Cloverly Formation Stratigraphic range: Early Cretaceous |
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Type | Geological formation |
Location | |
Region | North America |
The Cloverly Formation are Lower Cretaceous strata located in Montana and Wyoming, in the western United States. The term now includes strata that had formerly been called the Dakota Formation in central and southern Wyoming.
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In the Bighorn Basin region along the Montana - Wyoming border, the Cloverly is divided into several members.
Animals recovered include the dinosaurs Deinonychus, Microvenator Tenontosaurus, Zephyrosaurus and Sauropelta as well as fragmentary remains of Titanosaurs and Ornithomimids. As well, two genera of turtle Naomichelys and Glyptops and the lungfish Ceratodus.
Dinosaur eggs have been found in Montana.[1]
References for data: Ostrom 1970; Cifelli et al. 1998; Cifelli 1999; Nydam and Cifelli 2002. Possible goniopholidid remains are known from the formation.
Ornithischians reported from the Cloverly Formation | ||||||
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Genus | Species | State | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
S. edwardsorum[2] |
Known from "several articulated skeletons" and its armor plates are common fossils.[2] Only one partial skull is known."."[3] |
Articulated skeletons are often encased in carbonate caliche deposits that require acid to be removed safely.[2] |
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T. tilleti[2] |
Its remains are the most common of any dinosaur of the formation.[2] |
Juvenile remains are sometimes found together, suggesting that young Tenontosaurus lived in sibling groups. Deinonychus teeth are sometimes associated with Tenontosaurus remains suggesting a predator-prey relationship between the two.[2] |
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Z. schaffi[2] |
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Its remains are "very rare."[2] |
Theropod eggshell fragments are known from the formation. A partial titanosaurid skeleton catalogued as MOR 334 and possible gastroliths are known from the formation.[2] Unidentifiable ornithomimmid remains are present and most commonly represented by toe bones.[2] Indeterminate allosauroid remains are known from the formation. Remains identified by John Ostrom as Ornithomimus are suspected by Jack Horner to be of a new ornithomimid genus.[2]
Color key
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Notes Uncertain or tentative data are in small text; |
Saurischians reported from the Cloverly Formation | ||||||
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Genus | Species | State | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
D. antirrhopus[2] |
Its remains are "very rare."[2] |
Tenontosaurus remains have been recovered in association with Deinonychus teeth on several occasions suggesting a predator-prey relationship between the two.[2] |
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M. celer[2] |
Its remains are "extremely rare."[2] Known only from a "[p]artial skeleton with partial skull."[5] The specimen lacks feet and is catalogued as AMNH 3041.[6] |
The type specimen AMNH 3041[2] was recovered by Barnum Brown from Cloverly strata in Montana in 1933. |
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O. velox[7] |
Later found to be indeterminate ornithomimid remains.[7] |
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Indeterminate[7] |
Lizards reported from the Cloverly Formation | ||||||
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Genus | Species | State | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | |
P. keebleri |
Mammals reported from the Cloverly Formation | ||||||
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Genus | Species | State | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
Corviconodon |
C. montanensis |
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G. ostromi |
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M. keebleri |
Possible goniopholidid remains are known from the formation.
Turtles reported from the Cloverly Formation | ||||||
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Genus | Species | State | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | |
G. pervicax[2] |
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G. plicatulus[2] |
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Naomichelys[2] |
N. speciosa[2] |
Indeterminate amiiformes are known from the formation.
Osteichthyes reported from the Cloverly Formation | ||||||
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Genus | Species | State | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
C. frazieri[2] |