The Chilcatay Formation is a geologic formation located in Peru. The formation was deposited in the Pisco Basin, during the Early Miocene, roughly from 19.2 to 18.0 Ma. Fossil remains of baleen whales, sharks, and rays have been found in the formation.

Paleobiota of the Chilcatay Formation

Mammals

Dolphins

TaxaSpeciesMaterialDescriptionImagesNotes
HuaridelphisH. raimondiiA squalodelphinid river dolphin
EnsidelphisE. riveroiA river dolphin
FurcacetusF. flexirostrumA river dolphin
IncacetusI. broggiiA kentriodontid dolphin
cf. Kentriodoncf. K. sp.A kentriodontid dolphin
MacrosqualodelphisM. ukupachaiA squalodelphinid river dolphin
NotocetusN. vanbenedeniA squalodelphinid river dolphin
SqualodelphinidaeGen. et. sp. indet.A river dolphin

Whales

TaxaSpeciesMaterialDescriptionImagesNotes
AmphidelphisA. bakersfieldensisA cranium
CetotheriidaeGen. et. sp. indet.
ChaeomysticetiGen. et. sp. indet.A partial skull (CTZ 02)A baleen whale; either a late-diverging stem mysticete or an early-branching crown mysticete
A badly damaged dentary (ZM 98)A baleen whale; crownward of Eomysticetidae
A skull (ZM 152)A crown-group baleen whale, possibly a basal plicogulan
ChilcacetusC. cavirhinusA toothed whale
C. ullujayensis
DiaphorocetusD. otergaiA physeteroid sperm whale
EurhinodelphinidaeGen. et. sp. indet.A toothed whale
InticetusI. vertiziA toothed whale
MysticetiGen. et. sp. indet.A baleen whale
OdontocetiGen. et. sp. indet.A toothed whale
RhaphicetusR. valenciaeA physeteroid sperm whale

Seals

TaxaSpeciesMaterialDescriptionImagesNotes
PinnipediaGen. et. sp. indet.A seal

Birds

Penguins

TaxaSpeciesMaterialDescriptionImagesNotes
PalaeospheniscusP. sp.An early penguin

Reptiles

Turtles

TaxaSpeciesMaterialDescriptionImagesNotes
TestudinesGen. et. sp. indet.A turtle

Crocodilians

TaxaSpeciesMaterialDescriptionImagesNotes
SacacosuchusS. cordovaiA gavialid crocodilian

Cartilaginous fish

Rays

TaxaSpeciesMaterialDescriptionImagesNotes
cf. Anoxypristiscf. A. sp.A rostral spineA sawfish
DasyatidaeGen. et. sp. indet.Dermal denticlesA whiptail stingray
MyliobatoideaGen. et. sp. indet.TeethA stingray; several of the teeth compare favorably with Myliobatis eagle rays

Sharks

TaxaSpeciesMaterialDescriptionImagesNotes
AlopiasA. superciliosusTeethThe bigeye thresher
A. cf. vulpinusTeethTentatively assigned to the common thresher
AnotodusA. agassiziiTeethA thresher shark
CarcharhinusC. brachyurusTeethThe copper shark
C. dicelmai
C. cf. leucasA toothTentatively assigned to the bull shark
CarchariasC. sp.TeethA sand tiger shark
CarcharodonC. subauriculatusA white shark
CosmopolitodusC. hastalisTeethWhite sharks
C. plicatilisTeeth
GaleocerdoG. aduncusTeethA tiger shark
HemipristisH. serraTeethA weasel shark
IsurusI. oxyrinchusTeethThe shortfin mako shark
MegalolamnaM. paradoxodonA toothA megatoothed shark
MegachasmaM. cf. applegateiTeethA megamouth shark
NegaprionN. brevirostrisTeethThe lemon shark
OtodusO. chubutensisTeethA megatoothed shark; sometimes placed in separate genus Carcharocles
ParotodusP. benedeniiTeethA possible megatoothed shark
PhysogaleusP. contortusTeethA ground shark
SphyrnaS. zygaenaTeethThe smooth hammerhead
SquatinaS. sp.TeethAn angel shark