Toolebuc Formation

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Toolebuc Formation
Stratigraphic range: Albian
Type Geological formation
Unit of Rolling Downs Group
Underlies Allaru Formation
Overlies Wallumbilla Formation
ThicknessUp to 65 m (213 ft)
Lithology
Primary Limestone, mudstone
Other Shale
Location
Coordinates 20°24′S144°24′E / 20.4°S 144.4°E / -20.4; 144.4
Approximate paleocoordinates 52°42′S132°30′E / 52.7°S 132.5°E / -52.7; 132.5
Region Queensland
CountryFlag of Australia (converted).svg  Australia
Extent Eromanga Basin
Australia relief map.jpg
Green pog.svg
Toolebuc Formation (Australia)

The Toolebuc Formation is a geological formation that extends from Queensland across South Australia and the Northern Territory in Australia, whose strata date back to the Albian stage of the Early Cretaceous. Dinosaurs, [1] pterosaurs, plesiosaurs, ichthyosaurs, protostegid turtles, sharks, chimaeroids and bony fish remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.

Contents

Description

Deposition occurred in a cool to temperate inland sea setting and the present lithology is dominantly made up of limey shales with abundant Inoceramus bivalve shells. Ichthyosaurs and protostegid turtles were the most common marine reptiles at this time in the Eromanga Sea, in contrast to older Aptian deposits such as the Bulldog Shale of South Australia, which show that plesiosaurs were previously more abundant and also more diverse. The Toolebuc Formation is one of the richest known sources of Mesozoic vertebrate fossils in Australia, with notable collecting areas situated around the towns of Richmond, Julia Creek, Hughenden and Boulia.

Fossil content

Possible indeterminate ankylosaurid remains are present in Queensland, Australia. [1] Indeterminate ornithopod remains have also been found in Queensland, Australia. [1]

Animals

Dinosaurs (including birds)
GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImages
Kunbarrasaurus K. ieversiQueensland [1]
Minmi model Canberra email.jpg
cf. Kunbarrasaurus sp.IntermediateQueensland [2]
Muttaburrasaurus IndeterminateQueensland [1]
Muttaburrasaurus skull aus.jpg
Nanantius N. eosQueensland"Tibiotarsi and vertebra" [1] [3]
Pterosaurs
GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImages
Anhangueria indet.IndeterminateQueensland [4]
Aussiedraco A. molnariQueensland
Mythunga M. camaraQueensland
Thapunngaka T. shawiQueensland [5]
Plesiosaurs
GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImages
Kronosaurus K. queenslandicusQueensland
Kronosaurus queenslandicus SW.png
Eromangasaurus E. australisQueensland
Eromangasaurus australis.png
Polycotylidae indet.Undescribed polycotylid (specimen QM F18041, nicknamed Penny) [6] Queensland
Ichthyosaurs
GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImages
Platypterygius P. australisQueensland
Platypterigius longmani DB.jpg
Turtles
GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImages
Bouliachelys B. suteri"Around Boulia in Western Queensland" [7] [7]
Cratochelone C. berneyiQueensland
Notochelone N. costataQueensland
Notochelone costata.jpg
Fish
GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImages
Australopachycormus A. hurleyi"QM F52641 (holotype); partial snout (lacking tip of rostrum) and mandible including dentition and associated cranial/postcranial fragments; SAM P40514 (referred specimen), partial skull with rostrum and incomplete pectoral fin" [8] Long-rostrum pachycormiform
Canaryichthys C. rozefeldsiA fossil specimen which is "undistorted and preserved in 3-dimensions but lacks all but the cranial vault." [9] A halecomorph, possibly an ionoscopiform. [9]
Cardabiodontidae Undescribed genus and species [10] Associated teeth and vertebrae suggesting an individual 8 to 9 meters long [11] [10] [12] Closely related to Cardabiodon [10]
Cooyoo C. australisAn ichthyodectiform also present in the Allaru Formation [13]
Cooyoo australis 23.jpg
Dugaldia D. emmilta [13]
Euroka E. dunravenensisAn elopiform [14]
Flindersichthys F. denmeadi [15]
Marathonichthys M. coyleorumAn albuliforme [16]
Pachyrhizodus P.marathonensis, P. grawiTwo species known from both this and the Allaru Formation [17] [18]
Pristiophorus IndeterminateKnown from rostral teeth that are tentatively referred to P. tumidens . [19] Adnet and Cappetta (2001) considered that these remains are teeth and jaw fragments of teleostean instead. [20]
? Pseudocorax Partially disarticulated vertebraeProbable anacoracid remains [21]
Ptykoptychion P. tayyo [22]
Richmondichthys R. sweetiAn aspidorhynchid also found in the Allaru Formation [23]
Stewartichthys S. leichhardtiAn albuliforme [16]
Arthropods
GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImages
Brunnaega B. tomhurleyiAn isopod, over 130 fossil individuals found infesting a Pachyrhizodus marathonensis carcass. [18]
Molluscs
GenusSpeciesPresenceNotesImages
Beudanticeras B. flindersi [24]
Enchoteuthis E. tonii [25]
Inoceramus I. sutherlandi"Siphon Paddock, Dunluce Street, near Hughendon, North Queensland, Australia" [26] [26]
Trachyteuthis T. willisi [24]

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

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Bibliography