The Wonthaggi Formation is an informal geological formation in Victoria, Australia whose strata date back to the Early Cretaceous. It is part of the Strzelecki Group within the Gippsland Basin. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Early Cretaceous, Australasia)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 573-574. ..
Geology
The Wonthaggi Formation was deposited within Gippsland Basin, which formed part of a extensional rift valley system between Australia and Antarctica. The lithology primarily consists of fluvially deposited siliciclastics derived from volcanic rocks of the Whitsunday Silicic Large Igneous Province to the East, with suggestions that the sediments either originated from braided river and sheet flood deposits, or meandering river systems on vegetated floodplains. The age of the formation is thought to be Valanginian to Barremian, with the Flat Rocks site being late Barremian (~125 Ma) in age, older than the sediments from the Eumeralla Formation, which are thought to be Aptian-Albian in age.
Permafrost Paleosol facies in the Wonthaggi have recorded periglacial cryoturbation structures. Unusual soft sediment deformation has been observed at the Flat Rocks and Kilcunda localities, representing cryogenic hummocks. At Kilcunda, clastic dykes representing thermal contraction cracks have been identified. In the coal seams of the Wonthaggi, stone rolls are interpreted as products of a distinct form of periglacial deformation in aapa mires. Periods of warmer, temperate climate conditions are recorded as Ultisols in the Valanginian interval of the sedimentary unit.
Fossil content Indeterminate ornithopod remains are present in Victoria, Australia. Indeterminate megaraptorid remains are present in Victoria, Australia.
Dinosaurs
Ornithischians Ornithischians of the Wonthaggi FormationGenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImage Ankylosauria indet. Indeterminate Flat Rocks Teeth, dorsal vertebra, ribs, osteoderms cf. Atlascopcosaurus cf. A. loadsi Flat Rocks known as "Victorian ornithopod maxillary morphotype 4", consists of a partial right maxilla A elasmarian ornithopod Galleonosaurus G. dorisae Flat Rocks Known from a maxilla A elasmarian ornithopod Qantassaurus Q. intrepidus Flat Rocks "[Three] dentaries and teeth.""Table 18.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 395. A elasmarian ornithopod Q. ?intrepidus Serendipaceratops S. arthurclarkei The Arch, Kilcunda Single damaged ulna A dubious ornithischian Ornithopoda indet. Indeterminate Flat Rocks Dentaries referred to as "Victorian ornithopodan dentary morphotype 3" including P228408, NMV P231182, NMV P199135 and isolated teeth Different from Q. intrepidus. Ornithopoda indet. Indeterminate Cape Paterson Single femur An indeterminate ornithopod
Theropods Theropods of the Wonthaggi FormationGenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImage Aves Indet. Indeterminate Possibly also present at the Eumeralla Formation (footprints). Single furcula. Megaraptora indet. Indeterminate Flat Rocks Numerous isolated teeth, and a left astragalus Originally referred to "Allosaurus" robustus Megaraptoridae indet. Indeterminate Shack Bay a complete frontal, attached to a partial parietal Noasauridae Indet.IndeterminateSan Remo MemberNMV P221202, astragalocalcaneumA non-elaphrosaurine noasaurid
Amphibians Amphibians of the Wonthaggi FormationGenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImage Koolasuchus K. cleelandi Tree Trunk Point, Dwyers Hill, San Remo A chigutisaurid temnospondyl
Mammals Mammals of the Wonthaggi FormationGenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImage Ausktribosphenos A. nyktos Flat Rocks Partial dentary with teeth ausktribosphenid australosphenidan Bishops B. whitmorei Flat Rocks Partial dentary with teeth A ausktribosphenid australosphenidan Corriebaatar C. marywaltersae Flat Rocks "NMV P216655, a fragment of a left dentary bearing a complete plagiaulacoid p4 and the anterior root of m1" A corriebaatarid multituberculate Kryoparvus K. gerriti Flat Rocks Partial dentary with teeth A ausktribosphenid australosphenidan Teinolophos T. trusleri Flat Rocks Partial dentary with teeth A teinolophid monotreme
See also List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations South Polar region of the Cretaceous
References