Kuwajima Formation

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Kuwajima Formation
Stratigraphic range: Barremian
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
Unit of Tetori Group
Sub-unitsLower Member, Upper Member
Underlies Akaiwa Formation
Overlies Gomijima Formation
Lithology
Primary Sandstone, Mudstone
Location
CountryFlag of Japan.svg  Japan

The Kuwajima Formation is an Early Cretaceous geologic formation in Japan. Its precise age is uncertain due to a lack of identifying fossils, and it was previously considered likely Valanginian to Hauterivian in age. [1] However, it is now considered to probably be Barremian in age. [2] Dinosaurs and other vertebrates has been recovered from the Kaseki-kabe "Fossil-bluff" locality in the uppermost part of the formation. [3]

Contents

The multituberculate mammals Hakusanobaatar matsuoi and Tedoribaatar reini are known from the Kuwajima Formation. [4] A member of Tritylodontidae, Montirictus kuwajimaensis , has also been recovered from the unit. [5]

Vertebrate Paleobiota

After Matsuoka et al. (2002) [6]

Fish

Fish reported from the Kuwajima Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Sinamia S. kukurihimeMostly complete skeletonAn amiiform fish related to bowfins
Tetoriichthys T. kuwajimaensisThe oldest record of Osteoglossiform
Lepidotes L. sp.
Pachycormidae IndeterminateJaw

Amphibians

Amphibians reported from the Kuwajima Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Shirerpeton [7] S. isajiiKaseki-kabeFacies IIIPartial disarticulated skull Albanerpetontid
Anura IndeterminateIsolated longbone, as well as a partial skeleton "composed of a few skull elements and several postcranial bones, including the femur, ilium, and vertebrae" [8] Partial skeleton belongs to a basal frog that lies outside of Neobatrachia. [8]

Choristoderes

Choristoderes reported from the Kuwajima Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Monjurosuchus IndeterminateKaseki-kabeFacies III
Monjurosuchus Monjurosuchus.jpg
Monjurosuchus
Neochoristodera [9] IndeterminateFacies IThe first report of a neochoristodere from Japan
Choristodera IndeterminateKaseki-kabeFacies III

Squamates

Squamates reported from the Kuwajima Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Asagaolacerta A. tricuspidensKaseki-kabeFacies III"An association of skull, jaws and postcranial bones of a small lizard with facetted tricuspid teeth, possibly a right maxilla"
Kaganaias Kaganaias BW.jpg
Kaganaias
Hakuseps H. imberisKaseki-kabeFacies IIIAn almost complete left dentary
Kaganaias K. hakusanensisKaseki-kabeFacies III"Part and counterpart of articulated partial skeleton comprising parts of the dors. vert. series and parts of the tail, pelvis, and hind limbs"
Kuroyuriella K. mikikoiKaseki-kabeFacies III"A disarticulated skull on four originally conjoined blocks, an association on two small blocks"
Kuwajimalla [10] K. kagaensisKaseki-kabeFacies III
Sakurasaurus IndeterminateKaseki-kabeFacies III"Small block with disarticulated association of skull bones, vertebrae, ribs, pelvis and hindlimb bones"
Paramacellodidae IndeterminateKaseki-kabeFacies III
Squamata IndeterminateKaseki-kabeFacies IIIFive distinct taxa

Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs reported from the Kuwajima Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Albalophosaurus [3] A. yamaguchiorumKaseki-kabeFacies IIIPartial skull and lower jaws
Dromaeosauridae IndeterminateKaseki-kabeFacies III
Enantiornithes IndeterminateKaseki-kabeFacies III
Ornithischia [11] IndeterminateRight dentary, left maxilla, isolated teethDistinct from Albalophosaurus
Sauropoda ("Oharasisaurus")IndeterminateKaseki-kabeFacies IIITooth [12]
Styracosterna [11] IndeterminateMaxillary and dental teeth

Other reptiles

Choristoderes reported from the Kuwajima Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Trionychidae IndeterminateKaseki-kabe
Testudinoidea IndeterminateKaseki-kabe
Sinemydidae IndeterminateKaseki-kabe
Ornithocheiridae IndeterminateKaseki-kabe
Gnathosaurinae IndeterminateKaseki-kabe
Dsungaripteroidea?IndeterminateKaseki-kabe

Mammaliamorphs

Mammaliamorphs reported from the Kuwajima Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Hakusanobaatar [4] H. matsuoiKaseki-kabeFacies IIIDentary fragments and teeth Eobaatarid
Hakusanodon [13] H. archaeusKaseki-kabeFacies III Eutriconodont
Montirictus [5] M. kuwajimaensisKaseki-kabeFacies III Tritylodontid
Tedoribaatar [4] T. reiniKaseki-kabeFacies III"Fragment of right lower jaw with p4"Eobaatarid
Multituberculata IndeterminateKaseki-kabeFacies III

Invertebrate Paleobiota

Invertebrates reported from the Kuwajima Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Nipponoridium B. matsuoiKaseki-Kabe Mimarachnid hemipteran
Nipponohagla N. kaga Prophalangopsid
Kagapsychops K. araneus Psychopsid
Coleoptera Indeterminate
Unio U. ogamigoensis Unionid
Sphaerium S. sp. Sphaeriid
Viviparus V. onogoensis Viviparid
Micromelania M.? katoensis Sphaeriid
Physidae Indeterminate, two species
Pupilloidea Indeterminate

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

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  2. Amiot, Romain; Kusuhashi, Nao; Saegusa, Haruo; Shibata, Masateru; Ikegami, Naoki; Shimojima, Shizuo; Sonoda, Teppei; Fourel, François; Ikeda, Tadahiro; Lécuyer, Christophe; Philippe, Marc; Wang, Xu (2021-01-01). "Paleoclimate and ecology of Cretaceous continental ecosystems of Japan inferred from the stable oxygen and carbon isotope compositions of vertebrate bioapatite". Journal of Asian Earth Sciences. 205: 104602. Bibcode:2021JAESc.20504602A. doi: 10.1016/j.jseaes.2020.104602 . ISSN   1367-9120.
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  9. Matsumoto, Ryoko; Manabe, Makoto; Evans, Susan E. (2015-07-04). "The first record of a long-snouted choristodere (Reptilia, Diapsida) from the Early Cretaceous of Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan". Historical Biology. 27 (5): 583–594. Bibcode:2015HBio...27..583M. doi:10.1080/08912963.2014.898296. ISSN   0891-2963.
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  13. Rougier, Guillermo W.; Isaji, Shinji; Manabe, Makoto (2007). "An Early Cretaceous Mammal from the Kuwajima Formation (Tetori Group), Japan, and a Reassessment of Triconodont Phylogeny". Annals of Carnegie Museum. 76 (2): 73. doi:10.2992/0097-4463(2007)76[73:aecmft]2.0.co;2. ISSN   0097-4463.