Vega Formation

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Vega Formation
Stratigraphic range: Kimmeridgian
~155–151  Ma
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
Type Geological formation
Unit of Ribadesella Group
Underlies Tereñes Formation
Overlies Rodiles Formation
Thickness150 metres
Lithology
Primary Sandstone, Mudstone
Other Conglomerate
Location
Coordinates 43°30′N5°18′W / 43.5°N 5.3°W / 43.5; -5.3
Approximate paleocoordinates 35°42′N7°00′E / 35.7°N 7.0°E / 35.7; 7.0
Region Asturias
CountryFlag of Spain.svg  Spain
Relief Map of Spain.png
Cyan pog.svg
Vega Formation (Spain)
Asturias location map.svg
Cyan pog.svg
Vega Formation (Asturias)

The Vega Formation is a Late Jurassic (Kimmeridgian) geologic formation of the Ribadesella Group in Asturias, Spain. [1] Dinosaur remains diagnostic to the genus level are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation. [2] The formation is around 150 metres thick and consists of "alternating white, pale grey and reddish sandstones, and red mudstones with several sporadic conglomeratic beds typically arranged in minor finnig-upward cycles within a major cycle of the same character". An isolated caudal theropod vertebra and a partial tooth are known from the formation, belonging to large megalosaurids around 10 metres in length, comparable to Torvosaurus. Other remains known from the formation include fragmentary turtle remains, crocodylomorph teeth, as well as a sauropod caudal vertebra (MUJA-0650). Dinosaur tracks are also known from the formation, including large theropod footprints and poorly preserved quadrupedal dinosaur footprints. [3]

Contents

Paleofauna

See also

Related Research Articles

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References

  1. Vega Formation at Fossilworks.org
  2. Weishampel, et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution." Pp. 517-607.
  3. Rauhut, Oliver W. M.; Piñuela, Laura; Castanera, Diego; García-Ramos, José-Carlos; Cela, Irene Sánchez (2018-07-05). "The largest European theropod dinosaurs: remains of a gigantic megalosaurid and giant theropod tracks from the Kimmeridgian of Asturias, Spain". PeerJ. 6: e4963. doi: 10.7717/peerj.4963 . ISSN   2167-8359. PMC   6035862 . PMID   30002951.
  4. Ruiz Omeñaca et al., 2013

Bibliography