The Goio-Erê Formation is a geological formation in Brazil. It is sometimes thought to be deposited between the Turonian and Campanian stages of the Late Cretaceous, but an Aptian-Albian date has also been proposed. It primarily consists of sandstone and was deposited in a desert environment. It is known for its exceptional 3-D preservation of fossils at the Cemitério dos Pterossauros ("Pterosaur Graveyard") Quarry, located in the municipality of Cruzeiro do Oeste. Animals recovered from this site include the pterosaurs Keresdrakon, Caiuajara and Torukjara, the dinosaurs Berthasaura and Vespersaurus, and the iguanian lizard Gueragama. A few studies have alternatively assigned the Cemitério dos Pterossauros site to the younger Rio Paraná Formation, however.

Fossil content

Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs from the Goio-Erê Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
BerthasauraB. leopoldinaeCemitério dos Pterossauros QuarryA berthasaurid ceratosaur.
VespersaurusV. paranaensisCemitério dos Pterossauros QuarryA noasaurid ceratosaur.

Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs from the Goio-Erê Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
CaiuajaraC. dobruskiiCemitério dos Pterossauros QuarryA tapejarid pterosaur.
KeresdrakonK. vilsoniCemitério dos Pterossauros QuarryAn azhdarchoid pterosaur.
TorukjaraT. bandeiraeCemitério dos Pterossauros QuarryA tapejarid pterosaur.

Squamates

Squamates from the Goio-Erê Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
GueragamaG. sulamericanaCemitério dos Pterossauros QuarryJaw fragmentsAn iguanian lizard.