragment of dentary with teeth.[15] A kritosaurin hadrosaurid from the De-Na-Zin Member.[15]
Bisticeratops[16] B. froeseorum[16] A nearly complete skull.[16] A
ceratopsid, originally identified as a specimen of Pentaceratops.[16]
Kritosaurus[15] K. navajovius[15] [Two] incomplete skulls, an atlas, axis and cervical vertebrae.[15] A kritosaurin hadrosaurid also known from the Cerro del Pueblo Formation of Mexico.[15]
Naashoibitosaurus[15] N.ostromi[15] A skull lacking the premaxillae and mandible, a partial humerus, cervical vertebrae and dorsal vertebrae.[15] A kritosaurin hadrosaurid, distinct from Kritosaurus.[15]
Nodocephalosaurus[17] N. kirtlandensis[17] A partial skull.[17] An ankylosaurine ankylosaurid that has cranial ornamentation similar to Akainacephalus, an ankylosaur from the Kaiparowits Formation.[17][18]
Parasaurolophus[19] P. tubicen[19] [Two] incomplete and fragmentary skulls.[19] A lambeosaurine hadrosaurid known from partial cranial remains.[19]

Pentaceratops[20]

P. fenestratus[20]
  • De-na-zin Member[21]
A crushed but nearly complete skull, mandible, cervical vertebrae, dorsal vertebrae, sacral vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, chevrons, scapulae, coracoids, radii, ulnae, ischia, ilia, pubes, femora, tibiae, astragali, manual phalanxes and manual unguals.[21] A junior synonym of Pentaceratops sternbergii, diagnostic characteristics of the species were pathologies.

P. sternbergi[20]

A crushed but nearly complete skull, mandible, cervical vertebrae, dorsal vertebrae, sacral vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, chevrons, scapulae, coracoids, radii, ulnae, ischia, ilia, pubes, femora, tibiae, astragali, manual phalanxes and manual unguals.[21] A chasmosaurine ceratopsid also known from the Fruitland Formation.[21]
Sphaerotholus[23] S. goodwini[23] A partial skull lacking the facial and palatal elements.[23] A pachycephalosaurine
pachycephalosaurid also known from the Hell Creek and Horseshoe Canyon Formation.[23]
Stegoceras[24] S. novomexicanum[24] An incomplete parietal.[24] A basal
pachycephalosaurid also known from the upper Fruitland Formation.[24]
Terminocavus[25] T. sealeyi[25] A parietal, partial squamosal, jugal, epijugal, partial quadratojugal, partial sacrum and vertebral fragments.[25] A chasmosaurine ceratopsid that has been hypothesized to form an anagenetic series with several other chasmosaur species, including Navajoceratops.[25]
Navajoceratops[25] N. sullivani[25]
  • Hunter Wash
A parietal, squamosal fragments, fused jugal\epijugal and other unidentified cranial fragments.[25] A chasmosaurine ceratopsid that has been hypothesized to form an anagenetic series with several other chasmosaur species, including Terminocavus.[25]
Titanoceratops[26] T. ouranos[26] A partial skull, syncervical vertebrae, cervical vertebrae, dorsal vertebrae, sacral vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, ribs, humeri, radius, femora, tibiae, fibula, ilia, ischia, and ossified tendons.[26] Possibly represents a junior synonym of Pentaceratops, holotype may possibly have come from the Fruitland Formation.[26]

Ziapelta[27]

Z. sanjuanensis A complete skull, [two] first cervical half-rings, fragmentary second cervical half ring, and numerous fragmentary osteoderms.[27] An ankylosaurine ankylosaurid closely related to Scolosaurus.

Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs of the Kirtland Formation
Genus Species Location Member Abundance Notes Images

Navajodactylus[28]

N. boerei[28]

  • Hunter Wash Member[28]

Partial phalanx and ulna fragment[28]

A possible

pterosaur known from fragmentary remains.[28]

Crurotarsans

Crurotarsans of the Kirtland Formation[21]
Genus Species Location Member Abundance Notes Images

Brachychampsa

B. montana

  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

Denazinosuchus

D. kirtlandicus

  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

Leidyosuchus[29]

Indeterminate[29]

  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

Turtles

Turtles of the Kirtland Formation[21]
Genus Species Location Member Abundance Notes Images

Basilemys

B. nobilis

  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

Denazinemys

D. nodosa

  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

Neurankylus

N. baueri

  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

Plastomenus

P. robustus

  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

Thescelus

T. hemispherica

  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

Bony fish

Bony fishes of the Kirtland Formation[21]
Genus Species Location Member Abundance Notes

Melvius

M. chauliodous

  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

Cartilaginous fish

Cartilaginous fish of the Kirtland Formation[21]
Genus Species Location Member Abundance Notes

Myledaphus

M. bipartitus

  • De-na-zin

Member of the Willow Wash local fauna.

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.

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c Sullivan & Lucas 2006.
  2. ^ Fowler 2017.
  3. ^ Bauer 1916.
  4. ^ a b Weishampel, Dodson & Osmólska 2004, pp. 580–581, 3.3 New Mexico, United States; 10. Lower Kirtland Formation and 11. Upper Kirtland Formation.
  5. ^ Jasinski & Sullivan 2011.
  6. ^ a b c d e Carr & Williamson 2010, p. 1, Systematic Paleontology.
  7. ^ a b Carr & Williamson 2010, p. 1, Systematic Paleontology; Referred Specimens.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Carr & Williamson 2010, p. 1, Systematic Paleontology; Holotype.
  9. ^ .
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Lucas, Spencer G.; Mateer, Niall J.; Hunt, Adrian P.; O'Neill, F. Michael (1987). Dinosaurs, the age of the Fruitland and Kirtland Formations, and the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in the San Juan Basin, New Mexico.
  11. ^ a b c d e Jasinski 2016.
  12. ^ a b c Sullivan 2006, p. 253, Abstract.
  13. ^ Evans et al. 2014.
  14. ^ a b c d e Burns & Sullivan 2011.
  15. ^
    S2CID 84942579
    .
  16. ^ a b c d e Dalman SG, Jasinski SE, Lucas SG (2022). "A new chasmosaurine ceratopsid from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Farmington Member of the Kirtland Formation, New Mexico". New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin. 90: 127–153.
  17. ^ .
  18. .
  19. ^ a b c d e Sullivan & Williamson 1999.
  20. ^ a b c Weishampel, Dodson & Osmólska 2004, p. 580, 3.3 New Mexico, United States; 10. Lower Kirtland Formation.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h Sullivan & Lucas 2006, p. 11, Table 1.
  22. ^ Sullivan & Lucas 2006, p. 10, Kirtlandian Index Fossils.
  23. ^
    S2CID 86112901
    .
  24. ^ a b c d e Steven E. Jasinski; Robert M. Sullivan (2011). "Re-evaluation of pachycephalosaurids from the Fruitland-Kirtland transition (Kirtlandian, late Campanian), San Juan Basin, New Mexico, with a description of a new species of Stegoceras and a reassessment of Texascephale langstoni" (PDF). Fossil Record 3. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science, Bulletin. 53: 202–215.
  25. ^
    PMID 32547873
    .
  26. ^ .
  27. ^ a b c d Arbour et al. 2014.
  28. ^ a b c d e Sullivan & Fowler 2011.
  29. ^ a b Listed as "cf. Leidyosuchus sp."

Bibliography