Tangahoe Formation

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Tangahoe Formation
Stratigraphic range: Middle Pliocene ~3.4–3.0  Ma
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Waihi Beach Reserve 12.jpg
Exposed rock at Waihi Beach Reserve, South Taranaki, New Zealand
Lithology
PrimaryMudstone
Location
Coordinates 39°30′S174°50′E / 39.500°S 174.833°E / -39.500; 174.833
Region Taranaki
CountryNew Zealand
Extent Wanganui Basin, North Island
New Zealand (relief map).png
Orange ff8040 pog.svg
Tangahoe Formation (New Zealand)


The Tangahoe Formation is a geologic formation in the southwestern North Island of New Zealand.

Contents

The formation occurs in the Taranaki and Manawatu-Wanganui Regions, spreading in an east–west band for 200 kilometres (120 mi) from the volcanic deposits of Mount Taranaki in the west to the Ruahine Ranges in the east, in a band with an average width of around 20 kilometres (12 mi). [1] It becomes exposed at its western end close to the Tasman Sea coast near Hāwera in a series of cliff faces. [2] The formation takes its name from the Tangahoe River, close to the exposed cliffs.

The formation is sedimentary, composed largely of muddy sandstones, and was formed beneath sea level in the Waipipian stage of the mid-Pliocene some 3.4 to 3.0 million years ago. [2]

Fossil content

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.

The formation is an important fossil site. Many marine fossils have been recovered from its mudstones, including the megalodon shark, giant petrel Macronectes tinae , penguin Eudyptes atatu , monk seal Eomonachus belegaerensis, and cetaceans. [3] [4]

Mammals

Mammals reported from the Tangahoe Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Delphinidae indet. [5] IndeterminateWaihi Beach Mandible.A dolphin, probably from a species of Delphinus or Stenella .
Eomonachus [6] E. belegaerensisNorthwest of Waihi Stream on Ohawe and Waihi Beaches.Skull elements.A monk seal.

Birds

Birds reported from the Tangahoe Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Aldiomedes [7] A. angustirostrisOhawe Beach.Skull.An albatross.
Ardenna A. buchananbrowni [8] Ohawe & Waihi beaches.2 partial skeletons.A shearwater.
A. davealleni [9] Ohawe Beach.Partial skeleton.A shearwater.
Eudyptes [10] E. atatu No exact locality record.Multiple partial skeletons.A penguin.
Eudyptula [11] E. wilsonaeNo exact locality record.Skulls.A penguin.
Macronectes [4] M. tinae Hawera.Skull & humerus.A petrel.
Macronectes tinae live reconstruction.png
Pelagornithidae [12] UndescribedWaihi Beach.Partial humerus & radius.An unnamed species of pseudotooth bird.
Procellaria [13] P. altirostrisOhawe Beach.Partial skeleton.A petrel.
Tereingaornis [14] T. moisleyiWaihi Beach.Left humerus & coracoid.A penguin, now deemed a nomen dubium . [15]

Fish

Fish reported from the Tangahoe Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Carcharodon [16] C. megalodon Hawera.Vertebrae.Species now moved to Otodus .
Ikamauius [17] I. ensiferWaihi Beach.Rostral denticle.A sawshark.
Otodus [16] O. megalodon Hawera.Vertebrae.A megatooth shark, originally reported as Carcharodon megalodon.
Lateral view of otouds megalodon.png
Pristiophorus [18] P. lanceolatusNorthwest of the Tangahoe River mouth.Rostral denticle.Species now deemed a nomen dubium , specimen reassigned as P. sp. [19]
P. sp.Northwest of the Tangahoe River mouth.Rostral denticle.A sawshark, originally reported as P. lanceolatus.
Pristiophorus lanceolatus.jpg
cf. Tetrosomus [20] cf. T. sp.Waihi BeachA near-complete articulated specimen.A boxfish.

Invertebrates

Invertebrates reported from the Tangahoe Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Palaega [21] P. kakatahiBetween Raukawa Falls & Kakatahi.A single specimen.A cirolanid isopod.

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References

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  2. 1 2 Naish, T. R., et al. (2005) "An integrated sequence stratigraphic, palaeoenvironmental, and chronostratigraphic analysis of the Tangahoe Formation, southern Taranaki coast, with implications for mid-Pliocene (c. 3.4–3.0 Ma) glacio-eustatic sea-level changes," Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand, 35(1&2), 151-196. Accessed 9 February 2023.
  3. Lambert, R., "Taranaki region - Geology and climate," Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand Accessed 9 February 2023.
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  21. Feldmann, Rodney M.; Rust, Seabourne (2006). "Palaega kakatahi n. sp.: The first record of a marine fossil isopod from the Pliocene of New Zealand". New Zealand Journal of Geology and Geophysics. 49 (4): 411–415. doi:10.1080/00288306.2006.9515177. ISSN   0028-8306.