Earth:Lecho Formation

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Lecho Formation
Stratigraphic range: Early Maastrichtian
~70–68 Ma
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofSalta Group
UnderliesYacoraite Formation
OverliesLos Blanquitos Formation
Lithology
PrimarySandstone
Location
Coordinates [ ⚑ ] : 26°06′S 65°24′W / 26.1°S 65.4°W / -26.1; -65.4
Paleocoordinates [ ⚑ ] 28°36′S 52°00′W / 28.6°S 52.0°W / -28.6; -52.0
RegionJujuy, Salta
CountryArgentina
ExtentSalta Basin
Lecho Formation is located in Argentina
Lecho Formation
Lecho Formation (Argentina)

The Lecho Formation is a geological formation in the Salta Basin of the provinces Jujuy and Salta of northwestern Argentina . Its strata date back to the Early Maastrichtian, and is a unit of the Salta Group. The fine-grained bioturbated sandstones of the formation were deposited in a fluvial to lacustrine coastal plain environment.

Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[1]

According to Frankfurt and Chiappe (1999), the Lecho Formation is composed of reddish sandstones. The Lecho is part of the Upper/Late Cretaceous Balbuena Subgroup (Salta Group), which is a near-border stratigraphic unit of the Andean sedimentary basin. Fossils from this formation include the titanosaur Saltasaurus along with a variety of avian and non-avian theropods.

Fossil content

Aves and Dinosaurs from the Lecho Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images
Elbretornis E. bonapartei Scapula, partial coracoid, humerus, partial radius, partial ulna[2] Enantiornithes
Enantiornis[3] E. leali[3] "Postcranial elements"[4] Enantiornithes
Lectavis[3] L. bretincola[3] "Tarsometatarsus and tibiotarsus"[4] Enantiornithes
Martinavis M. minor Partial humerus[2] Enantiornithes
M. saltariensis Humerus[2]
M. vincei Humeri[2]
M. whetstonei Partial humerus[2]
Noasaurus[3] N. leali[3] Isolated elements from the head and foot, as well as a verebral arch.[5] A putative oviraptorosaurian cervical vertebra [6] is likely to belong to this taxon.[7] Noasaurid abelisaurs
Noasaurus leali skeletal diagram.png
Saltasaurus[3] S. loricatus[3] "Partial skeletons of at least [six] individuals, including jaws and armor."[8] Saltasaurid titanosaurs
Saltasaurus dinosaur.png
Soroavisaurus[3] S. australis[3] "Tarsometatarsus and phalanges."[9] Avisaurid enantiornithes
Yungavolucris[3] Y. brevipedalis[3] "Tarsometatarsi"[9] Enantiornithes

See also

References

  1. Weishampel et al., 2004, "Dinosaur distribution (Late Cretaceous, South America)." pp. 600-604
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Walker & Dyke, 2009
  3. 3.00 3.01 3.02 3.03 3.04 3.05 3.06 3.07 3.08 3.09 3.10 3.11 "63.7 Provincia de Salta, Argentina; 3. Lower Kirtland Formation," in Weishampel et al., 2004, p.603
  4. 4.0 4.1 "Table 11.1," in Weishampel et al., 2004, p.213
  5. "Table 3.1," in Weishampel et al., 2004, p.49
  6. Frankfurt & Chiappe, 1999
  7. Agnolin & Martinelli, 2007
  8. "Table 13.1," in Weishampel et al., 2004, p.270
  9. 9.0 9.1 "Table 11.1," in Weishampel et al., 2004, p.214

Bibliography

  • Walker, _, and _ Dyke. 2009. Euenantiornithine birds from the Late Cretaceous of El Brete (Argentina). Irish Journal of Earth Sciences 27. 15–62.
  • Agnolin, F.L., and A.G. Martinelli. 2007. Did oviraptorosaurs (Dinosauria; Theropoda) inhabit Argentina?. Cretaceous Research 28. 785–790.
  • Weishampel, David B.; Peter Dodson, and Halszka Osmólska (eds.). 2004. The Dinosauria, 2nd edition, 1–880. Berkeley: University of California Press. Accessed 2019-02-21. ISBN:0-520-24209-2
  • Frankfurt, N.G., and L.M. Chiappe. 1999. A Possible Oviraptorosaur From The Late Cretaceous of Northwestern Argentina. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 19. 101–105.