Dinosaur Park Formation
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{{Infobox Rockunit
| name = Dinosaur Park Formation
| image = Dinosaur_Park_Fm.jpg
| caption = Dinosaur Park Formation exposed along the Red Deer River, Dinosaur Provincial Park, in southern Alberta.
| type = [[Geological formation]]
| prilithology = [[Sandstone]] (lower)<br>[[Siltstone]] (upper)
| otherlithology =
| namedfor = [[Dinosaur Provincial Park]]
| namedby =
| region = [[Alberta]]
| country = [[Canada]]
| coordinates =
| unitof = [[Judith River Group]]
| subunits =
| thickness =
| extent =
| area =
| age = 76.5 to 75 Ma}}
The '''Dinosaur Park Formation''' is the uppermost member of the [[Judith River Group]], a major geologic unit in southern [[Alberta]]. It was laid down over a period of time between about 76.5 and 75 million years ago. The formation is made up of deposits of a high-sinuosity (anastomosing) fluvial system, and is capped by the Lethbridge Coal Beds. The formation is bounded by the [[Oldman Formation]] below it and the [[marine (ocean)|marine]] [[Bearpaw Formation]] above it (Eberth, 2005).
It is best known for the dense concentrations of [[dinosaur]] skeletons, both articulated and disarticulated, that are found there. However, other animals such as [[fish]], [[turtle]]s, and [[crocodilia]]ns are also abundant in the formation. The formation has been named after [[Dinosaur Provincial Park]], a [[UNESCO]] [[World Heritage Site]].
==Stratigraphic division of ornithischians? (Ryan and Evans, 2005)==
''[[Centrosaurus]]'', ''[[Chasmosaurus|Chasmosaurus russelli]]'', ''[[Gryposaurus]]'', and ''[[Corythosaurus]]'' are most common at the base of the formation, to about the middle. ''[[Styracosaurus]]'', ''Chasmosaurus belli'', ''[[Prosaurolophus]]'', and ''[[Lambeosaurus|Lambeosaurus lambei]]'' are most common from the middle to near the top. A new group may be present at the top, as the inland sea transgresses onto land, but there are fewer remains here. An unnamed [[Pachyrhinosaurus|pachyrhinosaur]], ''Chasmosaurus irvinensis'', and ''Lambeosaurus magnicristatus'' may be more common here.
==Flora and fauna==
Numerous types of plants and animals are known from the formation (taxonomy mostly after the relevant chapters of Currie and Koppelhus, 2005):
===Palynomorphs===
[[Palynomorph]]s are organic-walled [[microfossil]]s, like [[spore]]s, [[pollen]], and [[algae]] (Braman and Koppelhus, 2005)
Unknown producers
*at least 8 species
[[Fungi]]
*at least 35 [[taxon|taxa]]
[[Chlorophyta]] ([[green|green algae]] and [[blue-green algae]])
*at least 12 [[species]]
[[Pyrrhophyta]] ([[dinoflagellates]], a type of marine [[algae]])
*unassigned [[cyst]]s
[[Bryophyte]]s ([[moss]]es, [[liverwort]]s, and [[hornwort]]s)
:[[Anthocerotophyta]] (hornworts)
:*at least 5 species
:[[Marchantiophyta]] (liverworts)
:*at least 14 species
:[[Moss|Bryophyta]] (mosses)
:* at least 5 species
[[Lycopodiophyta]]
:[[Lycopodiaceae]] ([[club moss]]es)
:*at least 11 species
:[[Selaginellaceae]] (small club mosses)
:*at least 6 species
:[[Isoetaceae]] ([[Isoëtes|quillwort]]s)
:*at least 1 species
[[Polypodiophyta]]
:[[Osmundaceae]] ([[cinnamon fern]]s)
:*at least 6 species
:[[Schizaeaceae]] ([[climbing fern]]s)
:*at least 20 species
:[[Gleicheniaceae]] (''[[Gleichenia]]'' and allies; [[coral fern]]s)
:*at least 5 species
:[[Cyatheaceae]] (''[[Cyathea]]'' and allies)
:*at least 4 species
:[[Dicksoniaceae]] (''[[Dicksonia]]'' and allies)
:*at least 3 species
:[[Polypodiaceae]] ([[fern]]s)
:*at least 4 species
:[[Matoniaceae]]
:*at least 1 species
:[[Marsileaceae]]
:*at least 1 species
[[Pinophyta]] ([[gymnosperm]]s)
:[[Cycadaceae]] ([[cycad]]s)
:*at least 3 species
:[[Caytoniaceae]]
:*at least 1 species
:[[Pinaceae]] ([[pine]]s)
:*at least 4 species
:[[Cupressaceae]] ([[cypress]]es)
:*at least 3 species
:[[Podocarpaceae]] (''[[Podocarpus]]'' and allies)
:*at least 4 species
:[[Cheirolepidiaceae]]
:*at least 2 species
:[[Ephedraceae]] ([[Ephedra (genus)|Mormon teas]])
:*at least 6 species
Unknown gymnosperms: at least 3 species
[[Magnoliophyta]] ([[angiosperms]])
:[[Magnoliopsida]] ([[dicot]]s)
::[[Buxaceae]] ([[boxwood]])
::*at least 1 species
::[[Gunneraceae]] ([[gunnera]]s)
::*at least 1 species
::[[Salicaceae]] ([[willow]]s, [[cottonwood]], [[quaking aspen]])
::*at least 1 species
::[[Droseraceae]] ([[sundew]]s)
::*at least 1 species
::[[Olacaceae]] ([[tallowwood]])
::*at least 2 species
::[[Loranthaceae]] ([[mistletoe|showy mistletoes]])
::*at least 1 species
::[[Sapindaceae]] ([[soapberry]])
::*at least 1 species
::[[Aceraceae]] ([[maple]]s)
::*at least 1 species
::[[Proteaceae]] ([[protea]]s)
::*at least 9 species
::[[Compositae]] ([[sunflowers]])
::*at least 1 species
::[[Fagaceae]] ([[beech]]es, [[oak]]s, [[chestnut]]s)
::*at least 2 species
::[[Betulaceae]] ([[birch]]es, [[alder]]s)
::*at least 1 species
::[[Ulmaceae]] ([[elm]]s)
::*at least 1 species
::[[Chenopodiaceae]] ([[goosefoot]]s)
::*at least 1 species
:[[Liliopsida]] ([[monocot]]s)
::[[Liliaceae]] ([[lily|lilies]])
::*at least 6 species
::[[Cyperaceae]] (sedges)
::*at least 1 species
::[[Sparganiaceae]] ([[bur-reed]]s)
::*possibly 1 species
:Unknown angiosperms: at least 88 species
===Plant body fossils (Koppelhus, 2005)===
*various ferns
*''[[Equisetum]]'' ([[Equisetaceae]])
[[Gymnosperm]]s
*''[[Platyspiroxylon]]'' ([[Cupressaceae]])
*''[[Podocarpoxylon]]'' ([[Podocarpaceae]])
*''[[Elatocladus]]'' ([[Taxodiaceae]])
*''[[Sequoia]]'' (Taxodiaceae)
*''[[Sequoiaxylon]]'' (Taxodiaceae)
*''[[Taxodioxylon]]'' (Taxodiaceae)
[[Ginkgo]]s
*''[[Baeria]]''
*''[[Ginkgoites]]''
[[Angiosperm]]s
*''[[Artocarpus]]'' ([[Moraceae]])
*''[[Cercidiphyllum]]'' ([[Cercidiphyllaceae]])
*''[[Dombeyopsis]]'' ([[Sterculiaceae]])
*''[[Menispermites]]'' ([[Menispermaceae]])
*''[[Pistia]]'' ([[Araceae]])
*''[[Platanus]]'' ([[Platanaceae]])
*''[[Vitis]]'' ([[Vitaceae]])
*''[[Trapa]]'' ([[Trapaceae]])
===Mollusks (Johnston and Hendy, 2005)===
[[Freshwater]] [[bivalve]]s
*''Fusconaia''
*''Lampsilis''
*''Sphaerium'' (2 species)
Freshwater [[gastropod]]s
*''Campeloma'' (2 species)
*''Elimia''
*''Goniobasis'' (3 species)
*''Hydrobia''
*''Lioplacodes'' (2 species)
===Fish===
[[Chondrichthyes|Chondrichthyans]] (Neuman and Brinkman, 2005)
*''[[Hybodus]]'' (a [[shark]])
*''[[Myledaphus]]'' (a [[Batoidea|ray]])
*indeterminate [[Orectolobidae|orectolobid]]
[[Acipenseriformes]] ([[sturgeons]]) (Neuman and Brinkman, 2005)
*unnamed sturgeon
*unnamed paddlefish
[[Holostean]] fish (Neuman and Brinkman, 2005)
*''[[Belonostomus]]''
*''[[Lepisosteus]]'' (the [[gar]])
*unnamed [[bowfin]]
*at least 2 other holosteans
[[Teleost]] fish (Neuman and Brinkman, 2005)
*''[[Patatarpon]]'' (an [[Elopomorpha|elopomorph]], like the [[tarpon]])
*''[[Cretophareodus]]'' (an [[Osteoglossomorpha|osteoglossomorph]])
*''[[Coriops]]''
*''[[Estesesox]]''
*''[[Oldmanesox]]''
*''[[Paralbula]]'' (including ''Phyllodus'')
*at least 8 other teleosts
===Amphibians (Gardner, 2005)===
[[Albanerpetonidae]] (extinct, [[salamander]]-like amphibians)
*''[[Albanerpeton]]''
[[Caudata]] ([[salamander]]s)
*''[[Habrosaurus]]''
*''[[Lisserpeton]]''
*''[[Opisthotriton]]''
*''[[Scapherpeton]]''
*unnamed caudatan
*2 indeterminate caudatans
[[Salienta]] ([[frog]]s)
*2 unnamed salientans
===Turtles (Brinkman, 2005)===
*''[[Adocus]]
*"''[[Apalone]]''"
*''[[Aspideretoides]]'' (3 species)
*''[[Basilemys]]''
*''[[Boremys]]''
*''[[Judithemys]]''
*''[[Neurankylus]]''
*''[[Plesiobaena]]''
*2 indeterminate taxa
===Choristoderes===
[[Choristodera|Choristoderes]], or [[champsosaur]]s, were aquatic reptiles. Small examples looked like lizards, while larger types were superficially similar to crocodilians (Keqin Gao and Brinkman, 2005)
*''[[Champsosaurus]]'' (at least 3 species)
*''[[Cteniogenys]]''
===Lizards (Caldwell, 2005)===
[[Helodermatidae|Helodermatids]]
*''[[Labrodioctes]]''
[[Necrosauridae|Necrosaurids]]
*''[[Parasaniwa]]''
[[Teiidae|Teiids]]
*''[[Glyptogenys]]''
*''[[Socognathus]]''
[[Varanidae|Varanids]]
*''[[Palaeosaniwa]]''
[[Xenosauridae|Xenosaurids]]
*?''[[Exostinus]]''
===Plesiosaurs (Sato, Eberth, Nicholls, and Manabe, 2005)===
*indeterminate [[Elasmosauridae|elasmosaurids]] (very long-necked) (more common)
*indeterminate [[Polycotylidae|polycotylids]] (shorter-necked)
===Crocodylians (Xiao-Chun Wu, 2005)===
*''[[Albertochampsa]]''
*''[[Leidysuchus]]''
*at least 1 unnamed taxon
===Pterosaurs (Godfrey and Currie, 2005)===
*1 large unnamed [[Azhdarchidae|azhdarchid]] (giant, long-necked [[pterosaur]])
*1 smaller unnamed azhdarchid
*1 unnamed non-azhdarchid pterosaur
===Dinosaurs===
[[Theropoda]] (Currie, 2005)
:[[Coelurosauria]] incertae sedis
::Family unknown
:::*''[[Paronychodon|Paronychodon lacustris]]''
:::*''[[Ricardoestesia|Ricardoestesia gilmorei]]''
:[[Tyrannosauroidea]]
::[[Tyrannosauridae]]
:::*''[[Daspletosaurus|Daspletosaurus sp.]]''
:::*''[[Gorgosaurus|Gorgosaurus libratus]]'' (also called ''[[Albertosaurus|Albertosaurus libratus]]'')
:[[Ornithomimosauria]]
::[[Ornithomimidae]]
:::*''[[Dromiceiomimus|Dromiceiomimus brevitertius]]'' (may be synonymous with ''[[Ornithomimus|Ornithomimus edmontonicus]])''
:::*''[[Ornithomimus|Ornithomimus edmontonicus]]''
:::*''[[Struthiomimus|Struthiomimus altus]]''
:[[Maniraptora]]
::[[Caenagnathidae]] (all of these may be species of ''[[Chirostenotes]]'')
:::*''[[Caenagnathus|Caenagnathus collinsi]]''
:::*''[[Caenagnathus|C. sternbergi]]''
:::*''[[Chirostenotes|Chirostenotes pergracilis]]''
:::*''[[Elmisaurus|Elmisaurus elegans]]''
::[[Avimimus|Avimimidae]]
:::*?indeterminate avimimid
::[[Therizinosauridae]]
:::*?indeterminate therizinosaurid
::[[Troodontidae]]
:::*''[[Troodon|Troodon formosus]]''
:::*''[[Troodon|Troodon inequalis]]'' (formerly ''Stenonychosaurus'') (might be synonymous with the former)
::[[Dromaeosauridae]]
:::*''[[Dromaeosaurus|Dromaeosaurus albertensis]]''
:::*''[[Saurornitholestes|Saurornitholestes langstoni]]''
::[[Birds]]
:::*''[[Baptornis]]'' sp.
:::*''[[Cimolopteryx]]'' sp.
:::*''[[Palintropus]]'' sp.
:::*additional indeterminate bird taxa
[[Ornithischia]] (Ryan and Evans, 2005)
:[[Ankylosauria]]
::[[Ankylosauridae]]
:::*''[[Euoplocephalus|Euoplocephalus tutus]]''
::[[Nodosauridae]]
:::*''[[Edmontonia|Edmontonia longiceps]]''
:::*''[[Edmontonia|E. rugosidens]]''
:::*''[[Panoplosaurus|Panoplosaurus mirus]]''
:[[Pachycephalosauria]]
::[[Pachycephalosauridae]]
:::*''[[Hanssuesia|Hanssuesia sternbergi]]''
:::*''[[Gravitholus|Gravitholus albertae]]''
:::*''[[Ornatotholus|Ornatotholus browni]]'' (?juvenile ''[[Stegoceras]]'')
:::*''[[Stegoceras|Stegoceras validum]]''
:::*''[[Stegoceras|"S." breve]]'' (?''[[Prenocephale]]'')
:[[Ceratopsia]]
:::*''[[Leptoceratops]]'' sp.
::[[Ceratopsidae]]
:::[[Centrosaurinae]]
:::*''[[Centrosaurus|Centrosaurus apertus]]''
:::*''[[Monoclonius|Monoclonius lowei]]''
:::*''[[Styracosaurus|Styracosaurus albertensis]]''
:::*unnamed ''[[Pachyrhinosaurus]]''-like taxon
:::[[Chasmosaurinae]]
:::*''[[Anchiceratops|Anchiceratops ornatus]]''
:::*''[[Chasmosaurus|Chasmosaurus belli]]''
:::*''[[Chasmosaurus|C. irvinensis]]''
:::*''[[Chasmosaurus|C. russelli]]''
:[[Ornithopoda]]
:::*at least 1 indeterminate [[hypsilophodont]]
::[[Hadrosauridae]]
:::[[Hadrosaurinae]]
:::*''[[Brachylophosaurus|Brachylophosaurus canadensis]]''
:::*''[[Gryposaurus|Gryposaurus notabilis]]''
:::*''[[Gryposaurus|G. incurvimanus]]''
:::*''[[Prosaurolophus|Prosaurolophus maximus]]''
:::[[Lambeosaurinae]]
:::*''[[Corythosaurus|Corythosaurus casuarius]]''
:::*''[[Lambeosaurus|Lambeosaurus lambei]]''
:::*''[[Lambeosaurus|L. magnicristatus]]''
:::*''[[Parasaurolophus|Parasaurolophus walkeri]]''
===Mammals (Fox, 2005)===
[[Multituberculata]]
*''[[Cimexomys]]'' sp.
*''[[Cimolodon]]'' spp.
*''[[Cimolomys|Cimolomys clarki]]''
*''[[Meniscoessus|Meniscoessus major]]''
*''[[Mesodma|Mesodma primaeva]]''
*unnamed multituberculates
[[Marsupial]]s
*''[[Alphadon|Alphadon halleyi]]''
*''[[Eodelphis|Eodelphis browni]]''
*''E. cutleri''
*5 species of "[[Pediomys]]"
*''[[Turgidodon|Turgidodon russelli]]''
*''T. praesagus''
[[Placentalia|Placentals]]
*''[[Cimolestes]]'' sp. (uncertain taxonomy)
*''[[Gypsonictops|Gypsonictops lewisi]]''
*''[[Paranyctoides|Paranyctoides sternbergi]]''
Unknown [[Theria|therians]]: at least 1 species
==References==
*Braman, D.R., and Koppelhus, E.B. 2005. Campanian palynomorphs. In: Currie, P.J., and Koppelhus, E.B. (eds), ''Dinosaur Provincial Park: A Spectacular Ancient Ecosystem Revealed.'' Indiana University Press: Bloomington and Indianapolis, 101-130.
*Brinkman, D.B. 2005. Turtles: diversity, paleoecology, and distribution. In: Currie, P.J., and Koppelhus, E.B. (eds), ''Dinosaur Provincial Park: A Spectacular Ancient Ecosystem Revealed.'' Indiana University Press: Bloomington and Indianapolis, 202-220.
*Caldwell, M.W. The squamates: origins, phylogeny, and paleoecology. In: Currie, P.J., and Koppelhus, E.B. (eds). 2005. ‘’Dinosaur Provincial Park: A Spectacular Ancient Ecosystem Revealed.’’ Indiana University Press: Bloomington and Indianapolis, 235-248.
*Currie, P.J. 2005. Theropods, including birds. In: Currie, P.J., and Koppelhus, E.B. (eds), ''Dinosaur Provincial Park: A Spectacular Ancient Ecosystem Revealed.'' Indiana University Press: Bloomington and Indianapolis, 367-397.
*Currie, P.J., and Koppelhus, E.B. (eds). 2005. ''Dinosaur Provincial Park: A Spectacular Ancient Ecosystem Revealed.'' Indiana University Press: Bloomington and Indianapolis, 648 p.
*Eberth, D.A. 2005. The geology. In: Currie, P.J., and Koppelhus, E.B. (eds), ''Dinosaur Provincial Park: A Spectacular Ancient Ecosystem Revealed.'' Indiana University Press: Bloomington and Indianapolis, 54-82.
*Fox, R.C. 2005. Late Cretaceous mammals. In: Currie, P.J., and Koppelhus, E.B. (eds), ''Dinosaur Provincial Park: A Spectacular Ancient Ecosystem Revealed.'' Indiana University Press: Bloomington and Indianapolis, 417-435.
*K. Gao and Brinkman, D.B. 2005. Choristoderes from the Park and its vicinity. In: Currie, P.J., and Koppelhus, E.B. (eds), ''Dinosaur Provincial Park: A Spectacular Ancient Ecosystem Revealed.'' Indiana University Press: Bloomington and Indianapolis, 221-234.
*Gardner, J.D. 2005. Lissamphibians. In: Currie, P.J., and Koppelhus, E.B. (eds), ''Dinosaur Provincial Park: A Spectacular Ancient Ecosystem Revealed.'' Indiana University Press: Bloomington and Indianapolis, 186-201.
*Godfrey, S.J., and Currie, P.J. 2005. Pterosaurs. In: Currie, P.J., and Koppelhus, E.B. (eds), ''Dinosaur Provincial Park: A Spectacular Ancient Ecosystem Revealed.'' Indiana University Press: Bloomington and Indianapolis, 292-311.
*Johnston, P.A., and Hendy, A.J.W. 2005. Paleoecology of mollusks from the Upper Cretaceous Belly River Group. In: Currie, P.J., and Koppelhus, E.B. (eds), ''Dinosaur Provincial Park: A Spectacular Ancient Ecosystem Revealed.'' Indiana University Press: Bloomington and Indianapolis, 139-166.
*Koppelhus, E.B. 2005. Paleobotany. In: Currie, P.J., and Koppelhus, E.B. (eds), ''Dinosaur Provincial Park: A Spectacular Ancient Ecosystem Revealed.'' Indiana University Press: Bloomington and Indianapolis, 131-138.
*Neuman, A.G., and Brinkman, D.B. 2005. Fishes of the fluvial beds. In: Currie, P.J., and Koppelhus, E.B. (eds), ''Dinosaur Provincial Park: A Spectacular Ancient Ecosystem Revealed.'' Indiana University Press: Bloomington and Indianapolis, 167-185.
*Ryan, M.J., and Evans, D.C. 2005. Ornithischian dinosaurs. In: Currie, P.J., and Koppelhus, E.B. (eds), ''Dinosaur Provincial Park: A Spectacular Ancient Ecosystem Revealed.'' Indiana University Press: Bloomington and Indianapolis, 312-348.
*Sato, T., Eberth, D.A., Nicholls, E.L., and Manabe, M. 2005. Plesiosaurian remains from non-marine to paralic sediments. In: Currie, P.J., and Koppelhus, E.B. (eds), Dinosaur Provincial Park: A Spectacular Ancient Ecosystem Revealed.’’ Indiana University Press: Bloomington and Indianapolis, 249-276.
*Xiao-Chun Wu. 2005. Crocodylians. In: Currie, P.J., and Koppelhus, E.B. (eds), ''Dinosaur Provincial Park: A Spectacular Ancient Ecosystem Revealed.'' Indiana University Press: Bloomington and Indianapolis, 277-291.
[[Category:Geologic formations]]
[[Category:Geography of Alberta]]
[[Category:Stratigraphy of Canada]]
[[Category:Natural history of Canada]]
[[Category:Geology of Canada]]