The El Gallo Formation is a geological formation in Mexico whose strata date back to the Late Cretaceous, from the Santonian to the Maastrichtian.[1] Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[2]

El Gallo Formation
Stratigraphic range:
Santonian–Maastrichtian
TypeGeological formation
Sub-unitsEl Disecado Member
Thicknessup to ca. 1,150 m (3,770 ft) (El Disecado Member)
Lithology
PrimaryMudstone, sandstone
OtherSiltstone
Location
Coordinates30°06′N 115°48′W / 30.1°N 115.8°W / 30.1; -115.8
Approximate paleocoordinates35°30′N 85°48′W / 35.5°N 85.8°W / 35.5; -85.8
Region Baja California
Country Mexico
El Gallo Formation is located in Mexico
El Gallo Formation
El Gallo Formation (Mexico)
Paleogeography of the Campanian, showcasing what North America was like during the time range the formation spans

Vertebrate paleofauna

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Crurotarsans

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Crurotarsans of the El Gallo Formation
Genus Species Location Member Abundance Notes Images
Brachychampsa [3]
Leidyosuchus

Dinosaurs

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Indeterminate theropod, coelurosaur, dromaeosaurid, tyrannosaurid, hadrosaurid, and ankylosaurid remains are known from the formation.[4] Dinosaur eggs are known from the formation.[5] Alexornis antecedens actually comes from the La Bocana Roja Formation. An indeterminate hadrosaurine is known from the formation.[6]

Dinosaurs of the El Gallo Formation
Genus Species Location Member Abundance Notes Images
cf. Chirostenotes[4] C. sp.
Gryposaurus[6] Indeterminate
Lambeosaurus[7] L. laticaudus[7]
Magnapaulia M. laticaudus
Saurornitholestinae[4] Indeterminate
cf. Troodon[8] T. formosus[8]
Tyrannosauridae[4] Indeterminate Possibly represents a new taxon.[4]

Lepidosaurs

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Lepidosaurs of the El Gallo Formation
Genus Species Location Member Abundance Notes Images
Paraglyphanodon[9] Indeterminate[9] Probably a juvenile Polyglyphanodon.[5]
Polyglyphanodon[5] P. bajaensis[5]

Mammals

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Mammals of the El Gallo Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images
Mesodma[10] M. formosa[10]
Pediomys[5] Indeterminate[5]
Stygimys[9] Indeterminate[9]

Amphibians

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An indeterminate albanerpetontid is known from the formation.[11]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Kane, I. A.; Hodgson, D. M.; Hubbard, S. M.; McArthur, A. D.; Poyatos-Moré, M.; Soutter, E. L.; Flint, S. S.; Matthews, W. (2022). "Deep-water Tectono-Stratigraphy at a Plate Boundary Constrained by Large N-Detrital Zircon and Micropaleontological Approaches: Peninsular Ranges Forearc, Baja California, Mexico". The Sedimentary Record. 20 (1). doi:10.2110/001c.37652. S2CID 59406495.
  2. ^ "El Gallo Formation." Weishampel et al., 2004, pp.587-588
  3. ^ "Appendix: Summary of the Mesozoic Reptilian Fossils of California," in Hilton (2003) p. 277
  4. ^ a b c d e Ramírez-Velasco, A. A.; Hernández-Rivera, R. (2015). "Diversity of late cretaceous dinosaurs from Mexico" (PDF). Boletín Geológico y Minero. 126 (1): 63–108. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2022-02-25. Retrieved 2020-10-02.
  5. ^ a b c d e f "El Gallo Formation, Baja California Del Norte, Mexico," in Sullivan and Lucas (2006). Page 16.
  6. ^ a b Cabrera Hernandez, Jonathan S.; Hernandez Rivera, René; Montellano, Marisol (2018). "FOSSIL EGGSHELLS AND TWO PERINATAL DINOSAURS FROM THE EL GALLO FORMATION (LATE CRETACEOUS), EL ROSARIO, BAJA CALIFORNIA, MEXICO". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology, Program and Abstracts. 38. Archived from the original on 2018-10-22. Retrieved 2020-10-14.
  7. ^ a b "Appendix: Summary of the Mesozoic Reptilian Fossils of California," in Hilton (2003) p. 260
  8. ^ a b "4.5 Estado de Baja California Norte, Mexico; 1. El Gallo Formation," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Pages 587-588.
  9. ^ a b c d Listed as "cf. Paraglyphanodon" in "El Gallo Formation, Baja California Del Norte, Mexico," in Sullivan and Lucas (2006). Page 16.
  10. ^ a b Listed as "Mesodma cf. M. formosa" in "El Gallo Formation, Baja California Del Norte, Mexico," in Sullivan and Lucas (2006). Page 16.
  11. ^ Romo de Vivar Martínez, Paulo R.; Montellano Ballesteros, Marisol; García Alcántara, Dalia; Romo de Vivar Martínez, Paulo R.; Montellano Ballesteros, Marisol; García Alcántara, Dalia (December 2016). "Primer registro de la Familia Albanerpetontidae (Lissamphibia) en la formación El Gallo (Campaniano, Cretácico Superior), Baja California, México". Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana (in Spanish). 68 (3): 571–580. doi:10.18268/BSGM2016v68n3a11. ISSN 1405-3322.

Bibliography

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Further reading

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  • M. L. Chavarria-Arellano, T. R. Simões, and M. Montellano-Ballesteros. 2018. New data on the Late Cretaceous lizard Dicothodon bajaensis (Squamata, Borioteiioidea) from Baja California, Mexico reveals an unusual tooth replacement pattern in squamates. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências
  • O. A. López Conde, J. Sterli, M. L. Chavarría Arellano, D. B. Brinkman, and M. Montellano Ballesteros. 2018. Turtles from the Late Cretaceous (Campanian) of El Gallo Formation, Baja California, Mexico. South American Journal of Earth Sciences 88:693-699
  • B. R. Peecook, J. A. Wilson, R. Hernandez-Rivera, M. Montellano-Ballesteros, and G. P. Wilson. 2014. First tyrannosaurid remains from the Upper Cretaceous "El Gallo" Formation of Baja California, Mexico. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 59(1):71-80
  • A. A. Ramírez Velasco, R. Hernández Rivera, and R. Servin Pichardo. 2014. The hadrosaurian record from Mexico. In D. A. Eberth & D. C. Evans (ed.), Hadrosaurs 340–360
  • H. E. Rivera Sylva, K. Carpenter, and F. J. Aranda Manteca. 2011. Late Cretaceous nodosaurids (Ankylosauria: Ornithischia) from Mexico. Revista Mexicana de Ciencias Geológicas 28(3):371-378
  • W. J. Morris. 1973. Mesozoic and Tertiary vertebrates in Baja California. National Geographic Society Research Reports (1966) 7:197-209
  • A. Silva Bárcenas. 1969. Localidades de vertebrados fósiles en la Republica Méxicana [Vertebrate fossil localities in the Mexican Republic]. Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Instituto de Geología, Paleontología Mexicana 28:1-34
  • W. Langston and M. H. Oakes. 1954. Hadrosaurs in Baja California. Bulletin of the Geological Society of America 65(12):1344