Moreno Formation

Last updated
Moreno Formation
Stratigraphic range: Maastrichtian 7066 Ma
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
Type Geological formation
Unit of Chico Group
UnderliesUnconformity with the Martinez Formation and Tejon Formation
Overlies Panoche Formation
Thickness1,600–2,000 ft (487.68–609.60 m)
Lithology
Primary Shale
Other Sandstone
Location
Region San Joaquin Valley Flag of California.svg  California
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States

The Moreno Formation is a Mesozoic geologic formation located in San Joaquin Valley (California).
Dinosaur remains diagnostic to the genus level are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation. [1]

Contents

Paleofauna

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxonTaxon falsely reported as presentDubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Cartilaginous fish

Cartilaginous fishes reported from the Moreno Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMemberMaterialNotesImages
Heptranchias [2] H. sp

Ray-finned fish

Ray-finned fishes reported from the Moreno Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMemberMaterialNotesImages

Bonnerichthys [3]

B. gladius

A large, filter-feeding pachycormid.

Bonnerichthys Bonnerichthys gladius.png
Bonnerichthys

Saurodon [4]

S. sp.

An ichthyodectid.

Saurodon Saurodon leanus.png
Saurodon

Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs reported from the Moreno Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMemberMaterialNotesImages

Augustynolophus [5]

A. morrisi [5]

saurolophine. [5]
Augustynolophus Augustynolophus morrisi.png
Augustynolophus
Saurolophus [5]

S. morrisi [5]

Reclassified as Augustynolophus morrisi. [5]

Mosasaurs

Mosasaurs reported from the Moreno Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMemberMaterialNotesImages

Kolposaurus [6]

K. bennisoni [6]

The name Kolposaurus was preoccupied and its two constituent species moved to the new genus Plotosaurus . [6]

K. tuckeri [6]

Plesiotylosaurus [7]

P. crassidens [7]

Plesiotylosaurus crassidens Plesiotylosaurus crassidens MP.jpg
Plesiotylosaurus crassidens

Plotosaurus [6]

P. bennisoni [6]

Plotosaurus bennisoni Plotosaurus bennisoni profile reconstruction.jpg
Plotosaurus bennisoni
P. tuckeri [6] A junior synonym of P. bennisoni.

Prognathodon [8]

P. cf. waiparaensis

cf. Mosasaurus [8]

cf. M. sp.

Halisaurus [8]

H. sp.

Plesiosaurs

Plesiosaurs reported from the Moreno Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMemberMaterialNotesImages

Aphrosaurus [9]

A. furlongi [9]

Aphrosaurus Aphrosaurus furlongi profile reconstruction.jpg
Aphrosaurus

Fresnosaurus [10]

F. drescheri [10]

Fresnosaurus Fresnosaurus drescheri profile reconstruction.jpg
Fresnosaurus

Hydrotherosaurus [9]

H. alexandrae [9]

Hydrotherosaurus Hydrotherosaurus alexandrae profile reconstruction.jpg
Hydrotherosaurus

Morenosaurus [10]

M. stocki [10]

Morenosaurus Morenosaurus stocki profile reconstruction.jpg
Morenosaurus

Turtles

Testudines reported from the Moreno Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMemberMaterialNotesImages

Adocus

J. Howard Hutchison later referred the specimen originally identified as Adocus by to the genus Basilemys. [11]

Basilemys

Osteopygis [10]

Foraminifera

Forams reported from the Moreno Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMemberMaterialNotesImages
Anomalina [2] A. pseudopopillosaTierra Loma Shale Member
Bulimina B. obtusaTierra Loma Shale Member99% of the foraminifera sampled at the Tierra Loma Shale Member belonged to B. obtusa. [12] [13]
Dentalina [2] D. legumenTierra Loma Shale Member
Frondicularia [2] F. undulosaTierra Loma Shale Member
Gyroidina [14] G. depressaTierra Loma Shale Member
Nodosaria [2] N. monileTierra Loma Shale Member
N. pomuligera
N. spinifera
N. sp
Nodosarella [13] N. spTierra Loma Shale Member

See also

Footnotes

  1. Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution." Pp. 517-607.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "PBDB Collection". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2025-03-06.
  3. Friedman, Matt; Shimada, Kenshu; Everhart, Michael J.; Irwin, Kelly J.; Grandstaff, Barbara S.; Stewart, J. D. (8 January 2013). "Geographic and stratigraphic distribution of the Late Cretaceous suspension-feeding bony fish Bonnerichthys gladius (Teleostei, Pachycormiformes)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 33 (1): 35–47. doi:10.1080/02724634.2012.713059. S2CID   128958842.
  4. Friedman, Matt; Shimada, Kenshu; Everhart, Michael J.; Irwin, Kelly J.; Grandstaff, Barbara S.; Stewart, J. D. (8 January 2013). "Geographic and stratigraphic distribution of the Late Cretaceous suspension-feeding bony fish Bonnerichthys gladius (Teleostei, Pachycormiformes)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 33 (1): 35–47. doi:10.1080/02724634.2012.713059. S2CID   128958842.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Prieto-Márquez, Albert; Wagner, Jonathan R.; Bell, Phil R.; Chiappe, Luis M. (2014). "The late-surviving 'duck-billed' dinosaur Augustynolophus from the upper Maastrichtian of western North America and crest evolution in Saurolophini". Geological Magazine. 152 (2): 225–241. doi:10.1017/S0016756814000284. S2CID   131049979.
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "4: The Marine Reptiles; Mosasaurs," in Hilton (2003) p. 107-110
  7. 1 2 "Appendix: Summary of the Mesozoic Reptilian Fossils of California," in Hilton (2003) p. 273
  8. 1 2 3 Lindgren, Johan; Schulp, Anne (15 September 2010). "New material of Prognathodon (Squamata: Mosasauridae), and the mosasaur assemblage of the Maastrichtian of California, U.S.A." Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 30 (5): 1632–1636. doi:10.1080/02724634.2010.501444. S2CID   131124198.
  9. 1 2 3 4 "Appendix: Summary of the Mesozoic Reptilian Fossils of California," in Hilton (2003) p. 276
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 "Appendix: Summary of the Mesozoic Reptilian Fossils of California," in Hilton (2003) p. 277
  11. "4: The Marine Reptiles; Turtles," in Hilton (2003) p. 114
  12. "Panoche Hills 5, UCMP V3735 (Cretaceous of the United States)". PBDB.org.
  13. 1 2 Welles, S. P. (1943). "Elasmosaurid plesiosaurs with description of new material from California and Colorado" (PDF). Memoirs of the University of California. 13.
  14. "PBDB Collection". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2025-03-06.

References