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]
The Cucaracha Formation is approximately 125 metres (410 ft) thick,[ 4] and dated to 19 to 14 Ma.[ 5]
Fossil content
Template:Paleobiota-key-compact
Mammals
Bats
Bats reported from the Cucaracha Formation
Genus
Species
Presence
Material
Notes
Images
Americanycteris [ 6] [ 7]
A. cyrtodon
Centenario Bridge & Hodges Hill
Partial jaw & right premolar
A leaf-nosed bat , first reported as a new "large insectivorous phyllostomine "
Carnivorans
Carnivorans reported from the Cucaracha Formation
Genus
Species
Presence
Material
Notes
Images
Bassaricyonoides [ 6]
B. sp.
Gaillard Cut
A procyonid
Daphoenodon [ 6]
cf. D. sp.
Gaillard Cut
A bear dog
Hemicyonidae indet.[ 8]
Indeterminate
Gaillard Cut
Radius & ulna fragment
A bear
Tomarctus [ 6] [ 8]
T. brevirostris
Gaillard Cut
Jaw & teeth
A borophagine dog
Rodents
Rodents reported from the Cucaracha Formation
Genus
Species
Presence
Material
Notes
Images
Nototamias [ 6]
N. sp.
Gaillard Cut
A ground squirrel
Petauristodon [ 6]
P. sp.
Gaillard Cut
A flying squirrel
Proheteromys [ 6]
P. sp.
Gaillard Cut
A heteromyid
Texomys [ 6] [ 9]
T. stewarti
Pedro Miguel Lock & Gaillard Cut
Teeth
A jimomyid
Ungulates
Ungulates reported from the Cucaracha Formation
Genus
Species
Presence
Material
Notes
Images
Anchitherium [ 6] [ 8] [ 10]
A. clarencei
Gaillard Cut & Centenario Bridge
Mandible fragment, upper cheek tooth & maxilla
An equid
Archaeohippus [ 6] [ 8]
A. sp.
Gaillard Cut
Calcaneus & tooth
An equid
Cynorca [ 6] [ 11]
C. occidentale
Gaillard Cut, Centenario Bridge & Hodges Hill
Jaw elements with teeth
Species reassigned to the genus Tedfordhyus [ 12]
Floridaceras [ 6] [ 8]
F. whitei
Gaillard Cut
Jaws, teeth & femur fragment
A rhinoceros
Floridatragulus [ 6]
cf. F. nanus
Gaillard Cut
A camelid
Machaeromeryx [ 6]
cf. M. sp.
Gaillard Cut
A moschid
Menoceras [ 6] [ 8]
M. barbouri
Gaillard Cut
Teeth & limb elements
A rhinoceros
Merycochoerus [ 6] [ 8]
M. matthewi
Gaillard Cut
Skull elements
An oreodont
Parablastomeryx [ 6]
cf. P. sp.
Gaillard Cut
A moschid
Paratoceras [ 6] [ 8] [ 13]
P. coatesi
Gaillard Cut, Centenario Bridge, Hodges Hill & Cartagena Hill
Skull elements, teeth & limb fragments
A protoceratid, first reported as P. wardi
P. wardi
Gaillard Cut
Skull elements, teeth & limb fragments
Remains reassigned to P. coatesi
Tedfordhyus [ 6] [ 11]
T. occidentalis
Gaillard Cut, Centenario Bridge & Hodges Hill
Jaw elements with teeth
A peccary, originally named Cynorca occidentale
Reptiles
Birds
Birds reported from the Cucaracha Formation
Genus
Species
Presence
Material
Notes
Images
Accipitridae indet.[ 14]
Indeterminate
West side of the Panama Canal
Talon
A large eagle, talon resembles those of the crowned eagle and martial eagle
Crocodilians
Crocodilians reported from the Cucaracha Formation
Genus
Species
Presence
Material
Notes
Images
Centenariosuchus [ 15]
C. gilmorei
Hodges Hill
Skull & jaw
A caiman
cf. C. gilmorei
Centenario Bridge
Right angular
A caiman
Dadagavialis [ 16]
D. gunai
East margin of the Panama Canal
Partial snout
A gavialid
cf. D. gunai
Centenario Bridge
Partial mandible
A gavialid
Eusuchia indet.[ 15]
Indeterminate
Panama Canal Zone
Headless skeleton
Osteoderms comparable to those of gavialids such as Gavialosuchus , but crocodilian osteoderms are non-diagnostic
Squamates
Squamates reported from the Cucaracha Formation
Genus
Species
Presence
Material
Notes
Images
Boa [ 17]
B. cf. B. constrictor
Cartagena Hill & Hodges Hill
Incomplete vertebrae
A boid snake
Turtles
Plants
See also
List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Panama
References
↑ Geologic Map, 1980
↑ Cucaracha Formation at Fossilworks .org
↑ Centenariosuchus at Fossilworks .org
↑ Kirby et al., 2008, p.9
↑ Kirby et al., 2008, p.11
↑ 6.00 6.01 6.02 6.03 6.04 6.05 6.06 6.07 6.08 6.09 6.10 6.11 6.12 6.13 6.14 6.15 6.16 6.17 6.18 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" (in en). The Journal of Geology 122 (2): 113–135. doi :10.1086/675244 . ISSN 0022-1376 . Bibcode : 2014JG....122..113M . https://www.researchgate.net/publication/261437653 .
↑ 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 . https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10914-023-09690-4 .
↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 8.6 8.7 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 . https://www.jstor.org/stable/4524616 .
↑ 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. doi :10.1080/02724634.1981.10011884 . ISSN 0272-4634 . Bibcode : 1981JVPal...1..111S . https://www.jstor.org/stable/4522841 .
↑ MacFadden, Bruce J. (2009). "Three-Toed Browsing Horse Anchitherium (Equidae) from the Miocene of Panama" . Journal of Paleontology 83 (3): 489–492. doi :10.1666/08-155.1 . ISSN 0022-3360 . Bibcode : 2009JPal...83..489M . https://www.jstor.org/stable/29739113 .
↑ 11.0 11.1 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" (in en). Journal of Paleontology 84 (2): 288–298. doi :10.1666/09-064R.1 . ISSN 0022-3360 . Bibcode : 2010JPal...84..288M . https://www.researchgate.net/publication/228491624 .
↑ PROTHERO, DONALD R. (2021-05-28) (in en). THE SYSTEMATICS OF NORTH AMERICAN PECCARIES (MAMMALIA: ARTIODACTYLA: TAYASSUIDAE) . New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. https://books.google.com/books?id=fJcwEAAAQBAJ .
↑ Rincon, Aldo F.; Bloch, Jonathan I.; Macfadden, Bruce J.; Jaramillo, Carlos A. (2015-09-03). "New early Miocene protoceratids (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) from Panama" (in en). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 35 (5). doi :10.1080/02724634.2015.970688 . ISSN 0272-4634 . Bibcode : 2015JVPal..35E0688R . http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/02724634.2015.970688 .
↑ 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 . Bibcode : 2016JPal...90.1012S . https://www.jstor.org/stable/48572611 .
↑ 15.0 15.1 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. doi :10.1080/02724634.2012.713814 . ISSN 0272-4634 . Bibcode : 2013JVPal..33..239H . https://www.academia.edu/26991778 .
↑ 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" (in en). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology 17 (12): 1049–1075. doi :10.1080/14772019.2018.1495275 . ISSN 1477-2019 . Bibcode : 2019JSPal..17.1049S . https://www.researchgate.net/publication/328006806 .
↑ 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" (in en). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 32 (6): 1328–1334. doi :10.1080/02724634.2012.694387 . ISSN 0272-4634 . Bibcode : 2012JVPal..32.1328H . http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/02724634.2012.694387 .
↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 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. doi :10.1666/11-106.1 . Bibcode : 2012JPal...86..539C . https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233777124 .
↑ 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)" (in en). PLOS ONE 16 (4). doi :10.1371/journal.pone.0248369 . ISSN 1932-6203 . PMID 33826635 . PMC 8026063 . Bibcode : 2021PLoSO..1648369J . https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350712094 .
↑ 20.0 20.1 20.2 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" (in en). International Journal of Plant Sciences 180 (6): 479–492. doi :10.1086/703551 . ISSN 1058-5893 . Bibcode : 2019IJPlS.180..479H . https://www.researchgate.net/publication/331960612 .
↑ 21.0 21.1 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. doi :10.1016/j.revpalbo.2014.05.006 . ISSN 0034-6667 . Bibcode : 2014RPaPa.209...11R .
↑ 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" (in en). International Journal of Plant Sciences 178 (3): 241–257. doi :10.1086/689618 . ISSN 1058-5893 . Bibcode : 2017IJPlS.178..241N . https://www.journals.uchicago.edu/doi/10.1086/689618 .
↑ Graham, Alan; Montiel, Olga Martha; Raven, Peter H.; Stevens, Warren Douglas (2014). "Fruits of Oreomunnea (Juglandaceae) in the early Miocene of Panama" (in en). Paleobotany and biogeography :a festschrift for Alan Graham in his 80th year . Missouri Botanical Garden. pp. 124–133. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/303286558 .
↑ 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 . https://brill.com/view/journals/iawa/38/4/article-p437_2.xml .
↑ 25.0 25.1 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" (in en). American Journal of Botany 103 (2): 277–289. doi :10.3732/ajb.1500425 . ISSN 0002-9122 . PMID 26865122 . https://www.researchgate.net/publication/294107476 .
↑ 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" (in en). Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 246 : 44–61. doi :10.1016/j.revpalbo.2017.06.005 . Bibcode : 2017RPaPa.246...44R .
↑ Jud, Nathan A.; Nelson, Chris W. (May 2017). "A liana from the lower Miocene of Panama and the fossil record of Connaraceae" (in en). American Journal of Botany 104 (5): 685–693. doi :10.3732/ajb.1700080 . ISSN 0002-9122 . PMID 28500228 . https://bsapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.3732/ajb.1700080 .
Bibliography
Kirby, Michael Xavier; Jones, Douglas S.; MacFadden, Bruce J. (2008), "Lower Miocene Stratigraphy along the Panama Canal and Its Bearing on the Central American Peninsula" , PLoS ONE 3 (7): 1–14, doi :10.1371/journal.pone.0002791 , PMID 18665219 , Bibcode : 2008PLoSO...3.2791K
Stewart, R.H.; Stewart, J.L.; Woodring, W.P. (1980), Geologic Map of the Panama Canal and Vicinity , USGS , p. 1, https://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/0306f/plate-1.pdf , retrieved 2019-02-09
Woodring, W.P (1957), Geology and Paleontology of Canal Zone and Adjoining Parts of Panama - 306A Geology and description of Tertiary mollusks (Gastropods: Trochidae to Turritellidae) , USGS , pp. 1–186, https://pubs.usgs.gov/pp/0306a/report.pdf , retrieved 2019-02-09
Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cucaracha Formation. Read more