Wahweap Formation

Wahweap Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late Cretaceous Campanian
Type Geological formation
Location
Named for Wahweap Creek
Region North America
Extent Southern Utah, Northern Arizona

The Wahweap Formation of the Grand Staircase-Escelante National Monument is a geological formation in southern Utah and northern Arizona, around the Lake Powell region, whose strata date back to the Late Cretaceous (Campanian stage). Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[1]

Contents

Invertebrate Paleofauna

The Wahweap Formation shows a substantial amount of invertebrate activity ranging from fossilized insect burrows in petrified logs[2] to various mollusks that characterize the shell beds. Large fossilized crabs are common at most shell bed sites in the Wahweap,[3] and over 1,900 gastropod specimens (of four likely genera) have been unearthed in the formation's siltstone.[4]

Vertebrate Paleofauna

Vertebrates known from the Wahweap include, Acristavus[6] at least two different types of hadrosaur, two ceratopsians[7] and at least one theropod.[8]

Trace fossils are also relatively abundant in the Wahweap, and include vertebrate tracks as well as burrow activity. Tracks preserved in the capping sandstone indicate the presence of crocodylomorphs, which had been previously known in this area only from teeth elements, as well as ornithischian dinosaurs. At least one possible theropod track has been identified in this area as well.[9]

In 2010 a unique trace fossil from the Wahweap was discovered that indicates a predator-prey relationship between dinosaurs and primitive mammals. The trace fossil includes at least two fossilized mammalian den complexes as well as associated digging grooves presumably caused by a maniraptoran dinosaur. The proximity indicates a case of probable active predation of the burrow inhabitants by the owners of the claw marks.[5]

A fair number of mammals spanning the lower Campanian are known from the Wahweap as well, including at least 15 genera of multituberculates, cladotherians, marsupials, and placental insectivores.[10]

In addition to terrestrial vertebrates, freshwater fish fossils have been uncovered from the Wahweap which include bowfin vertebrae,[4] ray teeth,[11] and probable lungfish burrows.[12]

See also

References

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  1. ^ Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Cretaceous, North America)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 574-588. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  2. ^ De Blieux, Donald D. "Analysis of Jim's hadrosaur site; a dinosaur site in the middle Campanian (Cretaceous) Wahweap Formation of Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument (GSENM), southern Utah." Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America, vol. 39, no. 5, pp.6, May 2007
  3. ^ Kirkland, James Ian. "An inventory of paleontological resources in the lower Wahweap Formation (lower Campanian), southern Kaiparowits Plateau, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah." Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America, vol.37, no.7, pp.114, Oct 2005.
  4. ^ a b Williams, Jessica A J; Lohrengel, C Frederick. Preliminary study of freshwater gastropods in the Wahweap Formation, Bryce Canyon National Park, Utah. Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America, vol. 39, no. 5, pp.43, May 2007
  5. ^ a b http://geology.gsapubs.org/content/38/8/699.abstract
  6. ^ Gates, T.A.; Horner, J.R.; Hanna, R.R.; and Nelson, C.R. (2011). "New unadorned hadrosaurine hadrosaurid (Dinosauria, Ornithopoda) from the Campanian of North America". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 31 (4): 798–811. doi:10.1080/02724634.2011.577854. http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02724634.2011.577854. 
  7. ^ http://geology.utah.gov/surveynotes/articles/pdf/horned_dinos_39-3.pdf
  8. ^ John Wesley Powell Memorial Museum display, visited April 30th, 2009
  9. ^ Tester, Edward et al. Isolated vertebrate tracks from the Upper Cretaceous capping sandstone member of the Wahweap Formation; Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America, vol. 39, no. 5, pp.42, May 2007
  10. ^ Eaton, Jeffrey G; Cifelli, Richard L. "Review of Cretaceous mammalian paleontology; Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah. Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America, vol.37, no.7, pp.115, Oct 2005
  11. ^ Thompson, Cameron R. "A preliminary report on biostratigraphy of Cretaceous freshwater rays, Wahweap Formation and John Henry Member of the Straight Cliffs Formation, southern Utah." Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America, vol.36, no.4, pp.91, Apr 2004
  12. ^ Orsulak, Megan et al. "A lungfish burrow in late Cretaceous upper capping sandstone member of the Wahweap Formation Cockscomb area, Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument, Utah." Abstracts with Programs - Geological Society of America, vol. 39, no. 5, pp.43, May 2007