La Boca Formation

Last updated
La Boca Formation
Stratigraphic range: Lower Pliensbachian-Latest Aalenian, 189–171  Ma
Type Geological formation
Unit of Huizachal Group
Sub-units
  • Upper Part with Epiclastic Sedimentation
  • Lower Part with Pyroclastic sedimentation
Underlies La Joya Formation
Overlies Huizachal Formation
Thickness<10 m
Lithology
PrimaryRed sandstones, mudstones, and siltstones
OtherPyroclastic volcanic rocks
Location
Region Tamaulipas
CountryFlag of Mexico.svg  Mexico

The La Boca Formation is a geological formation in Tamaulipas state, northeast Mexico. It was thought to date back to the Early Jurassic, concretely the Pliensbachian stage epoch. [3] Although, the latest studies had proven that the local Vulcanism, related to the aperture of the Atlantic Ocean and the several Rift Events, that continue until the Bajocian, while the unit itself was likely deposited between the earliest Pliensbachian, as proven by zircon (189.0 ± 0.2 Ma) with the fossil taxa deposited on the rocks above, likely of Late Pliensbachian-Lower Toarcian age, and the upper section of Late Toarcian-Late Aalenian age. [4] Due to successions of Aalenian depositional sistems on the upper layers of the Huizachal Canyon, has been delimited the formation to the Toarcian stage, being the regional equivalent of the Moroccan Azilal Formation. [2] Deposits of Late Triassic Age referred to this unit have been reclassified in a new formation, El Alamar Formation. [5] In North America, La Boca Formation was found to be a regional equivalent of the Eagle Mills redbeds of southern United States, the Todos Santos Formation of southern Mexico and the Barracas Group of the Sonora desert region. [6]

Contents

Paleoenvironment

La Boca Formation is genetically related to the Nazas volcanic Arc of the same age (Pliensbachian-Aalenian, ~189.5–171.6 Ma) when Mexico evolved in a convergent plate margin, with the Gulf of Mexico remaining as a restricted basin and a passive margin. [7] The influence of this arcs is seen on the fact continental units such as Todos Santos Formation deposited back then volcanic materials in both nonmarine strata and marginal marine red beds of eastern Mexico. La Boca Formation left its sediments on a basin formed between the Nazas Volcanic Arc center and the so-called Huizachal-Peregrina Anticlinorium, with layers whose origin is linked with channels fills and channel belts filling valleys, as well braided river deposits with different flooding levels. [7] In locations such as Aramberri the development of fluvial channels and the flooding of surfaces was restricted, mostly due to the presence of flanking volcanic activity, as well the local Paleozoic basement highs. [7] In this outcrop the fluvial system evolved on several ways: from braided to ephemeral sandy meandering towards the north, with the presence of common laminated sands sheets, likely a local indicator of unconfined flash floods across floodplains, with some sections recovering periods of desiccation thanks to the presence of Mudcracks. Towards the south, in localities such as El Olmo Canyon the layers show east–west oriented gravelly braided rivers that evolved towards the south of the location into high-sinuosity single-thread meandering rivers. [7] Other southern localities such as the Caballeros Canyon and Huizachal Canyon have layers that record gravel-bed braided rivers over a floodplain with high-energy flows, element recorded on the local stratigraphy as older layers where highly degraded by the increased force of the younger flows and the rock fragments moved by the currents are bigger in upper layers. In the southernmost outcrop, in Miquihuana the sheet sands show greater flooding events than on any other location. [7]

The main fossiliferous level of the Huizachal Canyon with more than 8000 specimens found, where the preservation of delicate specimens such as Pterosaurs suggest an environment with little transportation and reworking, yet the fossils were not buried in situ, as most of the smaller specimens show disarticulation. [8] All data trends suggest a highly unusual debris-flow environment, where local fluvial alluvial bodies were not big enough to sustain large freshwater biota such as fishes and most of the preserved specimens were fast buried near the place of death. [8]

Fossil record

Ichnofossils

GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialTypeMade byNotesImages

Mermia [7]

  • Mermia isp.
  • Valle de Huizachal

Locomotion trace

Domichnia & Fodinichnia

Densely looped grooves or ridges. Taxon linked with the major Early Jurassic flooding of the Huizachal Valley, developed locally mostly on a gravel-bed braided fluvial style with paleocurrents oriented west-northwest

Scoyenia [7]

  • Valle de Huizachal

Burrows

Domichnia & Fodinichnia

  • Crustaceans
  • Worms

Burrow fossils in lacustrine or fluvial environments, probably made by arthropods

Synapsida

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionAbundanceNotesImages

Bocaconodon [9]

B. tamaulipensis [9]

Jim's Joy, Huizachal Canyon

Lower Part

Teeth

A basal Mammaliaform [9]

Bocatherium [10] [11]

B. mexicanum [10]

Huizachal Canyon

Lower Part

IGM 3492, Skull

A Tritylodontid [10]

Bocatherium.jpg

Huasteconodon [9]

H. wiblei [9]

Huizachal Canyon

Lower Part

Teeth

A Gobiconodont [9]

Victoriaconodon [9]

V. inaequalis [9]

Rene's Roost, Huizachal Canyon

Lower Part

Teeth

A Triconodontid [9]

Unnamed Mammaliaforms (IGM 6622,IGM 6855, and IGM 6856) [9]

Indeterminate

  • Cementario, Huizachal Canyon
  • Casa de Fidencio, Huizachal Canyon

Lower Part

IGM 6855, partial right dentary; IGM 6856, left dentary; IGM 6622, partial right dentary

Lepidosauromorpha

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionAbundanceNotesImages

Tamaulipasaurus [12]

T. morenoi

Dinosaur National Monument South, Huizachal Canyon

Lower Part

  • IGM 6620, a nearly complete skull, missing the tip of the rostrum, with articulated mandible and eight articulated vertebrae
  • IGM 6621, a nearly complete skull with articulated mandible
  • IGM 6623, an isolated braincase

A strange burrowing Lepidosauromorph, probably related with Ardeosauridae. Described originally as a "Burrowing diapsid representing a heretofore unknown clade", was later found to have a compact skull similar to that of Dibamidae and Amphisbaenia by convergent evolution. [13]

Especulative reconstruction of Tamaulipasaurus Tamaulipasaurus Life Reconstruction.png
Especulative reconstruction of Tamaulipasaurus

Sphenodontia

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionAbundanceNotesImages

Clevosaurus [13]

aff. Clevosaurus sp.

  • Puente de Piedra
  • JMC 85-A
  • Rene Roost
  • Tierra Buena del Sur at Huizachal Canyon

Lower Part

  • IGM 6565, left lower jaw
  • IGM 6566, split left lower jaw
  • IGM 6567, broken lower jaw
  • IGM 6568, almost complete lower jaw
  • IGM 6569, split right? lower jaw
  • IGM 6570, split right? lower jaw.

A Sphenodontidae Rhynchocephalian of the family Clevosauridae.

Clevosaurus restoration.jpg

Cynosphenodon [14] [15]

C. huizachalensis

Huizachal Canyon

Lower Part

  • IGM 6652 Dental portion of the right dentary with a complete tooth row
  • IGM 6653, posterior right dentary
  • IGM 6654, anterior portion of a right maxilla
  • IGM 6655, middle portion of a right maxilla
  • IGM 6656, anterior part of a right dentary
  • IGM 6657, anterior portion of a right dentary
  • IGM 6658, symphysial region of a right dentary
  • IGM 6659, anterior part of a left dentary
  • IGM 6660, posterior part of a left dentary with coronoid process

A sphenodontine rhynchocephalian closely related to the living tuatara. [16]

Cynosphenodon.svg

Opisthias [13]

aff. Opisthias sp.

  • Rene's Roost and Puente de Piedra
  • Fidencio Hideway
  • Oeste de DNMS in Huizachal Canyon

Lower Part

  • IGM 6571, middle portion of a left lower jaw
  • IGM 6572, partial right lower lower jaw
  • IGM 6573, complete eroded right lower jaw
  • IGM 6574, left lower jaw
  • ?IGM 6748, partial right lower jaw
  • IGM 6749, partial left lower jaw
  • IGM 6750, almost complete right maxilla
  • IGM 6751, anterior portion of a right lower jaw
  • IGM 6752, partial right? lower jaw
  • IGM 6753, partial right lower jaw
  • IGM 6754, partial left? lower jaw
  • IGM 6755, very small partial left lower jaw
  • IGM 6756, partial left lower jaw
  • IGM 6757, partial right mandible, right maxilla, two incomplete vertebrae, a humerus epiphysis and some not recognized long bones
  • IGM 6758, partial right maxilla.

A Sphenodontidae Rhynchocephalian of the family Opisthodontia.

Sphenovipera [14] [17]

S. jimmysjoyi [17]

Jim's Joy, Huizachal Canyon

Lower Part

IGM 6076, an almost complete right lower jaw with teeth

A possible venomous Sphenodont [17]

Sphenovipera silhouette.png

Zapatadon [14] [18]

Z. ejidoensis

Tierra Buena, western part of the Huizachal Canyon

Lower Part

IGM 3497, crushed skull, missing part of the skull table and roofing bones

A dwarf Sphenodont

Pterosauria

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionAbundanceNotesImages

"Dimorphodon" [19]

"D." weintraubi

Huizachal Canyon

Lower Part

Fragmentary skeleton of a large rhamphorhynchoid that includes a remarkably preserved pes.

A Pterosaur of uncertain phylogenetic placement, being originally proposed as a member of the genus Dimorphodon, although, has some great differences with the original holotype, and Dimorphodon is a lower Liassic Genus. Most recent analyses place it on different positions on Novialoidea. [20]

Crocodylomorpha

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionAbundanceNotesImages

Metasuchia [10]

? Metasuchia indeterminate

Huizachal Canyon

Lower Part

IGM 3498 & additional specimens. Partial skulls and postcranial skeletons

Preliminary results suggest it may be a stem metasuchian. [21]

Protosuchia [10] [22] [21]

Indeterminate

Huizachal Canyon

Lower Part

Skull fragment

A possible member of Protosuchia. Found to be sister taxon of Platyognathus hsui from the Lower Jurassic Lufeng Formation of Yunnan. [21]

Dinosauria

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionAbundanceNotesImages

Ceratosauria [23]

Ceratosauria Indeterminate

Casa de Fidencio, Huizachal Canyon

Lower Part

IGM 6625, craneal fragmentary elements

A possible basal ceratosaur related with the African Berberosaurus .

Heterodontosauridae [24]

cf.Heterodontosaurus sp.

Huizachal Canyon

Lower Part

Teeth

An Ornithischian of the family Heterodontosauridae.

Heterodontosaurus restoration.jpg

" Megapnosaurus " [23]

"Megapnosaurus" mexicanum [25]

Casa de Fidencio, Huizachal Canyon

Lower Part

(IGM 6624) partial twelfth dorsal vertebra, partial thirteenth dorsal vertebra, partial synsacrum, incomplete fused pelvis

An indeterminate Coelophysoidean.

Megapnosaurus DB.jpg

Neotheropoda [23]

Neotheropoda Indeterminate

Huizachal Canyon

Lower Part

Isolated teeth

Several morphotypes, maybe related with Coelophysoidea, Dilophosauridae or Tetanurae. [23]

?Sauropodomorpha [23]

?Sauropodomorpha indeterminate

Rene's Roost, Huizachal Canyon

Lower Part

Large bone fragments

A possible Basal Sauropodomorph.

Palynology

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages

Araucariacites [26]

  • Araucariacites cf. australis
  • La Escondida canyon
  • La Boca canyon
  • Lower Member

Pollen

A Pollen Grain, affinites with the family Araucariaceae inside Pinales. Conifer pollen from medium to large arboreal plants.

Extant Araucaria. Araucariacites may come from a related plant Araucaria bidwillii - pollen cones.jpg
Extant Araucaria . Araucariacites may come from a related plant

Exesipollenites [26]

  • Exesipollenites tumulus
  • La Escondida canyon
  • La Boca canyon
  • Lower Member

Pollen

A Pollen Grain, affinities with the Hirmeriellaceae in the Pinopsida.

Dapcodinium [26]

  • Dapcodinium priscum
  • La Escondida canyon
  • La Boca canyon
  • Lower Member

Cysts

A Dinoflajellate of the family Rhaetogonyaulacaceae inside Gonyaulacales

Eucommiidites [26]

  • Eucommiidites troedssonii
  • La Escondida canyon
  • La Boca canyon
  • Lower Member

Pollen

A Pollen Grain, afinnities with Erdtmanithecales inside Spermatophytes.

Exesipollenites [26]

  • Exesipollenites tumulus
  • La Escondida canyon
  • La Boca canyon
  • Lower Member

Pollen

A Pollen Grain, affinities with the family Cupressaceae in the Pinopsida. Pollen that resembles that of extant genera such as the genus Actinostrobus and Austrocedrus , probably derived from dry environments.

Extant Austrocedrus. Exesipollenites and Perinopollenites maybe come from a related plant Austrocedrus chilensis.jpg
Extant Austrocedrus . Exesipollenites and Perinopollenites maybe come from a related plant

Dictyophillidites [26]

  • Dictyophillidites sp. 1
  • La Escondida canyon
  • La Boca canyon
  • Lower Member

Spores

A Miospore, affinities with Dipteridaceae inside Filicopsida

Extant Dipteris, typical example of Selaginellaceae. Dictyophillidites probably come from a similar or a related Plant Dipteris conjugata ybrgub01.jpg
Extant Dipteris , typical example of Selaginellaceae. Dictyophillidites probably come from a similar or a related Plant

Krausellisporites [26]

  • Krausellisporites reissingeri
  • La Escondida canyon
  • La Boca canyon
  • Lower Member

Spores

A Miospore, affinities with Selaginellaceae or Lycopodiaceae inside Lycopsida.

Extant Selaginella, typical example of Selaginellaceae. Krausellisporites probably come from a similar or a related Plant Selaginella erythropus kz02.jpg
Extant Selaginella , typical example of Selaginellaceae. Krausellisporites probably come from a similar or a related Plant

Nannoceratopsis [26]

  • Nannoceratopsis gracilis
  • La Escondida canyon
  • La Boca canyon
  • Lower Member

Cysts

A Dinoflajellate of the family Nannoceratopsiaceae inside Nannoceratopsiales

Ovalipollis [26]

  • Ovalipollis breviformis
  • La Escondida canyon
  • La Boca canyon
  • Lower Member

Pollen

A Pollen Grain, afinnities with Caytoniales inside Gymnospermopsida.

Pareodinia [26]

  • Pareodinia sp.
  • La Escondida canyon
  • La Boca canyon
  • Lower Member

Cysts

A Dinoflajellate of the family Pareodinioideae inside Gonyaulacales

Quadraeculina [26]

  • Quadraeculina anallaeformis
  • La Escondida canyon
  • La Boca canyon
  • Lower Member

Pollen

A Pollen Grain, affinities with Podocarpaceae and Pinaceae inside Coniferophyta.

Rhaetogonyaulax [26]

  • Rhaetogonyaulax rhaetica
  • La Escondida canyon
  • La Boca canyon
  • Lower Member

Cysts

A Dinoflajellate of the family Peridiniphycidae inside Dinophyceae

Spheripollenites [26]

  • Spheripollenites spp.
  • La Escondida canyon
  • La Boca canyon
  • Lower Member

Pollen

A Pollen Grain, affinities with the Hirmeriellaceae in the Pinopsida.

Vitreisporites [26]

  • Vitreisporites pallidus
  • Vitreisporites bjuvensis
  • La Escondida canyon
  • La Boca canyon
  • Lower Member

Pollen

A Pollen Grain, afinnities with Caytoniales inside Gymnospermopsida.

Macroflora

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages

Agathoxylon [6] [27]

  • Agathoxylon sp.
  • Huizachal-Peregrina Anticline
  • El Alamar Canyon
  • Lower Member
  • Fossil Wood

Affinities with Cheirolepidiaceae or Araucariaceae inside Pinales. Includes petrified wood logs up to 3.5 m in size

Cheirolepidium [28] [29]

  • Cheirolepidium sp.
  • Near Ciudad Victoria
  • Lower Member
  • Seed cones

Affinities with Cheirolepidiaceae inside Pinales.

Cephalotapsis [28] [29] [30]

  • Cephalotapsis carolinensis
  • Novillo Canyon
  • Lower Member
  • Trunk Fragments

Affinities with Cupressaceae inside Pinales.

Cycadolepis [28] [29]

  • Cycadolepis sp.
  • Near Ciudad Victoria
  • Lower Member
  • Cone scales

Affinities with Cycadeoidaceae inside Bennettitales.

Ctenophyllum [28] [29] [30]

  • Ctenophyllum braunianum
  • Novillo Canyon
  • Lower Member
  • Leaflets

Affinities with Williamsoniaceae inside Bennettitales.

Laurozamites [30]

  • Laurozamites yaqui
  • Novillo Canyon
  • Lower Member
  • Leaflets

Affinities with Williamsoniaceae inside Bennettitales. Representative of large arboreal to low arbustive Bennetittes. The dominant foliar remain recovered on the formation, with up to 50 specimens

Otozamites [28] [29]

  • Otozamites gramineus
  • Near Ciudad Victoria
  • Lower Member
  • Leaflets

Affinities with Williamsoniaceae inside Bennettitales.

Piazopteris [28] [29]

  • Piazopteris branneri
  • Novillo Canyon
  • Lower Member
  • Isolated Pinnae

Affinities with Matoniaceae inside Gleicheniales.

Podozamites [28] [29] [30]

  • Podozamites sp.
  • Novillo Canyon
  • Lower Member
  • Branched Shoots

Affinities with Krassiloviaceae inside Voltziales.

Podozamites reconstruction Krassilovia mongolica and Podozamites harrisii.png
Podozamites reconstruction

See also

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References

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