The Papo Seco Formation is a geological formation in Portugal, whose strata date back to the Early Cretaceous. Dinosaur fossils are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.

Name

The unit was previously referred to as the "Gres a Dinosauriens", due to the abundant dinosaur remains found in the past.

Description

The Papo Seco Formation (Rey, 1992) marks the return to clastic-dominated sedimentation. Exposure of the formation is found above the low cliff between Rochadouro and Areia do Mastro, and on the foreshore and beach at Boca do Chapim. The Papo Seco Formation is dominated by silty mud-mud deposition. This is interbedded with medium to coarse, commonly ribbon shaped, clastic sandstones. Along the exposure, between Rochadouro and Boca do Chapim, the clastic sands are not laterally continuous. The exposure clearly shows that the ribbon sands are isolated and change laterally into muds. Three distinct sand facies have been identified within the Papo Seco Formation.

Vertebrate paleofauna

Dinosaurs

Ornithischians

Color key Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon MorphotaxonNotes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.
TaxonReclassified taxonTaxon falsely reported as presentDubious taxon or junior synonymIchnotaxonOotaxonMorphotaxon
Ornithischians of the Papo Seco Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialsNotesImages
CariocecusC. bocageiPraia do Areia do MastroA partial skullA hadrosauroid ornithopod, which represents the first iguanodontian skull found in PortugalCariocecus bocagei
OrnithopodaIndeterminateBoca do Chapim Praia do Areia do MastroPrevious supposed reports of Mantellisaurus and Iguanodon cannot be substantiated
Iguanodontia
cf. Styracosterna

Saurischians

Color key Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon MorphotaxonNotes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.
TaxonReclassified taxonTaxon falsely reported as presentDubious taxon or junior synonymIchnotaxonOotaxonMorphotaxon
Saurischians of the Papo Seco Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialsNotesImages
Dromaeosauridae indet.IndeterminatePraia do Areia do MastroIberospinus natarioi
IberospinusI. natarioiPraia de AguncheirasSeveral assorted bones consist of dentary fragments, teeth, an incomplete right scapula, partial dorsal and caudal vertebrae, rib fragments, a partial pubis, two incomplete calcanea, and a pedal ungual phalanx.Was once thought to be a specimen of Baryonyx.
SuchosaurusS. girardiBoca do ChapimTwo fragment specimens consists of a mandible and one toothWas considered a species of Baryonyx
Titanosauriformes indet.IndeterminateBoca do ChapimWas referred to "Pleurocoelus" valdensis
Theropoda indet.IndeterminateBoca do ChapimIncluding Megalosaurus superbus, now known as Erectopus"
Theropoda indet.IndeterminatePraia do Areia do Mastro

Correlation

Early Cretaceous stratigraphy of Iberia
MaAgePaleomap \ BasinsCantabrianOlanyàCamerosMaestrazgoOlieteGalveMorellaSouth IberianPre-beticLusitanian
100CenomanianLa CabanaSopeiraUtrillasMosquerelaCaranguejeira
AltamiraUtrillas
Eguino
125AlbianUllaga - BalmasedaLluçàTraiguera
Monte GrandeEscuchaEscuchaJijona
Itxina - Miono
AptianValmaseda - TellamendiOl Gp. - CastrilloBenassalBenassalOlhos
FontEn Gp. - LezaMorella/OlieteOlieteVillaroyaMorellaCapas RojasAlmargem
Patrocinio - ErnagaSenyúsEn Gp. - JubelaForcallVillaroyaUpper BedoulianFigueira
BarremianVega de PasCabóAbejarXertAlacónXertHuérguinaAssises
PradaArtolesColladoMoutonianumPapo Seco
RúbiesTera Gp. - GolmayoAlacón/BlesaBlesaCamarillasMirambel
150HauterivianUr Gp. - PinillaLlacovaCastellarTera Gp. - PinillaVillaresPorto da Calada
hiatus
HuervaGaita
ValanginianVillaroUr Gp. - LarribaPed Gp. - Hortigüela
Ped Gp. - HortigüelaPed Gp. - Piedrahita
PeñacobaGalveMiravetes
BerriasianCab Gp. - ArceraValdepradohiatusAlfambra
TdL Gp. - RupeloArzobispohiatusTollo
On Gp. - Huérteles Sierra Matute
TithonianLastresTera Gp. - MagañaHiguerelesTera Gp. - MagañaLourinhã
Arzobispo
Ágreda
LegendMajor fossiliferous, oofossiliferous, ichnofossiliferous, coproliferous, minor formation
Sources

See also

Further reading

  • S. Figueiredo, I. Bachtsevanidou Strantzali, M. Gomes, R. Pimenta, and M. Santos. 2017. Preliminary Data of New Dinosaurs and Turtles Remains from the basal Deposits of the Papo-Seco Formation in Areias do Mastro's Quarry (Cabo Espichel - Portugal). Arnava 6(1):117-130