Winton Formation

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Winton Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late Albian-Early Turonian
~104–92  Ma
Lark Quarry - overburden.jpg
Strata of the Winton Formation exposed at Lark Quarry
Type Geological formation
Unit of Rolling Downs Group
Underlies Unconformity with Quaternary Lake Eyre Basin sediments
Overlies Mackunda Formation, [1] Oodndatta Formation
Thickness<100 m (330 ft) at the margin
1,200 m (3,900 ft) in the centre
Lithology
Primary Sandstone, siltstone, claystone
Other Conglomerate, coal
Location
Coordinates 22°18′S143°06′E / 22.3°S 143.1°E / -22.3; 143.1
Approximate paleocoordinates 51°48′S134°06′E / 51.8°S 134.1°E / -51.8; 134.1
RegionQueensland
CountryAustralia
Extent Eromanga Basin
Type section
Named for Winton, Queensland
Named byWhitehouse
LocationBores in and around Winton
Year defined1955
Winton Formation outcrop.jpg
Formation distribution within Australia

The Winton Formation is a Cretaceous geological formation in central-western Queensland, Australia. It is late Albian to early Turonian in age. [2] The formation blankets large areas of central-western Queensland. It consists of sedimentary rocks such as sandstone, siltstone and claystone. The sediments that make up these rocks represent the remnants of the river plains that filled the basin left by the Eromanga Sea - an inland sea that covered large parts of Queensland and central Australia at least four times during the Early Cretaceous period. Great meandering rivers, forest pools and swamps, creeks, lakes and coastal estuaries all left behind different types of sediment.

Contents

In some areas, the Winton Formation is over 400 metres thick. To bring with them such a huge amount of sediment, the rivers that flowed across these plains must have been comparable in size to the present-day Amazon or Mississippi rivers. As more and more sediment was brought in, the margins of the inland sea slowly contracted. By around 95 million years ago, the deposition was complete and the inland sea would never be seen again.

By virtue of its age and the environmental conditions under which the rocks it consists of were deposited, the Winton Formation represents one of the richest sources of dinosaur fossils anywhere in Australia.

Fauna

Remnants of dinosaur footprints from Winton Formation are discovered at Lark Quarry track site Lark Quarry - overburden.jpg
Remnants of dinosaur footprints from Winton Formation are discovered at Lark Quarry track site

A fossil footprint-(ichnite), Wintonopus, found with two other dinosaur genera footprints at the Lark Quarry in Australia, c.f. Tyrannosauropus and Skartopus, have been found in the Winton Formation.


Mollusca

Mollusca of the Winton Formation
TaxaSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Melanoides [3] Indeterminate
Hyridella [3] H (Protohyridella). goodiwindiensis
H. macmichaeli
Megalovirgus [3] M.wintonensis
Pledgia [3] P. eyrensis

Insecta

Insects of the Winton Formation
TaxaSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Oribatida [3] Indeterminate
Odonata [3] Indeterminate
Mecoptera [3] Indeterminate
Coleoptera [3] Indeterminate

Chondrichthyes

Chondrichthyes of the Winton Formation
TaxaSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Selachii [3] IndeterminateA shark [3]

Dipnoi

Dipnoi of the Winton Formation
TaxaSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Metaceratodus [4] M. boneiIsolated tooth platesLungfish belonging to the extinct family Ceratodontidae
M. ellioti
M. wollastoni

Actinopterygii

Actinopterygii of the Winton Formation
TaxaSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Cladocyclus [5] C. geddesiNearly complete skull and partial skeleton

Squamates

Squamates of the Winton Formation
TaxaSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Varanoidea [6] IndeterminateA damaged posterior trunk vertebraOriginally considered as dolichosaurid (cf. Coniasaurus ), [7] but reassigned

Chelidae

Chelidae of the Winton Formation
TaxaSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Chelidae [3] Indeterminate

Sauropterygia

Sauropterygia of the Winton Formation
TaxaSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Plesiosauria [3] Indeterminate

Crocodyliformes

Crocodyliformes of the Winton Formation
TaxaSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Confractosuchus [8] C. sauroktonosNearly complete skeleton preserving a juvenile ornithopod in its abdomen
Confractosuchus.jpg
Isisfordia I. duncaniNearly complete skeleton and partial skull, referred complete skull
Isisfordia.jpg

Dinosaurs

Ornithischians

Ornithischians of the Winton Formation
TaxaSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Amblydactylus A. gethingiLark Quarry.Multiple footprints.
Ankylosauria [9] IndeterminateThree isolated teeth from left and right dentary and right maxilla
Neornithischia IndeterminateTooth [10]
Ornithopoda [8] IndeterminateDigested remains associated with the holotype of Confractosuchus [8]
Ornithopoda UndescribedA nearly complete skull and mandible and at least three partial postcranial skeletons. [11] Small-bodied, recovered as part of "Elasmaria"
Wintonopus W. latomorumSnake Creek and Lark Quarry track site.Footprints.An ornithopod.

Sauropods

Sauropods of the Winton Formation
TaxaSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Australotitan [3] A. cooperensisA partial scapula, humeri, ulna, pubes, ischia, femora, presacral vertebral centrum fragments, and rib fragments.A large diamantinasaurian sauropod that possesses a mosaic of features shared with titanosaurians with similar geographical and temporal range. Possibly a junior synonym of Diamantinasaurus. [12]
Australotitan holotype.png
Diamantinasaurus [13] D. matildae [13] A squamosal, quadrates, braincase, surangular, atlas intercentrum axis, cervical vertebrae, middle cervical neural arch, co-ossified sacral centra, cervical ribs, dorsal vertebrae, numerous dorsal ribs, fragmentary gastralia, coalesced sacral vertebrae, isolated sacral processes, scapula, coracoid, partial sternal plate, humeri, ulnae, radius, metacarpals I–V, manual phalanges, ilium, pubes, both ischia, femur, tibia, fibula, astragalus, and numerous fragments.A diamantinasaurian sauropod known from partial cranial material.
Diamantinasaurus AODF 836.jpg
Savannasaurus [14] S. elliottorum [14] Posterior cervical vertebrae, cervical ribs, dorsal vertebrae, dorsal ribs, sacral vertebrae with processes, partial caudal vertebrae, fragmentary scapula, coracoid, sternal plates, incomplete humeri, shattered ulna, radius, metacarpals I–V, metacarpal IV, manual phalanges, fragments of ilia, pubes, ischia, astragalus, metatarsal III, and associated fragments.A wide-bodied sauropod that was well adapted to the wet, temperate floodplain environment it inhabited.
Savannasaurus skeleton.jpg
Sauropoda [8] IndeterminatePoorly preserved remains associated with the holotype of Confractosuchus [8]
Titanosauriformes UndescribedPartial skull, consisting of a braincase, quadrates, quadratojugals, a left squamosal, postorbitals, and several unprepared elements. associated with a hind limb [15]
Wintonotitan [13] W. wattsi [13] A scapula, both humeri, both ulnae, both radii, near complete metacarpus preserving complete metacarpals II–V with proximal half of metacarpal I, fragmentary dorsal and sacral vertebrae and ribs, partial ilium, ischium, caudal vertebral series including anterior caudals, middle caudals, posterior caudals, proximal chevrons, and numerous unidentifiable fragments.A titanosaur that is likely to be closely related to Australotitan, Diamantinasaurus and Savannasaurus.
Wintonotitan.png
Wintonotitan arm.png

Theropods

Theropods of the Winton Formation
TaxaSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Australovenator [13] A. wintonensisDentaries, dorsal ribs and rib fragments, gastralial ribs and fragments, partial ilium, ulnae, radius, manus metacarpals, unguals, femur, tibiae, fibula, astragalus, metatarsals, pedal phalanges, humeri, radiale, distal carpal, and manual phalanxes.A megaraptoran theropod known from postcranial and cranial material.
Banjo Australovenator.jpg
Megaraptoridae [16] IndeterminateA partial skeleton, consisting of caudal vertebrae, metatarsals, a phalanx, and numerous unidentifiable fragments.

Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs of the Winton Formation
TaxaSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Ferrodraco [17] F. lentoniA partial premaxillae, maxillae and dentaries, partial frontal, mandibular articular region comprising the surangular, angular and articular, partial cervical vertebrae, partial scapulocoracoid, partial ulna, partial radius, proximal and distal carpals, metacarpal IV, proximal end of metacarpal IV, fragmentary non-wing manual phalanges, partial first wing phalanx (IV-1), and associated fragments.The most complete pterosaur from Australia and the youngest known anhanguerian.
Ferrodraco.jpg

Therapsida

Therapsida of the Winton Formation
TaxaSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Cynodont [3] Indeterminate


Flora

Flora of the Winton Formation [18]
TaxaSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Angiospermae IndeterminateLeaf impressions, cuticle fragmentsAt least ten distinct types, belonging to both monocots and dicotyledons
Araucaria A. cf. mesozoica [19] LeavesA member of Araucariaceae
Araucariaceae IndeterminateLeavesConifer
Austrosequoia A. wintonensisCones and leaved axesA member of Cupressaceae
Carnoconites [19] IndeterminateFemale ovulate fruiting organA member of the extinct seed plant order Pentoxylales, youngest record of the group in Australia
Cheirolepidiaceae Four taxaDispersed cuticleConifer
Emwadea E. microcarpaSeed conesA member of Araucariaceae, more closely related to Agathis and Wollemia than Araucaria . [20]
Equisetites IndeterminateAxes Horsetail
Ginkgo G. wintonensis, four other possible speciesLeaf impressions (G. wintonensis) Dispersed cuticleA gingophyte, genus extant.
Lovellea L. wintonensisPermineralised flowerA member of Laurales
Aff. Lygodium ?IndeterminateFern pinnaFern
Marchantites M. marguerita Liverwort
Microphyllopteris cf. M. gleichenoidesFrond fragment impressionA fern belonging to the family Gleicheniaceae
Otozamites cf. O. bengalensisLeavesMember of Bennettitales
Phyllopteroides P. macclymontaeNumerous pinnule impressionsA fern belonging to the family Osmundaceae
Pterostoma IndeterminateLeavesA possible cycad
Ptilophyllum IndeterminateLeavesMember of Bennettitales
Sphenopteris [19] IndeterminateLeavesA "seed fern"
Taeniopteris IndeterminateLeaf impressionA member of the extinct seed plant order Pentoxylales, youngest record of the group in Australia
Tempskya T. judithaePermineralized false trunksA tree fern
Tempskya sp. - MUSE.jpg

See also

References

  1. "Water resources - Availability - Queensland". Archived from the original on 3 June 2011. Retrieved 1 May 2011.
  2. Tucker, Ryan T.; Roberts, Eric M.; Hu, Yi; Kemp, Anthony I.S.; Salisbury, Steven W. (September 2013). "Detrital zircon age constraints for the Winton Formation, Queensland: Contextualizing Australia's Late Cretaceous dinosaur faunas". Gondwana Research. 24 (2): 767–779. Bibcode:2013GondR..24..767T. doi:10.1016/j.gr.2012.12.009. ISSN   1342-937X.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 Hocknull SA, Wilkinson M, Lawrence RA, Konstantinov V, Mackenzie S, Mackenzie R (2021). "A new giant sauropod, Australotitan cooperensis gen. et sp. nov., from the mid-Cretaceous of Australia". PeerJ. 9: e11317. doi: 10.7717/peerj.11317 . PMC   8191491 . PMID   34164230.
  4. Kemp, A (1997). "Four Species of Metaceratodus (Osteichthyes: Dipnoi, Family Ceratodontidae) from Australian Mesozoic and Cenozoic Deposits". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 79 (1): 26–33. Bibcode:1997JVPal..17...26K. doi:10.1080/02724634.1997.10010949.
  5. Berrell R, Alvarado-Ortega J, Yabumoto Y, Salisbury SW (2014). "First record of the ichthyodectiform fish Cladocyclus from eastern Gondwana: A new species from the Lower Cretaceous of Queensland, Australia". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 59 (4): 903–920. doi: 10.4202/app.2012.0019 .
  6. Kear, Benjamin P. (30 July 2016). "Cretaceous marine amniotes of Australia: perspectives on a decade of new research". Memoirs of Museum Victoria. 74: 17–28. doi: 10.24199/j.mmv.2016.74.03 .
  7. Scanlon, John D.; Hucknull, Scott (2008). "A dolichosaurid lizard from the latest Albian (mid-Cretaceous) Winton Formation, Queensland, Australia". Proceedings of the Second Mosasaur Meeting. 3. 3: 131–136.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 White, M.A.; Bell, P.R.; Campione, N.E.; Sansalone, G.; Brougham, T.; Bevitt, J.J.; Molnar, R.E.; Cook, A.G.; Wroe, S.; Elliott, D.A. (2022). "Abdominal contents reveal Cretaceous crocodyliforms ate dinosaurs". Gondwana Research. 106: 281–302. Bibcode:2022GondR.106..281W. doi: 10.1016/j.gr.2022.01.016 . hdl: 11380/1318347 . S2CID   246756546.
  9. Leahey, Lucy G.; Salisbury, Steven W. (June 2013). "First evidence of ankylosaurian dinosaurs (Ornithischia: Thyreophora) from the mid-Cretaceous (late Albian–Cenomanian) Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia". Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology. 37 (2): 249–257. Bibcode:2013Alch...37..249L. doi:10.1080/03115518.2013.743703. ISSN   0311-5518. S2CID   129461328.
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  11. AN EXCEPTIONALLY PRESERVED SMALL-BODIED ORNITHOPOD DINOSAUR FROM THE LOWER CRETACEOUS (UPPER ALBIAN) WINTON FORMATION OF ISISFORD, CENTRAL-WESTERN QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA, AND THE DIVERSIFICATION OF GONDWANAN ORNITHOPODS [ permanent dead link ] SALISBURY, Steven W., University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; HERNE, Matthew C., University of New England, Armidale, Australia; LAMANNA, Matthew C., Carnegie Museum of Natural History, Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America; NAIR, Jay P., University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; SYME, Caitlin, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; WITMER, Lawrence M., Ohio Univ, Athens, OH, United States of America SVP conference abstracts 2019
  12. Beeston, S. L.; Poropat, S. F.; Mannion, P. D.; Pentland, A. H.; Enchelmaier, M. J.; Sloan, T.; Elliott, D. A. (2024). "Reappraisal of sauropod dinosaur diversity in the Upper Cretaceous Winton Formation of Queensland, Australia, through 3D digitisation and description of new specimens". PeerJ. 12. e17180. doi: 10.7717/peerj.17180 . PMC   11011616 . PMID   38618562.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 Hocknull, SA; White, MA; Tischler, TR; Cook, AG; Calleja, ND; et al. (2009). "New Mid-Cretaceous (Latest Albian) Dinosaurs from Winton, Queensland, Australia". PLOS ONE. 4 (7): e6190. Bibcode:2009PLoSO...4.6190H. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0006190 . PMC   2703565 . PMID   19584929.
  14. 1 2 Poropat, S.F.; Mannion, P.D.; Upchurch, P.; Hocknull, S.A.; Kear, B.P.; Kundrát, M.; Tischler, T.R.; Sloan, T.; Sinapius, G.H.K.; Elliott, J.A.; Elliott, D.A. (2016). "New Australian sauropods shed light on Cretaceous dinosaur palaeobiogeography". Scientific Reports. 6: 34467. Bibcode:2016NatSR...634467P. doi:10.1038/srep34467. PMC   5072287 . PMID   27763598.
  15. NEW SAUROPOD DINOSAUR DISCOVERIES IN THE LOWER UPPER CRETACEOUS WINTON FORMATION (CENOMANIAN– LOWER TURONIAN) OF QUEENSLAND, AUSTRALIA: IMPLICATIONS FOR TITANOSAURIAN EVOLUTION [ permanent dead link ] POROPAT, Stephen F., Swinburne University of Technology, Hawthorn, Australia; MANNION, Philip D., University College London, London, England; UPCHURCH, Paul, University College London, London, United Kingdom; ELLIOTT, David A., Australian Age of Dinosaurs Museum of Natural History, Winton, Australia SVP conference abstracts 2019
  16. White, Matt A.; Bell, Phil R.; Poropat, Stephen F.; Pentland, Adele H.; Rigby, Samantha L.; Cook, Alex G.; Sloan, Trish; Elliott, David A. (2020). "New theropod remains and implications for megaraptorid diversity in the Winton Formation (lower Upper Cretaceous), Queensland, Australia". Royal Society Open Science. 7 (1): 191462. Bibcode:2020RSOS....791462W. doi:10.1098/rsos.191462. PMC   7029900 . PMID   32218963.
  17. Pentland, Adele H.; Poropat, Stephen F.; Tischler, Travis R.; Sloan, Trish; Elliott, Robert A.; Elliott, Harry A.; Elliott, Judy A.; Elliott, David A. (December 2019). "Ferrodraco lentoni gen. et sp. nov., a new ornithocheirid pterosaur from the Winton Formation (Cenomanian–lower Turonian) of Queensland, Australia". Scientific Reports. 9 (1): 13454. Bibcode:2019NatSR...913454P. doi:10.1038/s41598-019-49789-4. ISSN   2045-2322. PMC   6776501 . PMID   31582757.
  18. McLoughlin, Stephen; Pott, Christian; Elliott, David (September 2010). "The Winton Formation flora (Albian–Cenomanian, Eromanga Basin): implications for vascular plant diversification and decline in the Australian Cretaceous" . Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology. 34 (3): 303–323. Bibcode:2010Alch...34..303M. doi:10.1080/03115511003669944. ISSN   0311-5518. S2CID   129098756.
  19. 1 2 3 Poropat, Stephen F.; Tosolini, Anne-Marie P.; Beeston, Samantha L.; Enchelmaier, Mackenzie J.; Pentland, Adele H.; Mannion, Philip D.; Upchurch, Paul; Chin, Karen; Korasidis, Vera A.; Bell, Phil R.; Enriquez, Nathan J.; Holman, Alex I.; Brosnan, Luke M.; Elson, Amy L.; Tripp, Madison (9 June 2025). "Fossilized gut contents elucidate the feeding habits of sauropod dinosaurs". Current Biology. 35 (11): 2597–2613.e7. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2025.04.053. ISSN   0960-9822.
  20. Dettmann, Mary E.; Clifford, H. Trevor; Peters, Mark (June 2012). "Emwadea microcarpa gen. et sp. nov.—anatomically preserved araucarian seed cones from the Winton Formation (late Albian), western Queensland, Australia" . Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology. 36 (2): 217–237. Bibcode:2012Alch...36..217D. doi:10.1080/03115518.2012.622155. ISSN   0311-5518. S2CID   129171237.