Cucaracha Formation

Last updated
Cucaracha Formation
Stratigraphic range: Early Burdigalian-Mid Langhian (Hemingfordian-Barstovian)
19–14  Ma
O
S
D
C
P
T
J
K
Pg
N
Type Formation
Underlies Pedro Miguel & La Boca Formations
Overlies Culebra Formation
Thickness~125 m (410 ft)
Lithology
Primary Sandstone, conglomerate
Other Claystone
Location
Coordinates 9°00′N79°36′W / 9.0°N 79.6°W / 9.0; -79.6
Approximate paleocoordinates 8°24′N77°30′W / 8.4°N 77.5°W / 8.4; -77.5
Region Panamá Province
CountryFlag of Panama.svg  Panama
Extent Panama Basin
Panama relief location map.jpg
Yellow pog.svg
Cucaracha Formation (Panama)

The Cucaracha Formation (Tca) [1] is a geologic formation in Panama. It preserves vertebrate and plant fossils dating back to the Neogene period; Early to Middle Miocene epochs (Hemingfordian). [2] Fossils of the crocodylian Centenariosuchus , the turtle Rhinoclemmys panamaensis and the artiodactyl Paratoceras have been found in the formation. [3]

Contents

The Cucaracha Formation is approximately 125 metres (410 ft) thick, [4] and dated to 19 to 14 Ma. [5]

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.

Mammals

Bats

Bats reported from the Cucaracha Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Americanycteris [6] [7] A. cyrtodonCentenario Bridge & Hodges HillPartial jaw & right premolar A leaf-nosed bat, first reported as a new "large insectivorous phyllostomine"

Carnivorans

Carnivorans reported from the Cucaracha Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Bassaricyonoides [6] B. sp.Gaillard CutA procyonid
Daphoenodon [6] cf. D. sp.Gaillard CutA bear dog
Daphoenodon superbus restoration.jpg
Hemicyonidae indet. [8] IndeterminateGaillard Cut Radius & ulna fragmentA bear
Tomarctus [6] [8] T. brevirostrisGaillard CutJaw & teethA borophagine dog
Tomarctus brevirostris.png

Rodents

Rodents reported from the Cucaracha Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Nototamias [6] N. sp.Gaillard CutA ground squirrel
Petauristodon [6] P. sp.Gaillard CutA flying squirrel
Proheteromys [6] P. sp.Gaillard CutA heteromyid
Proheteromys latidens (UCMP 150688).jpg
Texomys [6] [9] T. stewartiPedro Miguel Lock & Gaillard CutTeethA jimomyid

Ungulates

Ungulates reported from the Cucaracha Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Anchitherium [6] [8] [10] A. clarenceiGaillard Cut & Centenario BridgeMandible fragment, upper cheek tooth & maxilla An equid
Archaeohippus [6] [8] A. sp.Gaillard Cut Calcaneus & toothAn equid
Cynorca [6] [11] C. occidentaleGaillard Cut, Centenario Bridge & Hodges HillJaw elements with teethSpecies reassigned to the genus Tedfordhyus [12]
Floridaceras [6] [8] F. whiteiGaillard CutJaws, teeth & femur fragmentA rhinoceros
Floridatragulus [6] cf. F. nanusGaillard CutA camelid
Machaeromeryx [6] cf. M. sp.Gaillard CutA moschid
Menoceras [6] [8] M. barbouriGaillard CutTeeth & limb elementsA rhinoceros
Em - Menoceras sp. - 2.jpg
Merycochoerus [6] [8] M. matthewiGaillard CutSkull elementsAn oreodont
Parablastomeryx [6] cf. P. sp.Gaillard CutA moschid
Paratoceras [6] [8] [13] P. coatesiGaillard Cut, Centenario Bridge, Hodges Hill & Cartagena HillSkull elements, teeth & limb fragmentsA protoceratid, first reported as P. wardi
P. wardiGaillard CutSkull elements, teeth & limb fragmentsRemains reassigned to P. coatesi
Tedfordhyus [6] [11] T. occidentalisGaillard Cut, Centenario Bridge & Hodges HillJaw elements with teethA peccary, originally named Cynorca occidentale

Reptiles

Birds

Birds reported from the Cucaracha Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Accipitridae indet. [14] IndeterminateWest side of the Panama CanalTalonA large eagle, talon resembles those of the crowned eagle and martial eagle

Crocodilians

Crocodilians reported from the Cucaracha Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Centenariosuchus [15] C. gilmoreiHodges HillSkull & jawA caiman
cf. C. gilmoreiCentenario BridgeRight angular A caiman
Dadagavialis [16] D. gunaiEast margin of the Panama Canal Partial snoutA gavialid
cf. D. gunaiCentenario BridgePartial mandibleA gavialid
Eusuchia indet. [15] IndeterminatePanama Canal ZoneHeadless skeleton Osteoderms comparable to those of gavialids such as Gavialosuchus , but crocodilian osteoderms are non-diagnostic

Squamates

Squamates reported from the Cucaracha Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Boa [17] B. cf. B. constrictor Cartagena Hill & Hodges HillIncomplete vertebraeA boid snake
Boa constrictor constrictor - Flickr - Dick Culbert.jpg

Turtles

Turtles reported from the Cucaracha Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Podocnemididae indet. [18] Incertae sedis Centenario BridgeRight epiplastron A side-necked turtle
Rhinoclemmys [18] R. panamaensis Centenario BridgeShell elementsA geoemydid turtle
R. sp.Centenario Bridge & Culebra ReachIsolated bonesA geoemydid turtle
Staurotypus [18] S. moschusCentenario BridgePeripheral part of shellA kinosternid turtle
Testudinidae indet. [18] Incertae sedis Culebra ReachShell & limb elementsA tortoise
Trionychidae indet. [18] Incertae sedis Centenario BridgeRight costalA softshell turtle

Plants

Plants reported from the Cucaracha Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImages
Ampelorhiza [19] A. heteroxylonCulebra CutRootsA member of Paullinieae
Antrocaryon [20] A. panamaensisLirio East Endocarps A member of Anacardiaceae
Dracontomelon [20] D. montesiiLirio EastEndocarpsA member of Anacardiaceae
Guazumaoxylon [21] G. miocenicaHodges HillWoodA member of Malvaceae, similar to Guazuma
Mammea [22] M. paramericanaNorthern Lirio EastStemA member of Calophyllaceae
Oreomunnea [23] O. grahamiiLirio EastNutsA member of Juglandaceae
Panascleroticoxylon [24] P. crystallosaHodges HillWoodA member of Malpighiales
Parinari [25] P. panamensisLirio East, Gold Hill & Empire sitesEndocarpsA member of Chrysobalanaceae
Parinarioxylon [25] P. panamensisLirio EastWoodA member of Chrysobalanaceae
Periplanetoxylon [21] P. panamenseHodges HillWoodA member of Malvaceae
Prioria [26] P. canalensisHodges HillWoodA legume
P. hodgesiiHodges HillWoodA legume
Rourea [27] R. blattaNorthern Lirio East siteWoodA liana belonging to the Connaraceae
Spondias [20] S. rothwelliiLirio EastEndocarpsA member of Anacardiaceae

See also

Related Research Articles

<i>Pseudhipparion</i> Extinct genus of mammals

Pseudhipparion is an extinct genus of three-toed horse endemic to North America during the Miocene. They were herding animals whose diet consisted of C3 plants. Fossils found in Georgia and Florida indicate that it was a lightweight horse, weighing up to 90 pounds. In 2005, fossils were unearthed in Oklahoma. Seven species of Pseudhipparion are known from the fossil record which were very small, following the trend of Bergmann's rule.

<i>Nannippus</i> Extinct genus of mammals

Nannippus is an extinct genus of three-toed horse endemic to North America during the Miocene through Pleistocene, about 13.3—1.8 million years ago (Mya), living around 11.5 million years. This ancient species of three-toed horse grew up to 3.5 feet and weighed between 165 pounds to 199 pounds, which was around the same size as a domestic sheep.

<i>Cormohipparion</i> Extinct genus of horse

Cormohipparion is an extinct genus of horse belonging to the tribe Hipparionini that lived in North America during the late Miocene to Pliocene. They grew up to 3 feet long.

<i>Tsoabichi</i> Extinct genus of reptiles

Tsoabichi is an extinct genus of caimanine crocodylian. Fossils are known from the Green River Formation in Wyoming, and date back to the Ypresian stage of the Eocene. The genus was named and described in 2010 by paleontologist Christopher A. Brochu, with the type species being Tsoabichi greenriverensis. According to the current understanding of caiman evolutionary relationships, Tsoabichi is a basal member of Caimaninae and may have evolved after caimans dispersed into North America from northern and central South America, their main center of diversity in the Cenozoic.

<i>Alligator prenasalis</i> Extinct species of reptile

Alligator prenasalis is an extinct species of alligator from the Late Eocene period. It is well known, with many fossils having been collected from the Chadron and Brule Formations in South Dakota. The species was first named in 1904, but was originally classified as a crocodile in the genus Crocodilus. It was reassigned to the genus Alligator in 1918 on the basis of more complete material. It is the earliest known member of the genus Alligator.

Aguascalientia panamaensis is an extinct species of miniature camels found in Panama first described by Aldo F. Rincon et al. in 2012.

Culebrasuchus is an extinct, monotypic genus of caiman alligatorid known from the Early to Middle Miocene (Hemingfordian) of the Panama Canal Zone of Panama. It contains a single species, Culebrasuchus mesoamericanus.

Centenariosuchus is an extinct genus of caimanine crocodylian known from the Miocene of the Panama Canal Zone of Panama. It contains a single species, Centenariosuchus gilmorei, that was named in 2013 in honor of the upcoming centennial anniversary of the digging of the Panama Canal. Two fossil specimens consisting of skull fragments were found in the Early to Middle Miocene Cucaracha Formation in 2009 and 2011, and may belong to a single individual. The species is diagnosed by a combination of skull features that it shares with basal caimans like Tsoabichi, Eocaiman, Culebrasuchus, and the living genus Paleosuchus, as well as more derived caimans such as those in the genus Caiman. One feature that distinguishes Centenariosuchus from all other caimans is the straight outer margin of a hole on the underside of the skull called the suborbital fenestra. According to one phylogenetic analysis of caimanine relationships, Centenariosuchus falls within a clade or evolutionary grouping of caimans that includes the very large and highly specialized forms Purussaurus and Mourasuchus, known from the Miocene of South America.

Globidentosuchus is an extinct genus of basal caimanine crocodylian known from the late Middle to Late Miocene of the Middle and the Upper Members of the Urumaco Formation at Urumaco, Venezuela. Its skull was very short and robust, with large units of spherical teeth used to break the shells of molluscs as part of its durophagus diet. It is thought to be one of the most basal Caimanines, even sharing some traits with alligatorids.

The Astoria Formation is a geologic formation in Washington state & Oregon. It preserves fossils dating back to the early to middle Miocene.

The Culebra Formation (Tcb) is a geologic formation in Panama. It preserves fossils dating back to the Miocene period; Early Miocene epoch, Aquitanian to Burdigalian stages. Fossils of Culebrasuchus have been found in and named after the formation. The thickness of the formation is at least 250 metres (820 ft) thick, and the age has been estimated as from 23 to 19 Ma.

<i>Etayoa</i> Extinct genus of mammals

Etayoa is an ungulate of the family Carodniidae in the order Xenungulata that lived during the Early Eocene in northern South America.

Panamacebus is an extinct genus of monkey known from the Early Miocene of central Panama. Panamacebus transitus is the only and type species of this genus.

Scaphokogia is an extinct genus of pygmy sperm whales that lived off the coasts of Mexico and Peru, South America during the Late Miocene to Late Pliocene. Two species have currently been described: the type species S. cochlearis and S. totajpe. Fossils of Scaphokogia have been found in the Tirabuzon Formation of Baja California and the Pisco Formation of Peru. Scaphokogia existed about 5 million years ago, and were relatively rare animals.

<i>Alligator olseni</i> Extinct species of reptile

Alligator olseni is an extinct species of alligator. They lived in the Early Miocene period, around 20.4–15.97 million years ago and possibly earlier. Their range was principally in what is now known as Florida, United States, and possibly extending into southeastern Texas.

Rhinoclemmys panamaensis is an extinct species of turtle belonging to the genus Rhinoclemmys of the family Geoemydidae known from the early to middle Miocene (Hemingfordian) Cucaracha Formation of the Panama Basin of central Panama.

Alligator mcgrewi is an extinct species of alligator described by K.P. Schmidt in 1941. They lived in the Early Miocene period, and their range was principally in what is now Nebraska, United States.

Alligator thomsoni is an extinct species of alligator that existed during the Early Miocene period. Their range was principally in what is now known as Nebraska, United States.

Alligator mefferdi is an extinct species of alligator described by Charles Craig Mook. They lived in the Miocene period, and their range was principally in what is now Nebraska, United States. The type specimen was discovered in the Ash Hollow Formation at Ash Hollow State Historical Park.

References

  1. Geologic Map, 1980
  2. Cucaracha Formation at Fossilworks.org
  3. Centenariosuchus at Fossilworks.org
  4. Kirby et al., 2008, p.9
  5. Kirby et al., 2008, p.11
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 MacFadden, Bruce J.; Bloch, Jonathan I.; Evans, Helen; Foster, David A.; Morgan, Gary S.; Rincon, Aldo; Wood, Aaron R. (March 2014). "Temporal Calibration and Biochronology of the Centenario Fauna, Early Miocene of Panama". The Journal of Geology. 122 (2): 113–135. doi:10.1086/675244. ISSN   0022-1376.
  7. Morgan, Gary S.; Czaplewski, Nicholas; Rincon, Aldo F.; Bloch, Jonathan Ivan (November 2023). "A new early Miocene bat (Chiroptera: Phyllostomidae) from Panama confirms middle Cenozoic chiropteran dispersal between the Americas". Journal of Mammalian Evolution. 30 (4): 963–993. doi:10.1007/s10914-023-09690-4.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Macfadden, Bruce J. (2006). "North American Miocene Land Mammals from Panama". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 26 (3): 720–734. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2006)26[720:NAMLMF]2.0.CO;2. ISSN   0272-4634. JSTOR   4524616.
  9. Slaughter, Bob H. (1981). "A New Genus of Geomyoid Rodent from the Miocene of Texas and Panama". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 1 (1): 111–115. ISSN   0272-4634.
  10. MacFadden, Bruce J. (2009). "Three-Toed Browsing Horse Anchitherium (Equidae) from the Miocene of Panama". Journal of Paleontology. 83 (3): 489–492. ISSN   0022-3360.
  11. 1 2 Macfadden, Bruce J.; Kirby, Michael X.; Rincon, Aldo; Montes, Camilo; Moron, Sara; Strong, Nikki; Jaramillo, Carlos (March 2010). "Extinct peccary "Cynorca" occidentale (Tayassuidae, Tayassuinae) from the Miocene of Panama and correlations to North America". Journal of Paleontology. 84 (2): 288–298. Bibcode:2010JPal...84..288M. doi:10.1666/09-064R.1. ISSN   0022-3360.
  12. PROTHERO, DONALD R. (2021-05-28). THE SYSTEMATICS OF NORTH AMERICAN PECCARIES (MAMMALIA: ARTIODACTYLA: TAYASSUIDAE). New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science.
  13. Rincon, Aldo F.; Bloch, Jonathan I.; Macfadden, Bruce J.; Jaramillo, Carlos A. (2015-09-03). "New early Miocene protoceratids (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) from Panama". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 35 (5): e970688. Bibcode:2015JVPal..35E0688R. doi:10.1080/02724634.2015.970688. ISSN   0272-4634.
  14. Steadman, David. W.; MacFadden, Bruce J. (2016). "A large eagle (Aves, Accipitridae) from the early Miocene of Panama". Journal of Paleontology. 90 (5): 1012–1015. doi:10.1017/jpa.2016.103. ISSN   0022-3360. S2CID   132732768.
  15. 1 2 Hastings, Alexander K.; Bloch, Jonathan I.; Jaramillo, Carlos A.; Rincon, Aldo F.; Macfadden, Bruce J. (2013). "Systematics and biogeography of crocodylians from the Miocene of Panama". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 33 (2): 239. Bibcode:2013JVPal..33..239H. doi:10.1080/02724634.2012.713814. ISSN   0272-4634.
  16. Salas-Gismondi, Rodolfo; Moreno-Bernal, Jorge W.; Scheyer, Torsten M.; Sánchez-Villagra, Marcelo R.; Jaramillo, Carlos (2019-06-18). "New Miocene Caribbean gavialoids and patterns of longirostry in crocodylians". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 17 (12): 1049–1075. Bibcode:2019JSPal..17.1049S. doi:10.1080/14772019.2018.1495275. ISSN   1477-2019.
  17. Head, Jason J.; Rincon, Aldo F.; Suarez, Catalina; Montes, Camilo; Jaramillo, Carlos (2012-10-31). "Fossil evidence for earliest Neogene American faunal interchange: Boa (Serpentes, Boinae) from the early Miocene of Panama". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 32 (6): 1328–1334. doi:10.1080/02724634.2012.694387. ISSN   0272-4634.
  18. 1 2 3 4 5 Cadena, E.; Bourque, J.R.; Rincón, A.F.; Bloch, J.I.; Jaramillo, C.A.; MacFadden, B.J. (2012). "New turtles (Chelonia) from the late Eocene through Late Miocene of the Panama Canal Basin". Journal of Paleontology. 86 (3): 539–557. Bibcode:2012JPal...86..539C. doi:10.1666/11-106.1.
  19. Jud, Nathan A.; Allen, Sarah E.; Nelson, Chris W.; Bastos, Carolina L.; Chery, Joyce G. (2021-04-07). Wong, William Oki (ed.). "Climbing since the early Miocene: The fossil record of Paullinieae (Sapindaceae)". PLOS ONE. 16 (4): e0248369. Bibcode:2021PLoSO..1648369J. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0248369 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   8026063 . PMID   33826635.
  20. 1 2 3 Herrera, Fabiany; Carvalho, Mónica R.; Jaramillo, Carlos; Manchester, Steven R. (July 2019). "19-Million-Year-Old Spondioid Fruits from Panama Reveal a Dynamic Dispersal History for Anacardiaceae". International Journal of Plant Sciences. 180 (6): 479–492. doi:10.1086/703551. ISSN   1058-5893.
  21. 1 2 Rodríguez-Reyes, Oris; Falcon-Lang, Howard; Gasson, Peter; Collinson, Margaret; Jaramillo, Carlos (October 2014). "Fossil woods (Malvaceae) from the lower Miocene (early to mid-Burdigalian) part of the Cucaracha Formation of Panama (Central America) and their biogeographic implications". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 209: 11–34. Bibcode:2014RPaPa.209...11R. doi:10.1016/j.revpalbo.2014.05.006. ISSN   0034-6667.
  22. Nelson, Chris W.; Jud, Nathan A. (2017-03-01). "Biogeographic Implications of Mammea paramericana sp. nov. from the Lower Miocene of Panama and the Evolution of Calophyllaceae". International Journal of Plant Sciences. 178 (3): 241–257. doi:10.1086/689618. ISSN   1058-5893. S2CID   89714823.
  23. Graham, Alan; Montiel, Olga Martha; Raven, Peter H.; Stevens, Warren Douglas (2014). "Fruits of Oreomunnea (Juglandaceae) in the early Miocene of Panama". Paleobotany and biogeography :a festschrift for Alan Graham in his 80th year. Missouri Botanical Garden. pp. 124–133.
  24. Rodriguez-Reyes, Oris; Gasson, Peter; Thornton, Carolyn; Falcon-Lang, Howard J.; Jud, Nathan A. (2017-12-06). "Panascleroticoxylon crystallosa gen. et sp. nov.: a new Miocene malpighialean tree from Panama". IAWA Journal. 38 (4): 437–455. doi:10.1163/22941932-20170178. ISSN   0928-1541.
  25. 1 2 Jud, Nathan A.; Nelson, Chris W.; Herrera, Fabiany (2016-02-10). "Fruits and wood of Parinari from the early Miocene of Panama and the fossil record of Chrysobalanaceae". American Journal of Botany. 103 (2): 277–289. doi:10.3732/ajb.1500425. ISSN   0002-9122. PMID   26865122.
  26. Rodríguez-Reyes, Oris; Gasson, Peter; Falcon-Lang, Howard J.; Collinson, Margaret E. (November 2017). "Fossil legume woods of the Prioria-clade (subfamily Detarioideae) from the lower Miocene (early to mid-Burdigalian) part of the Cucaracha Formation of Panama (Central America) and their systematic and palaeoecological implications". Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology. 246: 44–61. Bibcode:2017RPaPa.246...44R. doi: 10.1016/j.revpalbo.2017.06.005 .
  27. Jud, Nathan A.; Nelson, Chris W. (May 2017). "A liana from the lower Miocene of Panama and the fossil record of Connaraceae". American Journal of Botany. 104 (5): 685–693. doi:10.3732/ajb.1700080. ISSN   0002-9122. PMID   28500228.

Bibliography