Rio do Rasto Formation

Last updated
Rio do Rasto Formation
Stratigraphic range: Wordian to Wuchiapingian
~266–254  Ma
Rio do Rasto Formation paleoart reconstruction.png
A paleoart reconstruction the fauna of the Rio do Rasto Formation.
Type Geological formation
Unit of Paraná & Pelotas Basins
Sub-unitsMorro Pelado Mb., Serrinha Mb.
Underlies Pirambóia Formation (Paraná Basin)
Botucatu Formation (Pelotas Basin)
Overlies Teresina Formation
Lithology
Primary Shale, sandstone
Location
Coordinates 28°24′26″S49°32′46″W / 28.40722°S 49.54611°W / -28.40722; -49.54611
Approximate paleocoordinates 41°18′S22°24′W / 41.3°S 22.4°W / -41.3; -22.4
Region Paraná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul
Country Brazil
Extent Paraná Basin
Relief Map of Brazil.jpg
Red pog.svg
Rio do Rasto Formation (Brazil)

The Rio do Rasto Formation is a Late Permian sedimentary geological formation in the South Region of Brazil. The official name is Rio do Rasto, although in some publications it appears as Rio do Rastro.

Contents

The strata were deposited between the Wordian and the Wuchiapingian, from about 266 to 254 million years ago. The geology, alongside its paleobiota, indicate that the locality was a freshwater environment. Some of the animals discovered in the formation include Tiarajudens , Parapytanga and Pampaphoneus .

Description

Geology

The Rio do Rasto Formation is found mainly in the Brazilian states of Santa Catarina, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul. It was formed during the Late Permian and is divided into two members: the lower Serrinha Member and the upper Morro Pelado Member, spanning from the Wordian to Wuchiapingian stages of the Permian. The deposits of the Formation are mainly continental, having lacustrine, fluvial and aeolian sediment deposition. [1] [2]

Although there have been many interpretations of the Serrinha Member, most agree on it being a shallow lacustrine environment. Hypotheses about the Member's formation range from deposits in lacustrine and deltaic environments with large lakes influenced by storm waves to it being a deposit of shallow lakes occasionally influenced by fluvial incursions and storm waves. The member is 150–250 metres (490–820 ft) thick and it is composed chiefly of mudstone and fine-grained sandstone. [1] [3]

The Morro Pelado Member was deposited in smaller lakes, alluvial plains, fluvial meanders, delta systems and temporary bodies of water. The rock deposits of Morro Pelado were covered by aeolian stones, such as the dunes of the Pirambóia Formation. It is 250–300 metres (820–980 ft) thick and mainly composed of fine to medium-grained reddish sandstones, usually stratified, with fossils being found on its pelitic intercalations. Tetrapod fossils only occur in this Member. [1] [2] [3]

The transition between the two Members occurs in the center-east portion of the Paraná Basin. [4]

Age

Extent of Paleozoic (including the Rio do Rasto Formation) and Mesozoic units in the Parana Basin in light blue Mapa Geologia Bacia do Parana simples.png
Extent of Paleozoic (including the Rio do Rasto Formation) and Mesozoic units in the Paraná Basin in light blue

Estimating the age of the Rio do Rasto formation has long relied solely on the basis of biostratigraphic correlations. Since 2018, radiometric dating has made it possible to specify the age of part of the formation. [5] [6] Based on conchostracan and bivalve faunas, Holz and colleagues have suggested that the sedimentary succession of this formation extended from the Wordian (middle Guadalupian) to the Wuchiapingian (base of the Lopingian). [3] Among the tetrapods, the presence of dinocephalians in Fagundes and Boqueirão sites (State of Rio Grande do Sul) as well as in the region of Serra do Cadeado (State of Paraná) indicates a Guadalupian age for these localities, given that this synapsid group is restricted to this age in the rest of the world. In the Fagundes farm site, dinocephalians coexist with the pareiasaur Provelosaurus. The latter is present in the Aceguà area about 2 m above a 30 cm thick layer of bentonite radiometrically dated at 266 ± 5.4 million years. [6] [7] The broad error margin of this radiometric dating places the Brazilian dinocephalian sites in the Lower Roadian – Middle Capitanian time interval, confirming the Guadalupian age of this part of the Morro Pelado Member. [7] The other tetrapods of the Morro Pelado Member in Rio Grande do Sul suggest an age not exceeding Wordian: Tapinocephalids are only known from Wordian and Capitanian rocks, the basal anomodont Tiarajudens is closely related to the South African genus Anomocephalus of the Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone whose age extends from the late Wordian to the late Capitanian, and the temnospondyl Konzhukovia , present at the Boqueirão farm site in São Gabriel, is also known in eastern European Russia in strata limited to the Wordian-Capitanian interval. [7] The probable Wordian age of the Morro Pelado Member is also reinforced by a radiometric age of the Serrinha Member (lower part of the Rio do Rasto formation) obtained from a volcanic ash layer which gave an age of 270.61 + 1.76/− 3.27 Ma corresponding to the Roadian (early Guadalupian). [5]

Paleoecology

The rock deposits of the Serrinha and Morro Pelado Members, as well as the abundant conchostracan fossils, indicate a freshwater environment, with Serrinha being composed of shallow lakes with occasional storms and Morro Pelado being composed of small lakes, alluvial plains, meanders and temporary bodies of water, which were later covered up by dunes. The increased occurrence of aeolian sandstone in Morro Pelado indicate a drier climate with greater aridity. Fossils of the Rio do Rasto Formation, and neighboring Permian formations, have revealed a flora composed of plants like glossopterids, sphenophytes and pteridophytes. The fauna is composed of Invertebrates, such as bivalves, gastropods and conchostracans, and vertebrates like palaeonisciform and elasmobranch fish such as Xenacanthus and Sphenacanthus . Tetrapods are only found in the upper Morro Pelado Member, and are represented by terrestrial herbivores like the dicynodonts Endothiodon and Rastodon , the pareiasaur Provelosaurus , a tapinocephalid and the saber-toothed Tiarajudens . Therapsid predators such as Pampaphoneus were also present, as well as another unidentified anteosaur, and a titanosuchid. Temnospondyls such as Australerpeton , Bageherpeton and Rastosuchus lurked in the abundant bodies of water. These giant amphibians filled the niche of aquatic predators, much like the modern day crocodiles. [1] [3] [2] [8] [9]

Coprolite remains have also been found, some of which likely belong to palaeonisciform and elasmobranch fish, and some of the coprolites contained pieces of bones and scales, demonstrating clear evidence of predation. Some of the scales preserved peg-and-socket structures, associated with palaeonisciform fish. In at least one coprolite it was possible to recognise a fish jaw with teeth. [4]

Stromatolites have also been found in the formation, interpreted as having developed in waters that were shallow, clear and warm and in habitats that were inhospitable for competitors. [10]

Fossil content

Flora

GenusSpeciesLocalityStratigraphic positionMatrialsDescriptionImage
Dichophyllites [10] D. sp.
Dizeugotheca [10]

D. bortoluzzii

D. sp.
Glossopteris [10] G. aff. angustifoliaA genus of seed fern.
Glossopteris sp., seed ferns, Permian - Triassic - Houston Museum of Natural Science - DSC01765.JPG
G. decipiens
G. dorizonensis
G. cf. formosa
G. grafi
G. cf. indica
G. aff. longicaulis
G. margiondulata
G. riorastensis
G. singenervis
G. spathulato-emarginata
G. aff. stricta
G. sp.
G. cf. surangei
G. cf. taeniopteroides
Ilexoidephyllum [10] I. permicum
Schizoneura [10] S. gondwanensis
EB1911 Palaeobotany - Schizoneura gondwanensis.jpg
Sphenopteris S. sp.A genus of seed fern.
Sphenopteris - Plant Fossil from France.jpg
Sphenophyllum [10] S. paranaense

S. cf. thonii

A genus of fern.
Sphenophyllum miravallis.jpg
Paracalamites [10] P. sp.
Pecopteris [10] P. bracatingaensisA genus of fern.
Pecopteris villosa.jpg
P. cadeadensis
P. dolianitii
P. esperancensis

P. sp.

Vertebraria [10] V. sp.
Vertebraria sp. (fossil plant root) (Permian; Antarctica) (49063648122).jpg

Invertebrates

Bivalves

GenusSpeciesLocalityStratigraphic positionMaterialsDescriptionImage
Cowperesia [10] C. emerita
C. cf. Terraria sp.
Leinzia [10] L. similis
Nothoterraria [10] N. acarinata
Oliveiraia [10] O. pristina
Palaeomutela [10] P. platinensis
Relogiicola [10] R. delicata.
Terraia [10] T. altissima

Conchostraca

GenusSpeciesLocalityStratigraphic positionMaterialsDescriptionImage
Asmussia [10] A. regularis
A. sp.
Cyzicus [10] C. sp.
Gabonestheria [10] G. sp.
Monoleaia [10] M. unicostata micropolygonata
M. unicostata timboensis
Palaeolimnadiopsis [10] P. subalata
Palaeolimnadia [10] P. sp.
Paranaleaia [10] P. supina

Gastropods

GenusSpeciesLocalityStratigraphic positionMaterialsDescriptionImage
Dendropupa [10] D. sp.Serrinha MemberA land snail. According to Rohn (1988),

the specimens found in the formation rarely reach more than 5mm of height.

Dawson Acadian Geology Dendropupa from Joggins.png
Hydrobia [10]

Vertebrates

Fish

GenusSpeciesLocalityStratigraphic positionMaterialsDescriptionImage
Acrolepis [10] A bony fish, known from fossil scales.
Acrolepis gigas DB18.jpg
Actinopterygii indet. [11] Species A, B and CSpecimens cannot be ascribed to any species.
Coelacanthidae indet. [10] Serrinha MemberCoelacanth is known from fossil scales.
Elonichthys [10] cf. E. gondwanusSerrinha MemberA Palaeoniscid, fish known from fossil scales.
Elonichthys peltigerus cropped.jpg
Sphenacanthus [1] S. riorastoensisSerrinha MemberA sphenacanthid shark.
Sphenacanthus1DB.jpg
Paranaichthys [12] P. longianalisSerrinha MemberA ray-finned fish.
Rubidus [13] R. pascoalensisA ray-finned fish.
Triodus [14] T. richteraeMorro Pelado MemberA xenacanthid shark, known from fossil teeth.
Triodus1db.jpg
Xenacanthus [15] X. ragonhaiSerrinha MemberA xenacanthid shark, known from fossil teeth.
Xenacanth.png

Amphibians

GenusSpeciesLocalityStratigraphic positionMaterialsDescriptionImage
Australerpeton [16] A. cosgriffiMorro Pelado MemberA temnospondyl.
Australerpeton12DB.jpg
Bageherpeton [17] B. longignathusMorro Pelado MemberA lower jawA temnospondyl.
Bageherpeton longignathus.png
Konzhukovia [18] K. sangabrielensisMorro Pelado MemberA temnospondyl.
Konzhukovia sangabrielensis.png
"Otacillus" [19] "O. aumondi"Morro Pelado MemberA temnosponsyl. Only described in preprint.
Otacillus skull reconstruction.png
Rastosuchus [20] R. hammeriMorro Pelado MemberA temnospondyl.
Rastosuchus hammeri.png
Parapytanga [9] P. catarinensisMorro Pelado MemberA temnospondyl.
Parapytanga.jpg
Temnospondyl indet. [21] Morro Pelado MemberA temnospondyl. Due to the fragmentary nature of the fossil and the absence of a skull, identification was impossible.

Parareptiles

GenusSpeciesLocalityStratigraphic positionMaterialsDescriptionImage
Provelosaurus [22] P. americanusPosto QueimadoMorro Pelado MemberA left partial cranium including a portion of the snout with maxillary teeth, orbit, most of thetemporal region and the quadrateA pareiasaur reptile.

Synapsids

GenusSpeciesLocalityStratigraphic positionMaterialsDescriptionImage
Rastodon [8] R. procurvidensMorro Pelado MemberA dicynodont.
Rastodon.jpg
Endothiodon [19] E. sp.Morro Pelado MemberA dicynodont.
Endothiodon.jpg
Tapinocephalidae indet. [2] Morro Pelado MemberA tapinocephalid.
Tiarajudens [23] T. eccentricusMorro Pelado MemberAn anomocephaloid.
Tiarajudens skeleton.jpg
Pampaphoneus [24] P. biccaiMorro Pelado MemberAn anteosaur.
Pampaphoneus skull reconstruction.jpg
Anteosauria indet. [19] Morro Pelado MemberAn anteosaur.
Titanosuchidae indet. [19] Morro Pelado MemberA titanosuchid.

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 Pauliv, Victor Eduardo; Dias, Eliseu Vieira; Sedor, Fernado Antonio (2012). "A NEW SPECIES OF SPHENACANTHID (CHONDRICHTHYES, ELASMOBRANCHII) FROM THE RIO DO RASTO FORMATION (PARANÁ BASIN), SOUTHERN BRAZIL" (PDF). Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia . 15 (3): 243–250. doi:10.4072/rbp.2012.3.01.
  2. 1 2 3 4 A.D.S. Boos; C.F. Kammerer; C.L. Schultz; V.D. Paes Neto (2015). "A tapinocephalid dinocephalian (Synapsida, Therapsida) from the Rio do Rasto Formation (Paraná Basin, Brazil): Taxonomic, ontogenetic and biostratigraphic considerations" . Journal of South American Earth Sciences . 63: 375–384. Bibcode:2015JSAES..63..375B. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2015.09.003.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Holz, Michael; França, Almério B.; Souza, Paulo A.; Iannuzzi, Roberto; Rohn, Rosemarie (2010). "A stratigraphic chart of the Late Carboniferous/Permian succession of the eastern border of the Paraná Basin, Brazil, South America". Journal of South American Earth Sciences . 29 (2): 381–399. Bibcode:2010JSAES..29..381H. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2009.04.004 via ResearchGate.
  4. 1 2 FONTANELLI, RAÍSSA CRISTINA OLIVEIRA; VEGA, CRISTINA SILVEIRA (2020). "Coprólitos da Formação Rio do Rasto (Neopermiano da Bacia do Paraná) registrados no estado do Paraná". Boletim Paranaense de Geociências . 77 (3): 20–25. doi: 10.5380/geo.v77i0.78642 .
  5. 1 2 Francischini, H.; Dentzien-Dias, P.; Guerra-Sommer, M.; Menegat, R.; Santos, J.O.S.; Manfroi, J.; Schultz, C.L. (2018). "A Middle Permian (Roadian) lungfish aestivation burrow from the Rio do Rasto Formation (Paraná Basin, Brazil) and associated U-Pb dating". PALAIOS. 33 (2): 69–84. Bibcode:2018Palai..33...69F. doi:10.2110/palo.2017.050. S2CID   134435628.
  6. 1 2 Rocha-Campos, A.C.; Basei, M.A.S.; Nutman, A.P.; Santos, P.R.; Passarelli, C.R .; Canile, F.M.; Rosa, O.C.R.; Fernandes, M.T.; Santa Ana, H.; Veroslavsky, G. (2019). "U-Pb zircon dating of ash fall deposits from the Paleozoic Paraná Basin of Brazil and Uruguay: a reevaluation of the stratigraphic correlations". The Journal of Geology. 127 (2): 167–182. Bibcode:2019JG....127..167R. doi:10.1086/701254. hdl: 1885/202604 . S2CID   134671451.
  7. 1 2 3 Cisneros, J.C.; Dentzien-Dias, P.; Francischini, H. (2021). "The Brazilian Pareiasaur revisited". Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 9: 758802. doi: 10.3389/fevo.2021.758802 .
  8. 1 2 Boos, Alessandra D. S.; Kammerer, Christian F.; Schultz, Cesar L.; Soares, Marina B.; Ilha, Ana L. R. (2016). "A New Dicynodont (Therapsida: Anomodontia) from the Permian of Southern Brazil and Its Implications for Bidentalian Origins". PLoS ONE . 11 (5): e0155000. Bibcode:2016PLoSO..1155000B. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0155000 . PMC   4880204 . PMID   27224287 via ResearchGate.
  9. 1 2 STRAPASSON, ADRIANA; PINHEIRO, FELIPE L.; SOARES, MARINA B. (2015). "On a new stereospondylomorph temnospondyl from the Middle–Late Permian of Southern Brazil" (PDF). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica . 60 (4): 843–855.
  10. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 Rohn, Rosemarie (1988). "BIOESTRATIGRAFIA E PALEOAMBIENTES DA FORMAÇÃO RIO Do RASTO NA BORDA LESTE DA BACIA DO PARANÁ (PERMIANO SUPERIOR, ESTADO DO PARANÁ)". Universidade de São Paulo Instituto de Geociências . 1.
  11. Vega-Dias, Cristina; Dias, Eliseu Vieira; Richter, Martha (2000). "ACTINOPTERYGIAN REMAINS FROM THE RIO DO RASTO FORMATION, UPPER PERMIAN OF THE PARANÁ BASIN, BRAZIL". Gaea - Journal of Geoscience . 23 (51): 21–31 via ResearchGate.
  12. DIAS, ELISEU VIEIRA (2012). "A new deep-bodied fossil fish (Actinopterygii) from the Rio do Rasto Formation, Paraná Basin, Brazil". Zootaxa . 3192 (1): 1–23. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3192.1.1.
  13. Richter, M (2002). "A ray-finned fish (Osteichthyes) from the Late Permian of the state of Santa Catarina (Parana´ Basin) Southern Brazil". Revista Brasileira de Paleontologıa. 3: 56–61.
  14. Pauliv, Victor E.; Martinelli, Agustín G.; Francischini, Heitor; Dentzien-Dias, Paula; Soares, Marina B.; Schultz, Cesar L.; Ribeiro, Ana M. (2017). "The first Western Gondwanan species of Triodus Jordan 1849: A new Xenacanthiformes (Chondrichthyes) from the late Paleozoic of Southern Brazil". Journal of South American Earth Sciences . 80: 482–493. Bibcode:2017JSAES..80..482P. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2017.09.007.
  15. PAULIV, VICTOR E.; DIAS, ELISEU V.; SEDOR, FERNANDO A.; RIBEIRO, ANA MARIA (2014). "A new Xenacanthiformes shark (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii) from the Late Paleozoic Rio do Rasto Formation (Paraná Basin), Southern Brazil". Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências . 86 (1): 135–145. doi:10.1590/0001-37652014107612. PMID   24676160 via Scielo.
  16. AZEVEDO, KARINE LOHMANN; VEGA, CRISTINA SILVEIRA; SOARES, MARINA BENTO (2017). "A NEW SPECIMEN OF AUSTRALERPETON COSGRIFFI BARBERENA, 1998 (STEREOSPONDYLI: RHINESUCHIDAE) FROM THE MIDDLE/UPPER PERMIAN RIO DO RASTO FORMATION, PARANÁ BASIN, BRAZIL" (PDF). Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia . 20 (3): 333–344. doi:10.4072/rbp.2017.3.05.
  17. DIAS, ELISEU V.; BARBERENA, MARIO C. (2000). "A Temnospondyl Amphibian from the Rio do Rasto Formation, Upper Permian of Southern Brazil". Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências . 73: 135–143. doi:10.1590/S0001-37652001000100011. hdl: 10183/37595 via Scielo.
  18. Pacheco, Cristian Pereira; Eltink, Estevan; Müller, Rodrigo Temp; Dias- da-Silva, Sérgio (2016). "A new Permian temnospondyl with Russian affinities from South America, the new family Konzhukoviidae, and the phylogenetic status of Archegosauroidea" (PDF). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology . 15 (3): 241. Bibcode:2017JSPal..15..241P. doi:10.1080/14772019.2016.1164763.
  19. 1 2 3 4 ELIAS, RAFAEL LUIZ; SCHMITT, MAURÍCIO RODRIGO; SCHULTZ, CESAR LEANDRO (2024). "A New Temnospondyl for the Permian Rio Do Rasto Formation, Paraná Basin of Santa Catarina State, Brazil". SSRN   4911965.{{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  20. DIAS, ELISEU VIEIRA; DIAS-DA-SILVA, SÉRGIO; SCHULTZ, CESAR LEANDRO (2020). "A new short-snouted rhinesuchid from the Permian of southern Brazil". Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia . 23 (2): 98–122. doi:10.4072/rbp.2020.2.03. hdl: 10183/229929 .
  21. RAMOS, BRUNO DIAS; VEGA, CRISTINA SILVEIRA (2011). "TEMNOSPONDYL REMAINS FROM THE LATE PERMIAN RIO DO RASTO FORMATION (PARANÁ BASIN) OF BRAZIL" (PDF). Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia . 14 (1): 67–74. doi:10.4072/rbp.2011.1.07.
  22. CISNEROS, JUAN CARLOS; ABDALA, FERNANDO; MALABARBA, MARIA C. (2005). "PAREIASAURIDS FROM THE RIO DO RASTO FORMATION, SOUTHERN BRAZIL: BIOSTRATIGRAPHIC IMPLICATIONS FOR PERMIAN FAUNAS OF THE PARANÁ BASIN" (PDF). Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia . 8 (1): 13–24. doi:10.4072/rbp.2005.1.02.
  23. Cisneros, J.C.; Abdala, F.; Rubidge, B.S.; Dentzien-Dias, D.; Bueno, A.O. (2011). "Dental Occlusion in a 260-Million-Year-Old Therapsid with Saber Canines from the Permian of Brazil". Science. 331 (6024): 1603–1605. Bibcode:2011Sci...331.1603C. doi:10.1126/science.1200305. PMID   21436452.
  24. Cisneros, Juan Carlos; Abdala, Fernando; Atayman-Güven, Saniye; Rubidge, Bruce S.; Sengör, A. M. Celâl; Schultz, Cesar L. (2011). "Carnivorous dinocephalian from the Middle Permian of Brazil and tetrapod dispersal in Pangaea". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences . 109 (5).