Earth:Paleobiota of the Hell Creek Formation

This is an overview of the fossil flora and fauna of the Maastrichtian-Danian Hell Creek Formation.

Invertebrates

insects

Insects from the groups Diptera, Zygoptera, and possibly Hemiphlebiidae have been unearthed in Hell Creek in amber. Fossils found in the Hell Creek Formation and the Fort Union Formation of these insects went extinct during the K-T Event.

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Cephaloleichnites	Cephaloleichnites strongi				Possible hispine beetle herbivory on Zingiberopsis attenuta

Molluscs

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Plesielliptio	P. postbiplicatus				Freshwater Unionid river mussels
	P. gibbosoides				Freshwater Unionid river mussels
	P. whitfieldi				Freshwater Unionid river mussels
Rhabdotophorus	R. aldrichi				Freshwater mussel of family Unionidae.
Pleurobema	P. cryptorhynchus				Freshwater mussel of family Unionidae.
Plethobasus	P. aesopiformis				Freshwater mussel of family Unionidae.
	P. biesopoides
Quadrula	Q. cylindricoides				Freshwater mussel of family Unionidae.
Proparreysia	P. verrucosiformis				Freshwater mussel of family Unionidae.
	P. holmesiana
	P. barnumi
	P. percorrugata
	P. pyramidatoides
	P. letsoni
	P. retusoides
	P. corbiculoides
	P. paucinodosa
?Obovaria	?O. pyramidella
Corbicula	C. cf. subelliptica
	C. sp	South Dakota			From a marine facies ("tongue"). Modern members of the genus live in fresh water
Sphaerium	S. beckmani				"Pill clam". "Nut clam". "Fingernail clam". "Pea clam". Family Sphaeriidae.
Pleiodon	Indeterminate
Campeloma	C. sp				Freshwater snail
Anomia	A. gryphorhyncha				Bivalve. Family Anomiidae. From a marine facies ("tongue") in South Dakota.
Crassostrea	C. subtrigonalis				Oyster. Family Ostreidae. Collected from a marine facies ("tongue") in South Dakota.
Granocardium	G. sp				Bivalve. Family Cardiidae (cockle). Collected from a marine facies ("tongue") in South Dakota.
?Hiatella	?H. sp				Bivalve. Present members of this genus are rock borers. Collected from a marine facies ("tongue") in South Dakota.
Leptosolen	indeterminate				Bivalve. Family Cultellidae. Collected from a marine facies ("tongue") in South Dakota.
Sphenodiscus	S. lenticularis				Ammonite. From a marine facies ("tongue") in South Dakota.
Discoscaphites	D. rossi				Microconch of an ammonite. From a marine facies ("tongue") in South Dakota.
Scaphitidae	indeterminate				Ammonite. From a marine facies ("tongue") in South Dakota. Other attributes: specimen has hooks on its shell.

Amphibians

Amphibians reported from the Hell Creek Formation
Genus	Species	State	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Anura (frog)	indeterminate	North Dakota South Dakota	Middle to upper Hell Creek Formation	3 unassigned specimens	Anura indet. consists of material not currently assigned to any genus of frog.
Barbourula	Indeterminate	Montana
Caudata (salamander)	indeterminate	North Dakota South Dakota	Lower to uppermost Hell Creek Formation	149 unassigned specimens	Material of Caudata indet. is not currently assigned to any genus.
Eopelobates	Indeterminate	Montana
Habrosaurus	H. dilatus	Montana North Dakota South Dakota	Middle to upper Hell Creek Formation	6 specimens	Habrosaurus is a sirenid amphibian.
Lisserpeton	L. bairdi	Montana
Opisthotriton	O. kayi	Montana North Dakota South Dakota	Lower to upper Hell Creek Formation	22 specimens	Opisthotriton is classified as a Batrachosauroididae.
Paranecturus	P. garbanii	Montana			A member of Proteidae.
Proamphiuma	P. cretacica	Montana
Prodesmodon	P. copei	Montana
Scapherpeton	S. tectum	Montana North Dakota South Dakota	Lower to upper Hell Creek Formation	144 specimens	Scapherpeton is a scapherpetonid that is very common in the Hell Creek Formation.
Scotiophryne	S. pustulosa	Montana			A small frog

Fish

Bony fish

Bony fishes
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Acipenser	A. amnisinferos	North Dakota (Tanis)			A sturgeon
	A. eruciferus	Montana
	A. praeparatorum	North Dakota (Tanis)
	A. cf. A. amnisinferos	North Dakota (Tanis)
	cf. A. sp.	North Dakota South Dakota	Lower to upper Hell Creek Formation	18 specimens are tentatively assigned to Acipenser sp.	Acipenser sp. is tentatively referred to the genus.
Anchiacipencer	A. acanthaspis	Montana			A sturgeon, originally considered as indeterminate material
Belonostomus	B. longirostris	Montana North Dakota South Dakota	Lower to upper Hell Creek Formation	28 specimens	A long-snouted slender fish classified as an aspidorhynchid.
Coriops	C. amnicolus	Montana
Cyclurus	C. fragosus	Montana North Dakota South Dakota			A small amiid fish (ubiquitous). Previously known as Amia fragosa or Kindleia fragosa. 2610 specimens have been assigned to Kindleia, making it an extremely common genus.	Cyclurus kehreri from Messel Pit, species within same genus as C. fragosus
"Lepisosteus"	"L. occidentalis"	Montana North Dakota South Dakota	Lower to uppermost Hell Creek Formation	938 specimens are assigned to Lepidosteus	A lepidosteid that is very common in the Hell Creek Formation. Nomen dubium.
Melvius	M. thomasi	North Dakota South Dakota	Lower to upper Hell Creek Formation	6 specimens are assigned to Melvius	A large amiid fish.
Phyllodus	P. paulkatoi				Fish with columnar teeth
Palaeolabrus	P. montanensis	Montana
Paleopsephurus	P. wilsoni	Montana			A paddlefish
Paralbula	P. casei	Montana
Parapsephurus	P. willybemisi	North Dakota (Tanis)			A paddlefish
Platacodon	P. nanus	Montana			Small teleost fish
Protamia	Indeterminate	Montana
Pachyrhizodontoidei	Indeterminate				Fish
Polyodontidae	Indeterminate	Montana			Paddlefish
Protoscaphirhynchus	P. squamosus	Montana			A sturgeon
Pugiopsephurus	P. inundatus	North Dakota (Tanis)			A paddlefish

Cartilaginous fish

Chondrichthyes reported from the Hell Creek Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Chiloscyllium	C. sp.	Montana			A member of Hemiscylliidae.
Galagadon	G. nordquistae	South Dakota		Isolated teeth	A carpet shark
Lonchidion	L. selachos	Montana North Dakota South Dakota	Lower to upper Hell Creek Formation	40 specimens	A genus of prehistoric sharks in the family Hybodontidae. It makes up 0.4% of the remains of the vertebrates of the Hell Creek Formation.
Myledaphus	M. pustulosus	Montana North Dakota South Dakota	Lower to upper Hell Creek Formation.	1677 specimens previously assigned to M. bipartitus.	Is an anacoracid batoid rajiform related to guitarfishes. Described on the basis of teeth formerly assigned to the species M. bipartitus. The material assigned to Myledaphus bipartitus and makes up 16.5% of the vertebrate remains.
Protoginglymostoma	P. estesi	Montana			A member of Ginglymostomatidae. Formerly assigned to the genus Brachaelurus.
Restesia	R. americana	Montana North Dakota South Dakota	Middle Hell Creek Formation	5 specimens previously assigned to Squatirhina	A wobbegong-like shark. Formerly assigned to Squatirhina. The remains consist of 0.05% of the vertebrates. Also known from the Lance Formation.
Carcharhinidae indet.	Indeterminate	South Dakota		An isolated tooth.

Dinosaurs

A paleo-population study is one of the most difficult of analyses to conduct in field paleontology. Here is the most recent estimate of the proportions of the eight most common dinosaurian families in the Hell Creek Formation, based on detailed field studies by White, Fastovsky and Sheehan.

• Ceratopsidae 61%
• Hadrosauridae 23%
• Ornithomimidae 5%
• Tyrannosauridae 4%
• Hypsilophodontidae 3%
• Dromaeosauridae 2%
• Pachycephalosauridae 1%
• Troodontidae 1% (represented only by teeth)

Pie chart of the time averaged census for large-bodied dinosaurs from the entire Hell Creek Formation in the study area.

Outcrops sampled by the Hell Creek Project were divided into three sections: lower, middle and upper slices. The top and bottom sections were the focus of the PLoS One report, and within each portion many remains of Triceratops, Edmontosaurus, and Tyrannosaurus were found. Triceratops was the most common in each section, but, surprisingly, Tyrannosaurus was just as common, if not slightly more common, than the hadrosaur Edmontosaurus. In the upper Hell Creek section, for example, the census included twenty two Triceratops, five Tyrannosaurus, and five Edmontosaurus.

The dinosaurs Thescelosaurus, Ornithomimus, Pachycephalosaurus and Ankylosaurus were also included in the breakdown, but were relatively rare. Other dinosaurs, such as Sphaerotholus, Denversaurus, Torosaurus, Struthiomimus, Acheroraptor, Dakotaraptor, Pectinodon, Richardoestesia, Paronychodon, Anzu, Leptorhynchos and Troodon (more likely Pectinodon), were reported as being rare and are not included in the breakdown.

The dinosaur collections made over the past decade during the Hell Creek Project yielded new information from an improved genus-level collecting schema and robust data set that revealed relative dinosaur abundances that were unexpected, and ontogenetic age classes previously considered rare. We recognize a much higher percentage of Tyrannosaurus than previous surveys. Tyrannosaurus equals Edmontosaurus in U3 and in L3 comprises a greater percentage of the large dinosaur fauna as the second-most abundant taxon after Triceratops, followed by Edmontosaurus. This is surprisingly consistent in (1) the two major lag deposits (MOR loc. HC-530 and HC-312) in the Apex sandstone and Jen-rex sand where individual bones were counted and (2) in two thirds of the formation reflected in L3 and U3 records of dinosaur skeletons only.

Triceratops is by far the most common dinosaur at 40% (n = 72), Tyrannosaurus is second at 24% (n = 44), Edmontosaurus is third at 20% (n = 36), followed by Thescelosaurus at 8% (n = 15), Ornithomimus at 5% (n = 9), and Pachycephalosaurus and Ankylosaurus both at 1% (n = 2) are relatively rare.

Fossil footprints of dinosaurs from the Hell Creek Formation are very rare. As of 2017, there is only one find of a possible Tyrannosaurus rex footprint, dating from 2007 and described a year later. A trackway made by mid-sized theropod, possibly a small tyrannosaurid individual, was discovered in South Dakota in 1997, and in 2014 these footprints were named Wakinyantanka styxi.

Ornithischians

Ankylosaurs

Indeterminate nodosaur remains have been unearthed in the Hell Creek Formation and other nearby areas.

Ankylosauria reported from the Hell Creek Formation
Genus	Species	State	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Ankylosaurus	A. magniventris	Montana	Upper	A partial skull, teeth, cervical vertebrae, dorsal vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, right scapulocoracoid, otic capsule, maxilla fragment, right jugal, left jugal and quadratojugal, sacral centra, additional fragments of the cervical half rings and a partial tail club handle.	An ankylosaur. Also found in the Lance, Frenchman, Ferris and Scollard Formations.
Denversaurus	D. schlessmani	Montana South Dakota		Skull roof, pelvis and osteoderms.	A nodosaurid ankylosaur whose remains have been found in the Lance and Laramie Formation.

Pachycephalosaurs

An undescribed and unnamed pachycephalosaur is present in North Dakota. Pachycephalosaur remains have been unearthed in Montana as in the case of Platytholus and the now invalid genus Stenotholus kohleri, which is now a junior synonym of Pachycephalosaurus.

Pachycephalosaurs reported from the Hell Creek Formation
Genus	Species	State	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Dracorex	D. hogwartsia	South Dakota	Middle		A pachycephalosaur, possibly synonymous with Pachycephalosaurus.
Pachycephalosaurus	P. wyomingensis	Montana South Dakota			A pachycephalosaur. Also found in the Lance Formation.
Platytholus	P. clemensi	Montana	Lower	A partial skull	A medium-sized pachycephalosaurine closely related to Acrotholus and Prenocephale
Sphaerotholus	S. buchholtzae	Montana	Lower to upper	"Skull material."	A pachycephalosaur whose remains have also been found in the Frenchman Formation. Genus also known from the Kirtland Formation, Dinosaur Park Formation and the Horseshoe Canyon Formation.
	S. triregnum	Montana	Middle	A left squamosal.	A pachycephalosaur distinguished from S. buchholtzae by its more ornamented squamosal.
Stygimoloch	S. spinifer	Montana South Dakota North Dakota			A pachycephalosaur, possibly synonymous with Pachycephalosaurus. Also found in the Ferris Formation and the Lance Formation.

Ceratopsians

Indeterminate ceratopsid teeth and some identifiable bones from Triceratops can be extremely common. 8.31% of all vertebrate remains from the Hell Creek Formation are unassigned ceratopsids. In 2012, a new unidentified species of chasmosaur ceratopsian with noticeable differences from Triceratops was unearthed in South Dakota by a fossil hunter named John Carter.

Ceratopsians reported from the Hell Creek Formation
Genus	Species	Synonyms	State	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Leptoceratops	L. gracilis		Montana			A small primitive-looking ceratopsian. Fossils have also been found in the Lance Formation in Wyoming.
Tatankaceratops	T. sacrisonorum		South Dakota			A controversial ceratopsian possibly synonymous with Triceratops
Torosaurus	T. latus		Montana North Dakota South Dakota	Upper Hell Creek Formation		A ceratopsian that was once proposed to be synonymous with Triceratops, but is now regarded as a valid and distinct ceratopsian. A rare ceratopsid. Fossils have been in the Lance Formation, Javelina Formation, North Horn Formation, Laramie Formation, El Picacho Formation, Frenchman Formation and Scollard Formation.
Triceratops	T. horridus	T. serratus Ugrosaurus olsoni	Montana North Dakota Wyoming South Dakota	Lowermost to the middle Hell Creek Formation	Four specimens are assigned to Triceratops horridus from the Hell Creek Formation. Isolated, shed ceratopsid teeth are incredibly common in the Hell Creek and Lance Formations, being by most collectors, with some being nothing more than worn down fragments up to superb teeth containing complete, preserved roots. Because the teeth of different ceratopsians are so similar to one another, its hard to differentiate between genera/species, but based on the abundance of identifiable bones belonging to Triceratops in Lancian-aged North American formations, especially the Hell Creek, isolated ceratopsid teeth from the lower and middle Hell Creek Formation have a high likelihood of originating from T. horridus.	A ceratopsian. Also found in the Evanston, Frenchman, Lance, Laramie, and Scollard Formations.
	T. prorsus		Montana South Dakota	Upper 1/3 of the Hell Creek Formation	Very common. Because the teeth of different ceratopsians are so similar to one another, its hard to differentiate between genera/species, but based on the abundance of identifiable bones belonging to Triceratops in Lancian-aged North American formations, especially the Hell Creek, isolated ceratopsid teeth from the upper 1/3 of the Hell Creek Formation have a high likelihood of originating from T. prorsus. | Also found in the Frenchman and Lance Formations.

Ornithopods and relatives

Indeterminate hadrosaurid remains are very common in the Hell Creek Formation.

Ornithopods and Thescelosaurs reported from the Hell Creek Formation
Genus	Species	Synonyms	State	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Edmontosaurus	E. annectens	Anatosaurus annectens Anatotitan copei	Montana South Dakota North Dakota(Mummy Fossil)		Very common.	A hadrosaur. Also found in the Denver, Frenchman, Lance, Laramie, and Scollard Formations. Hatchlings have also been unearthed.
Thescelosaurus	T. garbanii	Bugenasaura garbanii	Montana South Dakota
	T. neglectus		North Dakota South Dakota	Lower to upper Hell Creek Formation	50 specimens	A small thescelosaurine. Also found in the Frenchman, Lance, Laramie, and Scollard Formations. Two species are known from Hell Creek; T. neglectus and T. garbanii.

Theropods

Theropod tracks have been found in South Dakota. A trackway from South Dakota, named Wakinyantanka, was made by a mid-sized theropod with three slender toes, possibly a small tyrannosaurid. A second footprint that may have been made by a specimen of Tyrannosaurus was first reported in 2007 by British paleontologist Phil Manning, from the Hell Creek Formation of Montana. This second track measures 72 centimeters (28 in) long, shorter than the track described by Lockley and Hunt. Whether or not the track was made by Tyrannosaurus is unclear, though Tyrannosaurus is the only large theropod known to have existed in the Hell Creek Formation, though in past albertosaurine remains have described here but its most likely that they are the remains of Tyrannosaurus rex. Theropod remains are very common in Hell Creek, some of which belong to indeterminate species on maniraptorans.

Alvarezsaurs

Alvarezsaurs reported from the Hell Creek Formation
Genus	Species	Synonyms	State	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
"Ornithomimus"	"O." minutus
Trierarchuncus	T. prairiensis		Montana	upper Hell Creek Formation.		An alvarezsaur known from a partial post-cranial skeleton.

Tyrannosaurids

Tyrannosaurids reported from the Hell Creek Formation
Genus	Species	Synonyms	State	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Tyrannosaurus	T. rex	Albertosaurus megagracilis Aublysodon molnari Dinotyrannus megagracilis Nanotyrannus lancensis?	Montana North Dakota South Dakota	Lower to upper Hell Creek Formation.		A tyrannosaur, known from several specimens including a juvenile nicknamed "Jane". Also found in the Denver, Frenchman, Hill Creek South, Javelina, Lance, Ferris, Livingston, McRae, North Horn, Scollard, Willow Creek Formation, and also found in Lomas Coloradas Formations. Isolated teeth in the Hell Creek are common enough to be dug commercially by collectors, but rare enough that they are often sold for very high prices with fragmentary teeth usually beginning at least in the hundreds of USD, and complete teeth in the thousands of USD.
Nanotyrannus?	N.lancensis	Stygivenator? Deinodon lancensis Albertosaurus lancensis Tyrannosaurus lancensis?	Montana Wyoming	Lower to upper Hell Creek Formation.	A few specimens are known	Invalid genus, now recognised as juvenile T. rex.

Ornithomimosaurs

Ornithomimid remains are not uncommon in the Hell Creek Formation. Fifteen specimens from the Hell Creek Formation are undetermined ornithomimids

Ornithomimids reported from the Hell Creek Formation
Genus	Species	State	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
"Orcomimus"	unnamed	South Dakota		One partial skeleton.	An ornithomimid. Numem nudum
Struthiomimus	S. sedens	Montana		AMNH 975, a foot claw UCMP 154569, a partial skeleton	A large ornithomimid similar to Gallimimus in size. Also found in the Lance Formation.
Ornithomimus	O. velox	Montana South Dakota North Dakota		Fragmentary specimens	An ornithomimid which was also found in the Denver Formation.

Oviraptorosaurs

Oviraptorosaur fossils have been found at the Hell Creek Formation for many years, most notably from isolated elements until the discovery of Anzu. In the past, oviraptorosaur fossils found were thought to have belonged to Caenagnathus, Chirostenotes, and Elmisaurus. In 2016, an undescribed large-bodied caenagnathid was unearthed in Montana.

Oviraptorosaurs reported from the Hell Creek Formation
Genus	Species	State	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Anzu	A. wyliei	North Dakota South Dakota	Lower to upper Hell Creek Formation	12 well-preserved specimens	One of the largest known oviraptorosaurs, and the largest known from North America. Material previously assigned to Caenagnathidae indet. is now placed in the genus Anzu.
Caenagnathidae	Indeterminate	Montana			Similar to Citipes and Elmisaurus.
Eoneophron	E. infernalis	South Dakota		A partial right hindlimb	Closely related to Citipes and Elmisaurus.

Eumaniraptorans

Historically, numerous teeth have been attributed to various dromaeosaurid and troodontid taxa with known body fossils from only older formations, including Saurornithoides, Zapsalis, Dromaeosaurus, Saurornitholestes, and Troodon. However, in a 2013 study, Evans et al. concluded that there is little evidence for more than a single dromaeosaurid taxon, Acheroraptor, in the Hell Creek-Lance assemblages, which would render these taxa invalid for this formation. This was disproved in a 2015 study, DePalma et al., when they described the new genus Dakotaraptor, a large species of dromaeosaur. Fossilized teeth of various troodontids and coelurosaurs are common throughout the Hell Creek Formation; the best known examples include Paronychodon, Pectinodon and Richardoestesia, respectively. Teeth belonging to possible intermediate species of Dromaeosaurus and Saurornitholestes have been unearthed at the Hell Creek Formation and the nearby Lance Formation.

Eumaniraptorans reported from the Hell Creek Formation
Genus	Species	State	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Acheroraptor	A. temertyorum	Montana North Dakota? South Dakota?	Lower? to upper Hell Creek Formation	ROM 63777, a maxilla and tooth ROM 63778, a partial dentary isolated teeth	A velociraptorine dromaeosaurid. Teeth previously referred to various Campanian dromaeosaurids Saurornitholestes and Dromaeosaurus, frequently found throughout the formation, probably belong to this one species. Evans et al. conclude that there is little evidence for the former two taxa being present in the Hell Creek-Lance assemblages.
Avisaurus	A. archibaldi	Montana	Middle Hell Creek Formation	UCMP 117600, holotype, a tarsometatarsus PU 17324, a tarsometatarsus	An avisaurid.
	cf. A. archibaldi	Montana	Uppermost Hell Creek Formation	YPM 57235, a coracoid	An avisaurid tentatively referred to A. archibaldi based on its size.
	A. sp.	Montana		distal tarsals, metatarsus (juvenile)
Brodavis	B. baileyi	South Dakota		UNSM 50665, a left tarsometatarsus missing proximal end, trochleae II and III.	A primitive hesperornithiform.
Dakotaraptor	D. steini	South Dakota	Upper Hell Creek Formation	PBMNH.P.10.113.T, a partial skeleton. PBMNH.P.10.115.T, a tibia. PBMNH.P.10.118.T, an astragalocalcaneum. isolated teeth.	A dromaeosaurid. Second-largest dromaeosaurid known.
Paronychodon	P. caperatus	North Dakota, South Dakota, and Montana.		YPM 10624, a fossilized tooth. Teeth of this genus have been found too.	A troodontid theropod who is known from fossil teeth. Fossils have also been found in the Lance Formation in Wyoming.
Pectinodon	P. bakkeri	Montana		UCM 38445, a fossilized tooth. Teeth of this genus have been found too.	A troodontid theropod who is known from fossil teeth. Fossils have also been found in the Lance Formation in Wyoming.
Potamornis	P. skutchi	Montana		UCMP 117605, a tarsometatarsus	A hesperornithiform also found in the Lance Formation.
Richardoestesia	R. sp.	Montana.		Teeth.	A coelurosaur that is known from teeth and from two species Richardoestesia gilmorei and Richardestesia isosceles, which have also been unearthed in the Lance Formation in Wyoming.
"Styginetta"	"S. lofgreni."	Montana.			A Presbyornithid, it is notable for being one of the few birds known to have survived the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event.
"Unnamed enantiornithine B"	Unnamed	Montana		YPM 57823, a partial coracoid	An unnamed enantiornithean.
"Unnamed hesperornithiform A"	Unnamed	Montana		UCMP 13355, a tarsometatarsus	A primitive hesperornithiform. The Hell Creek specimen was referred to the same unnamed taxon as RSM P 2315.1 from the Canadian Frenchman Formation. RSM P 2315.1 was later made the holotype of Brodavis americanus. May be a synonym of Potamornis.
"Unnamed ornithurine B"	Unnamed	Montana		UCMP 129143, a partial coracoid	An ornithurine possibly similar to Cimolopteryx
"Unnamed ornithurine C"	Unnamed	Montana South Dakota		SDSM 64281A, a partial coracoid SDSM 64281B, a partial coracoid UCMP 175251, a partial coracoid MOR 2918, a partial coracoid	An ornithurine, also present in the Lance Formation and Fort Union Formation, one of the few individual bird species known to have survived the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction
"Unnamed ornithurine D"	Unnamed	Montana		UCMP 187207, a partial coracoid	An ichthyornithean also present in the Frenchman Formation

Pterosaurs

Indeterminate azhdarchid remains, most likely belong to Quetzalcoatlus or an unidentified genus, have been found in Hell Creek as well as the Javelina Formation and the Ojo Alamo Formation. Indeterminate pteranodontid remains have also been found here as well.

Pterosaurs of the Hell Creek Formation
Taxa	Species	State	Stratigraphic location	Material	Notes	Images
Azhdarchidae spp.	Indeterminate	Montana North Dakota			Records of pterosaur remains from the Hell Creek Formation are two indeterminate specimens, which have been recorded from North Dakota but not described (Johnson et al., 2000; Pearson et al., 2002). A single azhdarchid neck bone may belong to the genus Quetzalcoatlus, though they are not diagnostic to the generic level.
Pterosaur spp.	Indeterminate	South Dakota

Crocodylomorphs

Crocodylomorphs reported from the Hell Creek Formation
Genus	Species	State	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Borealosuchus	B. sternbergii	Montana North Dakota South Dakota			Extinct genus of crocodylians that lived from the Late Cretaceous to the Eocene in North America.
Brachychampsa	B. montana	Montana South Dakota North Dakota			Extinct genus of alligatoroid.
Thoracosaurus	T. neocesariensis	Montana			Extinct genus of gavialoid crocodilian which existed during the Late Cretaceous and early Paleocene.

Turtles

Turtles reported from the Hell Creek Formation
Genus	Species	State	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Adocus	Indeterminate	Montana			Extinct genus of aquatic turtles belonging to the family Adocidae.
Axestemys	A. infernalis	Montana North Dakota South Dakota Wyoming			A turtle belonging to the family Trionychidae. Its fossils from the Hell Creek Formation were formerly assigned to the late Campanian species Axestemys splendidus.
Compsemys	C. victa	Montana			A relative of Dermatemydidae.
Peckemys	P. brinkman	Montana North Dakota			A relative of Baenidae.
Emarginachelys	E. cretacea	Montana			A relative of chelydrids.
Eubaena	E. cephalica	Montana			Baenid turtle
Gamerabaena	G. sonsalla	North Dakota			Extinct genus of baenid turtle.
Palatobaena	P. cohen	North Dakota			A relative of extinct family of cryptodiran turtles.
Cedrobaena	C. putorius	South Dakota North Dakota			A relative of Baenidae.
Gilmoremys	G. lancensis	Montana North Dakota			Trionychidae related to the softshell turtle.
Hoplochelys	H. clark	North Dakota			A kinosternoid related to the Central American river turtle.
Hutchemys	H. walkerorum	North Dakota		A shell	A Plastomeninae related to the softshell turtle.
Plastomenus	P. sp				Trionychidae turtle.
Basilemys	B. sinuosa				Largest dermatemydid land tortoise.
Trionyx	Indeterminate	Montana			A genus of softshell turtles belonging to the family Trionychidae.
Aspideretoides	A. foveatus				Trionychidae turtle.
Helopanoplia	H. distincta				Trionychidae turtle.
Judithemys	J. backmani				Thin-shelled macrobaenid turtle.
Plesiobaena	P. antiqua				Baenid turtle.
Stygiochelys	S. estesi				Baenid turtle.
Neurankylus	N. eximius				Largest baenid turtle in Hell Creek Formation.
Saxochelys	S. gilberti	North Dakota		A population of over 30 individual skeletons	A member of the family Baenidae.
Thescelus	T. insiliens				Baenid turtle.
Chelydridae	Indeterminate				Chelydrids-like turtle.

Squamata

Indeterminate mosasaur remains have been unearthed in North Dakota; they may belong to a mosasaur measuring 11 m (36 ft) in length.Template:Paleobiota-key-compact

Squamates reported from the Hell Creek Formation
Genus	Species	State	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Cemeterius	C. monstrosus	Montana			A platynotan lizard of uncertain phylogenetic placement, also known from the Lance Formation.
Cerberophis	C. robustus	Montana			An alethinophidian snake of uncertain phylogenetic placement.
Obamadon	O. gracilis	Montana			A polyglyphanodontian lizard of uncertain phylogenetic placement. Also known from the Lance Formation.
Peneteius	P. aquilonius	Montana			A chamopsiid polyglyphanodontian lizard.
Haptosphenus	H. placodon				Teiidae lizard.
Leptochamops	L. denticulatus				Small Teiidae lizard.
Chamops	C. segnis				Largest Teiidae lizard in Hell Creek Formation
Contogenys	C. sloani				Scincidae? lizard.
Exostinus	E. lancensis				xenosaurid lizard.
Proxestops	P. jepseni				Anguidae lizard.
Parasaniwa	P. wyomingensis				Necrosaurid lizard.
Paraderma	P. bogerti				Helodermatidae? lizard.
Palaeosaniwa	P. canadensis				A large Monstersauria lizard, closely related to today's varanid lizards. It was the largest lizard in the Hell Creek formation.
Boidae	Indeterminate				Snake. Earliest-known boid.

Choristoderans

Choristoderans reported from the Hell Creek Formation
Genus	Species	State	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Champsosaurus	C. laramiensis	Montana			A champsosaur.

Mammals

Multituberculates

Multituberculates reported from the Hell Creek Formation
Genus	Species	State	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Cimexomys	C. minor	Montana			A multituberculate of uncertain phylogenetic placement.
Cimolodon	C. nitidus	Montana North Dakota			A cimolodontid multituberculate.
	C. cf. nitidus	South Dakota			A cimolodontid multituberculate.
	C. sp.	North Dakota			A cimolodontid multituberculate.
Cimolomys	C. gracilis	Montana			A cimolomyid multituberculate.
	C. cf. gracilis	South Dakota			A cimolomyid multituberculate.
Essonodon	E. browni	Montana			A cimolomyid multituberculate.
Meniscoessus	M. conquistus	South Dakota			A cimolomyid multituberculate.
	M. robustus	Montana North Dakota South Dakota			A cimolomyid multituberculate.
	M. cf. robustus	South Dakota			A cimolomyid multituberculate.
	M. sp.	North Dakota			A cimolomyid multituberculate.
	?M. sp.	North Dakota			A cimolomyid multituberculate.
Mesodma	M. formosa	Montana South Dakota			A neoplagiaulacid multituberculate.
	M. cf. formosa	Montana			A neoplagiaulacid multituberculate.
	M. hensleighi	Montana South Dakota			A neoplagiaulacid multituberculate.
	M. cf. hensleighi	South Dakota			A neoplagiaulacid multituberculate.
	M. thompsoni	Montana North Dakota South Dakota			A neoplagiaulacid multituberculate.
	M. cf. thompsoni	Montana			A neoplagiaulacid multituberculate.
	M sp.	Montana			A neoplagiaulacid multituberculate.
	?M sp.	Montana			A neoplagiaulacid multituberculate.
?Neoplagiaulax	?N. burgessi	Montana			A neoplagiaulacid multituberculate.
Paracimexomys	P. priscus	Montana			A multituberculate of uncertain phylogenetic placement.
Paressonodon	P. nelsoni				A cimolomyid multituberculate.
Stygimys	S. kuszmauli	Montana			It was a member of the extinct order Multituberculata.

Metatherians

Metatherians reported from the Hell Creek Formation
Genus	Species	State	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Aletridelphys	A. florencae	Montana North Dakota South Dakota			A pediomyid.
	A. hatcheri	Montana South Dakota			A pediomyid.
Alphadon	A. marshi	Montana North Dakota			An alphadontid. genus of small, primitive mammal that was a member of the Metatheria, a group of mammals that includes modern-day marsupials.
	A. cf. marshi	Montana South Dakota			An alphadontid.
	A. wilsoni	Montana			An alphadontid.
	A. cf. wilsoni	Montana			An alphadontid.
	A. sp.	North Dakota South Dakota			An alphadontid.
Didelphodon	D. padanicus	South Dakota			A stagodontid.
	D. vorax	Montana North Dakota			A stagodontid. genus of Stagodontidae marsupials from the Late Cretaceous of North America.
	D. cf. vorax	South Dakota			A stagodontid.
	D. sp.	North Dakota			A stagodontid.
	cf. D. sp.	North Dakota South Dakota			A stagodontid.
Glasbius	G. twitchelli	Montana			A glasbiid.
	G. cf. twitchelli	Montana			A glasbiid.
Leptalestes	L. cooki	Montana			A pediomyid.
	L. krejcii	Montana South Dakota			A pediomyid.
Nanocuris	N. improvida				A deltatheridiid.
Nortedelphys	N. jasoni (= N. intermedius)	Montana South Dakota			A herpetotheriid.
Pediomys	P. elegans	Montana South Dakota			A pediomyid.
Protalphadon	P. foxi	Montana			An alphadontid.
	P. lulli	Montana			An alphadontid.
Turgidodon	T. rhaister	Montana			An alphadontid.

Eutherians

Eutherians reported from the Hell Creek Formation
Genus	Species	State	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Altacreodus	A. magnus	Montana North Dakota			a possible creodont, formerly a species of Cimolestes
Alostera	A. saskatchewanensis	Montana			A eutherian of uncertain phylogenetic placement.
Ambilestes	A. cerberoides	Montana			A eutherian of uncertain classification, formally a species of Cimolestes
Batodon	B. tenuis	Montana			A cimolestid eutherian.
Cimolestes	C. incisus	Montana			A cimolestid eutherian.
	C. stirtoni	Montana			A cimolestid eutherian.
Gypsonictops	G. hypoconus	Montana South Dakota			A gypsonictopsid eutherian.
	G. illuminatus	Montana North Dakota			A gypsonictopsid eutherian.
	G. cf. illuminatus	Montana			A gypsonictopsid eutherian.
	G. sp.	Montana			A gypsonictopsid eutherian.
cf. Paranyctoides	cf. Paranyctoides sp.	Montana			A nyctitheriid eutherian.
Protungulatum	P. coombsi	Montana			A stem-placental.
Purgatorius	P. ceratops	Montana			A genus with four species believed to be either stem-placentals or stem-primates.
Scollardius	S. propalaeoryctes	Montana			A eutherian of uncertain classification, formally a species of Cimolestes

Flora

Detail of Hell Creek diorama at Milwaukee Public Museum is represented by angiosperm-dominated riparian forest.

The Hell Creek Formation was a low floodplain at the time before the sea retreated, and in the wet ground of the dense woodland, the diversity of angiosperms and conifers were present. An endless diversity of herbaceous flowering plants, ferns and moss grew in the forest understory. On the exposed point bars of large river systems, there were shrubs and vines. The evidence of the forested environment is overwhelmingly supported by petrified wood, rooted gley paleosols, and ubiquitous tree leaves. The presence of the simple and lobed leaves, combined with an extremely high dicot diversity, extinct cycadeoid Nilssoniocladus, Ginkgo, many types of monocots, and several types of conifers is different from any modern plant community. There are numerous types of leaves, seeds, flowers and other structures from Angiosperms, or flowering plants. The Hell Creek Formation of this layer contains over 300 tablets, of which angiosperms are by far the most diverse and dominant flora of the entire population, about 90 percent, followed by about 5% of conifers, 4% of ferns, and others. Compared to today Hell Creek's flora which is prairie, then Hell Creek's flora was hardwood forest mixed with deciduous and evergreen forest. In sharp contrast to the Great Plains today, the presence of many thermophilous taxa such as palm trees and gingers meant the climate was warmer and wetter then.

Fossil fruits from the Hell Creek Formation of Spinifructus antiquus of the palm family (Arecaceae), closely related to the genus Astrocaryum.

The plants of the Hell Creek Formation generally represent angiosperm-dominated riparian forests of variable diversity, depending on stratigraphic position and sedimentary environment. There appears to be floral transitions visible on a stratigraphic range from the lower to the upper Hell Creek Formation. For this reason, Kirk Johnson and Leo Hickey divided it into five zones and described them as HCIa, HCIb, HCIIa, HCIIb, and HCIII as a reflection of floral change through time. For example, the HCIa zone is dominated by "Dryophyllum" subfalcatum, Leepierceia preartocarpoides, "Vitis" stantonii, and "Celastrus" taurenensis, and is located 55 to 105 meters below the K-Pg boundary layer. Although the HCIb zone is a very thin layer, about 5 meters of rock, it bears unusually high diversity of herbaceous and shrubby plants, including Urticaceae, Ranunculaceae, Rosaceae, and Cannabaceae.

Bisonia niemii is one of the common fossil leaf species in the HCIII zone.

There is evidence of transitional floras in the middle of the Hell Creek Formation as shown by HCII and HCIII zones. The HCII flora represents a transitional period where taxa from the lower Hell Creek are replaced by the HCIII flora. The diversity of the HCIII zone is very high, and its composition is more uniform than that of HCII, many of which were rare or absent from the zones below, and some others that used to be common below became rarer in the HCIII zone. These forms include Elatides longifolia, "Dryophyllum" tennessensis, Liriodendrites bradacii, and many members of the Laurales including Bisonia niemii, "Ficus" planicostata, and Marmarthia trivialis, while "Celastrus" taurenensis, Leepierceia preartocarpoides, and many cupressaceous conifers became rarer. This phenomenon suggests that the global temperature was warming during the last 300,000-500,000 years of the Cretaceous period.

Johnson claims that there are no grasses, oaks, maples, beeches, figs, or willows in the Hell Creek Formation. There is no evidence of fern prairie either. However, there was an extremely high angiosperm diversity — common plane trees, "Dryophyllum" subfalcatum, Leepierceia preartocarpoides, and palm trees — along with extinct cycadeoid Nilssoniocladus, Ginkgo, araucariaceous, podocarpaceous, and cupressaceous conifers. This represents the mixed deciduous and evergreen broad-leaved forest as the Hell Creek landscape. The nature of these forests is uncertain because Johnson found that the majority of the angiosperm and conifer genera are now extinct. He also believes that, very roughly 80% of the terrestrial plant taxa died out in what is now Great Plains at the K-Pg boundary. On other hand, there is a great increase in the abundance of fossil fern spores in the two centimeters of rock that directly overlies the impact fallout layer (the famous K-Pg boundary layer). This increase in fern spore abundance is commonly referred as "the fern spike" (meaning that if the abundance of spores as a function of stratigraphic position were plotted out, the graph would show a spike just above the impact fallout layer).

Many of the modern plant affinities in the Hell Creek Formation (e.g., those with the prefix "aff." or with quotes around the genus name) may not in reality belong to these genera; instead they could be entirely different plants that resemble modern genera. Therefore, there is some question regarding whether the modern Ficus or Juglans, as two examples, actually lived in the Late Cretaceous.

Compared to the rich Hell Creek Formation fossil plant localities of the Dakotas, relatively few plant specimens have been collected from Montana. A few taxa were collected at Brownie Butte Montana by Shoemaker, but most plants were collected from North Dakota (Slope County) and from South Dakota. Among the localities, the Mud Buttes, located in Bowman County, North Dakota, is probably the richest megaflora assemblage known and the most diverse leaf quarry from the Hell Creek Formation. "TYPE" after the binomial means that it is represented by a type specimen found in the Yale-Peabody Museum collections. "YPM" is the prefix for the Yale-Peabody Museum specimen number; "DMNH" is for the Denver Museum of Nature & Science; "USNM" is for Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History; and so on. The majority of Hell Creek megafloral specimens are collected at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science.

Overview (from Johnson, 2002): 302 plant morphotypes based on leaf only, including:

• 1 bryophyte (mosses and liverworts)
• 11 ferns
• 1 sphenopsid
• 10 conifers
• 1 ginkgo (uncommon)
• 278 angiosperms (roughly 92% of all taxa found)

• 

  Ferns from Hell Creek

• 

  Cycads are found in Hell Creek

• 

  Ginkgo (uncommon) are found in Hell Creek

• 

  Various angiosperms from Hell Creek

• 

  Monkey-puzzle leaves are found in Hell Creek

• 

  Fossil palm trees indicate a hotter paleoclimate

• 

  Redwood seed cones are known from Hell Creek

• 

  Laurus are found in Hell Creek

• 

  Cercidiphyllum are found in Hell Creek

• 

  Magnolia is commonly found in Hell Creek

Plants of the Hell Creek Formation

• various ferns and cycads.
• Equisetum (Equisetaceae)

Gymnosperms

• Platyspiroxylon (Cupressaceae)
• Podocarpoxylon (Podocarpaceae)
• Elatocladus (Taxodiaceae)
• Sequoiaxylon (Taxodiaceae)
• Taxodioxylon (Taxodiaceae)
• Araucaria (Araucariaceae)
• †Cheirolepidiaceae

Ginkgos

• Ginkgo adiantoides

Angiosperms

• Artocarpus (Moraceae)
• Rose family (Rosaceae)
• Trochodendriodes (Cercidiphyllaceae)
• Penosphyllum (Sterculiaceae)
• Laurel family (Lauraceae)
• Magnolia (Magnoliaceae)
• Palms (Arecaceae)
• Platanites, sycamore or plane tree (Platanaceae)

Flora of the Hell Creek Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Abundance	Notes	Images
Alnipollenites					Fossil pollen
Aquilapollenites	"Aquilapollenites" attenuatus				Fossil pollen
	"Aquilapollenites" collaris				Fossil pollen
	"Aquilapollenites" conatus				Fossil pollen
	"Aquilapollenites" delicatus				Fossil pollen
	"Aquilapollenites" marmarthensis				Fossil pollen
	"Aquilapollenites" quadricretaeus				Fossil pollen
	"Aquilapollenites" quadrilobus				Fossil pollen
	"Aquilapollenites" reductus				Fossil pollen
	"Aquilapollenites" senonicus				Fossil pollen
	"Aquilapollenites" turbidus				Fossil pollen
	"Aquilapollenites" striatus				Fossil pollen
Balmeisporites	Balmeisporites sp.				Fossil pollen
Ilexpollenites	Ilexpollenites compactus				Fossil pollen
Interpollis	Interpollis cf. I. supplingensis				Fossil pollen
Tricolpites	Tricolpites interangulus				Fossil pollen
"Artocarpus"	"A." lessigiana				Abundant at Brownie Butte, Montana.
Annona?	A?. robusta				Abundant at Brownie Butte, Montana.
Araliaephyllum	A. polevoi				A lobed leaf. Closely relating to Bisonia. Fairly common.
Araucaria?	indeterminate				Casts of Monkey-puzzle leaves are found in Hell Creek.
Averrhoites	cf. A. affinis				An uncommon taxon with compound leaves.
Bisonia	B. niemii				Incertae sedis. Johnson, 1996. A broad leaf, probably in the Laurales. A common taxon. Type specimen was found near a Tyrannosaurus skeleton in South Dakota.
Browniea	B. serrata				In the Nyssaceae, closely relating to extant Camptotheca. Less common.
Cannabaceae?	indeterminate				Incertae sedis. It's not likely in the Cannabaceae.
Carpites	C. ulmiformis				Though this fossil fruit is abundant in the Early Paleocene, it's also found in Hell Creek. It may belong to Apiaceae.
"Celastrus"	"C." taurenensis				Incertae sedis. It's common in the lowermost to the middle Hell Creek Formation, but less common in the upper 1/3 Hell Creek Formation.
"Cinnamomum"	"C." lineafolia				Included in Ficus affinis by L. Hickey. Belongs in Rhamnaceae (modern buckthorns and Ceanothus). Some other specimens referred to Cinnamomum sezanensis(?) sp.), a real cinnamon bush. Its affinity is questionable.
Cissites	cf. C. acerifolia				This morphotype was first described from the Cenomanian Dakota Group.
	C. insignis				This form represents of the group of Cenomanian leaves from Dakota Formation.
	C. lobata				A lobed leaf with half-naked basal lateral veins. Common in the upper 1/3 of the Hell Creek Formation.
	C. puilasokensis				A palmately lobed leaf with 5 primary veins. Common in the upper 1/3 of the Hell Creek Formation.
Cobbania	C. corrugata				A prehistoric species of water lettuce, previously assigned to the genus Pistia.
	C. hickeyi				Another Cobbania species from pond sediments known as "Licking Leaves."
Cornophyllum	C. newberryi				The majority of leaves are entire-margined but some may develop a few teeth.
Cupressinocladus	C. interruptus				Casts of conifer leaves are found in Hell Creek. Uncommon
"Cypercites"	"C." sp				A reed-type plant.
Dammarites	D. sp				A cone seed. It's likely to belong to Elatides longifolia.
Ditaxocladus	D. catenulata				A cupressaceous conifer closely related to Cupressinocladus. Common.
"Dryophyllum"	"D." subfalcatum				This taxon is extremely common throughout the Hell Creek Formation, but is rare in Paleocene sediments. It is believed to be in Sabiaceae, closely relating to living genus Meliosma.
	aff. "Dryophyllum" subfalcatum				see above.
	"D." tenneseensis				This taxon is similar to "D." subfalcatum but with extremely high L/W ratio and craspedodromous venation.
Elatides	E. longifolia				Araucaria-like or Cunninghamia-like conifer. Less common in the lower 2/3 but more common in the upper 1/3 of the Hell Creek Formation.
Erlingdorfia	E. montana				Johnson, 1996. In the Platanaceae (related to today's Sycamore). A very common taxon.
Equisetum	E. sp				Contrary to common belief, it's actually rare in Hell Creek.
"Ficus"	"F." planicostata				Despite the genus name, it's in Lauraceae.
Grewiopsis	G. saportana				Another generic Platanaceae.
Ginkgo	G. adiantoides				The only ginkgo in the Hell Creek Formation; uncommon
Glyptostrobus	G. europaeus				Uncommon conifer.
Harmsia	H. hydrocotyloidea				Incertae sedis. May be related to lotus. An uncommon taxon.
Humulus?	aff. Humulus sp.				May be related to the extant genus Humulus.
Hydropteris	H. pinnata				Floating aquatic fern
Limnobiophyllum	L. scutatum				Floating aquatic monocot, closely related to Pistia.
Liriodendrites	L. bradacii				Johnson, 1996. In the Magnoliidae: a common taxon.
"Liriodendron"	"L." laramiense				Unlobed leaf. May be related to today's tulip tree (yellow poplar). An uncommon taxon.
Liriodendron	L. sp				Four-lobed leaf. May be related to today's tulip tree (yellow poplar). An uncommon taxon.
Leepierceia	L. preartocarpoides				Incertae sedis but possibly in Proteales. Johnson, 1996.
Laurophyllum	L. wardiana				Large leaves. Closely related to "Dryophyllum" subfalcatum.
"Magnolia"	M. pulchra				This species was thought to occur only in southern Wyoming flora, but Leo Hickey claims it is found further north in Montana and the Dakotas.
Marchantia	M. pealii				Only known liverwort in Hell Creek.
Marmarthia	M. johnsonii				A new Marmarthia species described in Peppe et. al. 2007.
	M. pearsonii				Johnson, 1996. In the Lauraceae: a very common taxon.
	M. trivialis				Johnson, 1996. In the Lauraceae: a very common taxon.
Metasequoia	M. occidentalis				Casts of Dawn Redwood seed cones are known from the Hell Creek.
"Myrica"	"Myrica" torreyi				Incertae sedis. Not actually a bayberry.
Nelumbo	N. sp				One of the most common aquatic plants in Hell Creek.
Nelumbium	N. montanum				An aquatic angiosperm, closely related to lotus. Uncommon.
Nilssoniocladus	N. yukonensis				The only Hell Creek Formation cycadeoid. A simple leaf. Common.
	N. comtula				Unlike N. yukonensis, its leaves are pinnatisect pinnules. Common.
Nordenskioldia	N. borealis				A fossil fruit that is likely to belong to Zizyphoides flabella.
Paranymphaea	P. hastata				Despite the name, it's not related to extant genus Nymphaea.
Palaeoaster	P. inquirenda				A poppy with quite similar seed pods and seeds to that of the extant poppy genus Romneya, though it's dubious.
Penosphyllum	P. cordatum				May be related to Sterculiaceae. A common taxon.
Platanites	P. marginata				Johnson, 1996. In the Platanaceae. A common taxon.
	P. raynoldsii				An uncommon taxon.
Polypodiaceae?	indeterminate
Porosia	P. verrucosa				A fossil fruit that may belong to Rutaceae.
Rhamnica	R. cleburnii				Incertae sedis. A Tetracera look-alike leaf.
Sabalites	S. sp				Coryphoid palm tree. Very common.
Salvinia	S. sp				Floating aquatic plant.
Spinifructus	S. antiquus				A fruit seed that may belong to the palm family (Arecaceae), closely related to the genus Astrocaryum.
Taxodium	T. olrikii				Related to today's bald cypress.
Trapago	T. angulata				A water caltrop look-alike.
Trochodendroides	T. arctica				A fossil fruit that may belong to Trochodendroides nebrascensis'.
	T. ellipticum				A katsura look-alike. An uncommon taxon.
	T. genetrix				A katsura look-alike. A common taxon.
	T. nebrascensis				A very common taxon.
"Vitis"	"V." stantonii				Possibly a member of the Platanaceae rather than Vitaceae
"Ziziphus"	"Z." fibrillosus				A common taxon.
Zingiberopsis	Z. attenuata				Related to today's ginger plant. Its closest living relative is the Asian genus Alpinia. Some Hell Creek Formation specimens show damage from hispine beetles ("leaf beetles" (Wilf et al., 2000)).
	Z. magnifolia				Another Zinigberopsis species, previously assigned to Canna? magnifolia.
Zizyphoides	Z. flabella				An uncommon taxon.

See also

• List of fossil sites (with link directory)
• Lists of dinosaur-bearing stratigraphic units
• Paleobiota of the Morrison Formation
  • Tremp Formation, Spain
  • Tremp Formation, Spain
  • Lefipán Formation, Argentina
  • Lopez de Bertodano Formation, Antarctica

References

Bibliography

General

• Preston, Douglas. 2019. The Day the Dinosaurs Died, 1. The New Yorker. Accessed 2019-04-01.
• U.S. National, Park Service. 1966. National Natural Landmarks - National Natural Landmarks (U.S. National Park Service), 1. www.nps.gov. Accessed 2019-03-22.

Geology

• DePalma, Smit J, Burnham DA, Kuiper K, Manning PL, Oleinik A, Larson P, Maurrasse FJ, Vellekoop J, Richards MA, Gurche L and Walter Alvarez W, R.A. 2019. A seismically induced onshore surge deposit at the K-Pg boundary, North Dakota. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 116. 8190–8199. Accessed 2020-03-30. doi:10.1073/pnas.1817407116 PMID 30936306 PMC 6486721 Bibcode: 2019PNAS..116.8190D
• Evans, D.C.; D.W. Larson, and P.J. Currie. 2013. A new dromaeosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) with Asian affinities from the latest Cretaceous of North America. Naturwissenschaften 100. 1041–1049. doi:10.1007/s00114-013-1107-5 Bibcode: 2013NW....100.1041E PMID 24248432
• Husson, D.; B. Galbrun; J. Laskar; L.A. Hinnov; N. Thibault; S. Gardin, and R.E. Locklair. 2011. Astronomical calibration of the Maastrichtian (late Cretaceous). Earth and Planetary Science Letters 305. 328–340. doi:10.1016/j.epsl.2011.03.008 Bibcode: 2011E&PSL.305..328H
• LeCain, Rebecca. 2010. Magnetostratigraphy of the Hell Creek and lower Fort Union formations in northeast Montana, 1. Master's Theses and Capstones. Accessed 2020-03-30.
• Johnson, K.R.; D.J. Nichols, and J.H. Hartman. 2002. Hell Creek Formation: A 2001 synthesis. The Hell Creek Formation and the Cretaceous-Tertiary Boundary in the northern Great Plains. Geological Society of America Special Paper 361. 503–510.

Paleontology

• DePalma, Robert. 2010. Preliminary Notes on the First Recorded Amber Insects from the Hell Creek Formation. The Journal of Paleontological Sciences x. x. Accessed 2019-02-21.
• Boyd, Clint A.; Caleb M. Brown; Rodney D. Scheetz, and Julia A. Clarke. 2009. Taxonomic revision of the basal neornithischian taxa Thescelosaurus and Bugenasaura. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 29. 758–770. doi:10.1671/039.029.0328
• Longrich, N. 2008. A new, large ornithomimid from the Cretaceous Dinosaur Park Formation of Alberta, Canada: Implications for the study of dissociated dinosaur remains. Palaeontology 54. 983–996. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2008.00791.x
• Manning, P.L.; C. Ott, and P.L. Falkingham. 2008. The first tyrannosaurid track from the Hell Creek Formation (Late Cretaceous), Montana, U.S.A. PALAIOS 23. 645–647. doi:10.2110/palo.2008.p08-030r Bibcode: 2008Palai..23..645M
• Bakker, R.T.; R.M. Sullivan; V. Porter; P. Larson, and S.J. Saulsbury. 2006. Dracorex hogwartsia, n. gen., n. sp., a spiked, flat-headed pachycephalosaurid dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous Hell Creek Formation of South Dakota in Lucas, S. G. and Sullivan, R. M., eds., Late Cretaceous vertebrates from the Western Interior. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 35. 331–354. Accessed 1907-10-31.
• Henderson, M.D., and J.E. Peterson. 2006. [192:AAPCVF2.0.CO;2 An azhdarchid pterosaur cervical vertebra from the Hell Creek Formation (Maastrichtian) of southeastern Montana]. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 26. 192–195.
• 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
• Pearson, D.A.; T. Schaefer; K.R. Johnson; D.J. Nichols, and J.P. Hunter. 2002. The Hell Creek Formation and the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in the northern Great Plains: An integrated continental record of the end of the Cretaceous. Vertebrate Biostratigraphy of the Hell Creek Formation in Southwestern North Dakota and Northwestern South Dakota, Geological Society of America Special Paper 361. 145–167. Accessed 2019-03-22. ISBN 9780813723617
• Varricchio, D.J. 2001. Late Cretaceous oviraptorosaur (Theropoda) dinosaurs from Montana, 42–57. D. H. Tanke and K. Carpenter (eds.), Mesozoic Vertebrate Life. Indiana University Press, Indianapolis, Indiana.
• Currie, P.J., and K. Padian. 1997. The Encyclopedia of Dinosaurs, 1–901. Academic Press. Accessed 2020-03-30. ISBN 978-0-122-26810-6
  • Eberth, D.A. (1997). Edmonton Group. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 199–204. ISBN 978-0-122-26810-6. https://archive.org/details/encyclopediadino00curr_075. 
  • Lofgren, D.F. (1997). Hell Creek Formation. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 302–303. ISBN 978-0-122-26810-6. https://archive.org/details/encyclopediadino00curr_075. 
  • Breithaupt, B.H (1997). Lance Formation. San Diego: Academic Press. pp. 394–395. ISBN 978-0-122-26810-6. https://archive.org/details/encyclopediadino00curr_075. 
• Christophel, D.C.. 1976. Fossil floras from the Smoky Tower locality, Alberta, Canada. Palaeontographica, Abt. B 157. x.
• Chandrasekharam, A.. 1974. Megafossil flora from the Genesee locality, Alberta, Canada. Palaeontographica, Abt. A 174. x.
• Estes, R., and P. Berberian. 1970. Paleoecology of a late Cretaceous vertebrate community from Montana. Breviora 343. 1.

External links

• Cretaceous Hell Creek Faunal Facies provides a faunal list
• Phillip Bigelow, "Hell Creek life: Fossil Flora & Fauna, a Paleoecosystem"
• Paleobiology Database: MPM locality 3850 (Hell Creek Formation): Maastrichtian, Montana