Pysht Formation | |
---|---|
Stratigraphic range: Late Oligocene, | |
Type | Geological formation |
Underlies | Clallam Formation |
Overlies | Makah Formation |
Lithology | |
Primary | Siltstone, mudstone, conglomerate |
Location | |
Coordinates | 48°12′N123°54′W / 48.2°N 123.9°W |
Approximate paleocoordinates | 47°48′N114°54′W / 47.8°N 114.9°W |
Region | Washington (state) |
Country | United States |
Type section | |
Named for | Pysht River |
The Pysht Formation is a geologic formation in Washington (state). It preserves fossils dating back to the Paleogene period, which appear to have been deposited in an offshore marine environment. Outcrops are present on the northern Olympic Peninsula, in Clallam County. [1]
Based on the Paleobiology Database: [2]
Cartilaginous fish of the Pysht Formation | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
Somniosus | S. gonzalezi | A sleeper shark. |
Mammals of the Pysht Formation | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
cf. Allodesmus | A. sp. | A desmatophocid pinniped. | |||
Behemotops | B. proteus | The most basal knowndesmostylian. Type locality for genus and species. | |||
Borealodon | B. oseax | A stem-baleen whale. Type locality for genus and species. [3] | |||
Fucaia | F. goedertorum | An aetiocetid baleen whale. | |||
? Kronokotherium | K. sp. | A desmostylian. | |||
Olympicetus | O. avitus | Two partial skulls belonging to a juvenile and a neonate, including part of the dentition and a tympanic bulla | A simocetid toothed whale. Type locality for genus and species. [4] [5] | ||
O. thalassodon | Posterior part of skull | ||||
Pinnarctidion | P. iverseni | A nearly complete skull and limited postcrania (SDSNH 146624). [6] | A pan-pinniped. | ||
Sitsqwayk | S. cornishorum | Partial skull, tympanic bullae, mandibles and postcrania. [7] | An basal baleen whale. Type locality for genus and species. [7] | ||
Birds of the Pysht Formation | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
Klallamornis | K. buchanani | A plotopterid suliform. [8] | |||
Tonsala | T. hildegardae | A plotopterid suliform. [9] |
Crustaceans of the Pysht Formation | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
Upogebia | U. barti | Locality RB 18. [10] | Multiple specimens. [10] | An upogebiid mud shrimp. | |
Plotopteridae is an extinct family of flightless seabirds with uncertain placement, generally considered as member of order Suliformes. They exhibited remarkable convergent evolution with the penguins, particularly with the now extinct giant penguins. That they lived in the North Pacific, the other side of the world from the penguins, has led to them being described at times as the Northern Hemisphere's penguins, though they were not closely related. More recent studies have shown, however, that the shoulder-girdle, forelimb and sternum of plotopterids differ significantly from those of penguins, so comparisons in terms of function may not be entirely accurate. Plotopterids are regarded as closely related to Anhingidae (darters) and Phalacrocoracidae (cormorants). On the other hand, there is a theory that this group may have a common ancestor with penguins due to the similarity of forelimb and brain morphology. However, the endocast morphology of stem group Sphenisciformes differs from both Plotopteridae and modern penguins.
Kentriodontidae is an extinct family of odontocete whales related to modern dolphins. The Kentriodontidae lived from the Oligocene to the Pliocene before going extinct.
Meherrinia is an extinct genus of inioid river dolphin from the Meherrin River, North Carolina, in the United States. First described in 2012, the dolphin is, in most respects, intermediate in form between the living Amazon river dolphin and the La Plata dolphin, although it is probably more closely related to the former. However, the fossil was discovered in what are believed to be marine deposits, dating from the late Miocene, whereas the Amazon river dolphin is an exclusively freshwater species. Meherrinia therefore was, as of 2012, the only known marine genus of the family Iniidae, although others have been discovered since. Only one species is known.
Bohaskaia is an extinct genus of beluga-like odontocete cetacean known from the Early Pliocene of Virginia and North Carolina, United States. It was first named by Jorge Vélez-Juarbe and Nicholas D. Pyenson in 2012 and the type species is Bohaskaia monodontoides.
This paleomammalogy list records new fossil mammal taxa that were described during the year 2012, as well as notes other significant paleomammalogy discoveries and events which occurred during that year.
This paleomammalogy list records new fossil mammal taxa that were described during the year 2013, as well as notes other significant paleomammalogy discoveries and events which occurred during that year.
This paleomammalogy list records new fossil mammal taxa that were described during the year 2014, as well as notes other significant paleomammalogy discoveries and events which occurred during that year.
The Ashley Formation is a geologic formation in South Carolina. It preserves fossils dating back to the Paleogene period.
The Chandler Bridge Formation is a geologic formation in South Carolina. It preserves fossils dating back to the Chattian of the Paleogene period, corresponding to the Arikareean in the NALMA classification. The formation overlies the Ashley Formation and is overlain by the Edisto Formation.
The Astoria Formation is a geologic formation in Washington state & Oregon. It preserves fossils dating back to the early to middle Miocene.
The Yaquina Formation is a geologic formation in Oregon. It preserves fossils dating back to the Paleogene period.
Horopeta is a genus of baleen whale from the Late Oligocene (Chattian) Kokoamu Greensand of New Zealand.
Squaloziphius is an extinct genus of odontocete cetacean from the Early Miocene (Aquitanian) aged marine deposits in Washington state.
Mirocetus is a genus of archaic odontocete from the late Oligocene (Chattian) of Azerbaijan. Like many other primitive odontocetes, its classification has been fluid since its description.
This paleomammalogy list records new fossil mammal taxa that were described during the year 2015, as well as notes other significant paleomammalogy discoveries and events which occurred during that year.
Tonsala is an extinct genus of Plotopteridae, a family of flightless seabird similar in biology with penguins, but more closely related to modern cormorants. The genus is known from terrains dated from the Late Oligocene of the State of Washington and Japan.
Klallamornis is an extinct genus of Plotopteridae, a family of large, flightless birds related to modern cormorants, darters, gannets, and boobies. This genus included the largest North American plotopterids. Its remains can be found in Late Eocene to Late Oligocene rocks from the Makah Formation, the overlying Pysht Formation and the Lincoln Creek Formation of the State of Washington. During its existence, Klallamornis was the largest plotopterid on the North American continent. The first fossil remains attributed to the taxon were collected in 1983, although the genus wasn't described until 2016.
Olympicetus is an extinct genus of small simocetid toothed whales that lived during the Oligocene epoch in what is now the coasts of Washington, about 33.7 million to 26.5 million years ago. The type species is Olympicetus avitus, known from the littoral Pysht Formation and described in 2017. A second species, Olympicetus thalassodon, was named in 2023 and it is also known from this formation.