Cucaracha Formation
Cucaracha Formation
Stratigraphic range : Early Burdigalian -Mid Langhian (Hemingfordian -Barstovian ) 19–14 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Underlies Pedro Miguel & La Boca Formations
Thickness ~125 m (410 ft)
Lithology
Location
Coordinates 9°00′N 79°36′W/9.0°N 79.6°W/ 9.0; -79.6
Approximate paleocoordinates 8°24′N 77°30′W/8.4°N 77.5°W/ 8.4; -77.5
Extent Panama Basin
The Cucaracha Formation (Tca) is a geologic formation in Panama . It preserves vertebrate and plant fossils dating back to the Neogene period ; Early to Middle Miocene epochs (Hemingfordian ). Fossils of the crocodylian Centenariosuchus Rhinoclemmys panamaensis Paratoceras
The Cucaracha Formation is approximately 125 metres (410 ft) thick, and dated to 19 to 14 Ma.
Fossil content Color key Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Mammals Bats Bats reported from the Cucaracha FormationGenus Species Presence Material Notes Images Americanycteris A. cyrtodon Centenario Bridge & Hodges Hill Partial jaw & right premolar A leaf-nosed bat , first reported as a new "large insectivorous phyllostomine "
Carnivorans Carnivorans reported from the Cucaracha FormationGenus Species Presence Material Notes Images Bassaricyonoides B. sp. Gaillard Cut A procyonid Daphoenodon cf. D. sp. Gaillard Cut A bear dog Hemicyonidae indet.Indeterminate Gaillard Cut Radius & ulna fragmentA bear Tomarctus T. brevirostris Gaillard Cut Jaw & teeth A borophagine dog
Rodents Rodents reported from the Cucaracha FormationGenus Species Presence Material Notes Images Nototamias N. sp. Gaillard Cut A ground squirrel Petauristodon P. sp. Gaillard Cut A flying squirrel Proheteromys P. sp. Gaillard Cut A heteromyid Texomys T. stewarti Pedro Miguel Lock & Gaillard Cut Teeth A jimomyid
Ungulates Ungulates reported from the Cucaracha FormationGenus Species Presence Material Notes Images Anchitherium A. clarencei Gaillard Cut & Centenario Bridge Mandible fragment, upper cheek tooth & maxilla An equid Archaeohippus A. sp. Gaillard Cut Calcaneus & toothAn equid Cynorca C. occidentale Gaillard Cut, Centenario Bridge & Hodges Hill Jaw elements with teeth Species reassigned to the genus Tedfordhyus Floridaceras F. whitei Gaillard Cut Jaws, teeth & femur fragment A rhinoceros Floridatragulus cf. F. nanus Gaillard Cut A camelid Machaeromeryx cf. M. sp. Gaillard Cut A moschid Menoceras M. barbouri Gaillard Cut Teeth & limb elements A rhinoceros Merycochoerus M. matthewi Gaillard Cut Skull elements An oreodont Parablastomeryx cf. P. sp. Gaillard Cut A moschid Paratoceras P. coatesi Gaillard Cut, Centenario Bridge, Hodges Hill & Cartagena Hill Skull elements, teeth & limb fragments A protoceratid , first reported as P. wardi P. wardi Gaillard Cut Skull elements, teeth & limb fragments Remains reassigned to P. coatesi Tedfordhyus T. occidentalis Gaillard Cut, Centenario Bridge & Hodges Hill Jaw elements with teeth A peccary , originally named Cynorca occidentale
Reptiles Birds Birds reported from the Cucaracha FormationGenus Species Presence Material Notes Images Accipitridae indet.Indeterminate West side of the Panama Canal Talon A large eagle, talon resembles those of the crowned eagle and martial eagle
Crocodilians Crocodilians reported from the Cucaracha FormationGenus Species Presence Material Notes Images Centenariosuchus C. gilmorei Hodges Hill Skull & jaw A caiman cf. C. gilmorei Centenario Bridge Right angular A caiman Dadagavialis D. gunai East margin of the Panama Canal Partial snout A gavialid cf. D. gunai Centenario Bridge Partial mandible A gavialid Eusuchia indet.Indeterminate Panama Canal Zone Headless skeleton Osteoderms comparable to those of gavialids such as Gavialosuchus
Squamates Squamates reported from the Cucaracha FormationGenus Species Presence Material Notes Images Boa B. cf. B. constrictor Cartagena Hill & Hodges Hill Incomplete vertebrae A boid snake
Turtles Turtles reported from the Cucaracha FormationGenus Species Presence Material Notes Images Podocnemididae indet.Incertae sedis Centenario Bridge Right epiplastron A side-necked turtle Rhinoclemmys R. panamaensis Centenario Bridge Shell elements A geoemydid turtle R. sp. Centenario Bridge & Culebra Reach Isolated bones A geoemydid turtle Staurotypus S. moschus Centenario Bridge Peripheral part of shell A kinosternid turtle Testudinidae indet.Incertae sedis Culebra Reach Shell & limb elements A tortoise Trionychidae indet.Incertae sedis Centenario Bridge Right costal A softshell turtle
Plants Plants reported from the Cucaracha FormationGenus Species Presence Material Notes Images Ampelorhiza A. heteroxylon Culebra Cut Roots A member of Paullinieae Antrocaryon A. panamaensis Lirio East Endocarps A member of Anacardiaceae Dracontomelon D. montesii Lirio East Endocarps A member of Anacardiaceae Guazumaoxylon G. miocenica Hodges Hill Wood A member of Malvaceae , similar to Guazuma Mammea M. paramericana Northern Lirio East Stem A member of Calophyllaceae Oreomunnea O. grahamii Lirio East Nuts A member of Juglandaceae Panascleroticoxylon P. crystallosa Hodges Hill Wood A member of Malpighiales Parinari P. panamensis Lirio East, Gold Hill & Empire sites Endocarps A member of Chrysobalanaceae Parinarioxylon P. panamensis Lirio East Wood A member of Chrysobalanaceae Periplanetoxylon P. panamense Hodges Hill Wood A member of Malvaceae Prioria P. canalensis Hodges Hill Wood A legume P. hodgesii Hodges Hill Wood A legume Rourea R. blatta Northern Lirio East site Wood A liana belonging to the Connaraceae Spondias S. rothwellii Lirio East Endocarps A member of Anacardiaceae
See also Bibliography Kirby, Michael Xavier; Jones, Douglas S.; MacFadden, Bruce J. (2008), "Lower Miocene Stratigraphy along the Panama Canal and Its Bearing on the Central American Peninsula", PLoS ONE 3 (7): 1–14, Bibcode :, doi :, PMC , PMID Stewart, R.H.; Stewart, J.L.; Woodring, W.P. (1980), (PDF), USGS , p. 1 Woodring, W.P (1957), (PDF), USGS , pp. 1–186