The Quiriquina Formation is a geological formation in Chile whose strata date back to the Late Cretaceous. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Cretaceous, South America)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 600-604. . The glauconitic sandstones and conglomerates of the formation were deposited in a marine environment.Cocholgüe village, sea coast at Fossilworks.org
Paleofauna
Reptiles Birds Birds reported from the Quiriquina Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesNeogaeornisN. wetzeliBahía San VicenteTwo tarsometatarsiA diving bird, possibly a vegaviid
Mosasaurs Mosasaurs reported from the Quiriquina Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes Imagescf. Halisaurinae indet.IndeterminateLoancoIsolated tooth (SGO.PV.6629)A halisaurine, another specimen formerly given the same classification has been reclassified as Halisaurus sp.HalisaurusH. sp.CocholgüeJaw elements (CPOC/Q/3105)Specimen formerly classified as cf. Plotosaurus sp. and cf. Halisaurinae indet.Mosasauridae indet.IndeterminateQuiriquina IslandDorsal vertebra (CPMC 18)A mosasaur, specimen is too fragmentary and eroded for more precise identificationIndeterminateAlgarroboIsolated tooth (SGO.PV.6570) Three isolated tooth crowns (SGO.PV.6571)Material resembles the teeth of a specimen now referred to Halisaurus sp. (CPOC/Q/3105)Plotosauruscf. P. sp.CocholgüeJaw elements (CPOC/Q/3105)Specimen reassigned to Halisaurus sp.Tylosaurinae indet.IndeterminateCocholgüe LoancoTwo teeth (MPC 11000 & MPC 11001)A tylosaurine
Plesiosaurs Plesiosaurs reported from the Quiriquina Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesAristonectesA. quiriquinensisCocholgüe Las Tablas BayPartial skeleton (SGO.PV.957) Postcranial skeleton of a juvenile (SGO.PV.260) Complete femur (SGO.PV.135) Partial humerus (SGO.PV.169) Caudal vertebrae (SGO.PV.94)An aristonectine, some specimens of this species were formerly reported as Aristonectinae indet. or Mauisaurus sp.Aristonectinae indet.IndeterminateLas Tablas BayPostcranial skeleton of a juvenile (SGO.PV.260)Specimen reassigned to Aristonectes quiriquinensisCimoliasaurusC. andiumVertebrae and limb elementsAn elasmosaurid, species now deemed a nomen dubiumElasmosauridae indet.IndeterminateAlgarrobo21 articulated vertebrae (SGO.PV.90) 17 teeth (SGO.PV.6572)An elasmosauridIndeterminateMariscaderoPostcranial skeleton (SGO.PV.6506)May represent the same species as material referred to the dubious "Cimoliasaurus" andiumMauisaurusM. sp.Las Tablas BayComplete femur (SGO.PV.135) Partial humerus (SGO.PV.169)Specimens reassigned to Aristonectes quiriquinensisPlesiosauria indet.IndeterminateAlgarroboPartial left propodial (SGO.PV.6638)May represent a young individualPliosaurusP. chilensisVertebrae and limb elements (now lost)Species now deemed a nomen dubium, material actually represents an elasmosaurid and not a pliosaurWunyelfiaW. maulensisPelluhuePartial skeleton (SGO.PV.6507)An aristonectine
Turtles Turtles reported from the Quiriquina Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesAustralobaenaA. chilensisQuiriquinaSkull (SFMF R 4151)A baenidChelonioidea indet.IndeterminateAlgarroboPartial left humerus (MPC.11001)A sea turtlecf. Dermochelyidae indet.IndeterminateAlgarroboAssociated ilium, scapula and pubis (SGO.PV.6573)A possible dermochelyid, though the feature used to diagnose it as such may also be present in some protostegidsEuclastesE. sp.CocholgüeSkull (SGO.PV.6504)A pancheloniidTestudines indet.IndeterminateAlgarroboNeural plate (MPC.11003) Peripheral plate (MPC.11002)A turtle, specimens cannot be identified more precisely
Fish Bony fish Bony fish reported from the Quiriquina Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesBelonostomusB. longirostrisAlgarroboTwo rostrum fragments (SGO-PV 788 & SGO PV 790) Predentary (SGO-PV-789)An aspidorhynchidEnchodusE. sp.AlgarroboAbdominal centrum (SGO.PV.6825) Dermopalatine with attached fang (SGO.PV.6820a) Broken dermopalatine with attached broken fang (SGO.PV.6820b) Incomplete right articular (SGO.PV.6824) Two isolated fangs (SGO.PV.6519)An aulopiformPachycormidae indet.IndeterminateAlgarroboSix teeth (SGO.PV.6620)Specimens resemble the teeth of Protosphyraena but are much smallerPachyrhizodusP. sp.AlgarroboThree isolated teeth (SGO.PV.6571)A crossognathiform
Cartilaginous fish Cartilaginous fish reported from the Quiriquina Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesBiropristisB. landbeckiAlgarroboOral teethA sawskateCallorhynchusC. sp.Dental platesA ratfishCarchariasC. sp.TeethA sand sharkCentrophoroidesC. sp.TeethA dogfish sharkChimaeraC. sp.Dental platesA ratfishDasyatidae gen. et. sp. nov.New speciesTeethAn unnamed species of stingrayEdaphodonE. sp.Dental platesA ratfishIschyrhizaI. chilensisAlgarroboRostral teethA sawskateOrectolobiformes gen. et. sp. nov.New speciesTeethAn unnamed species of carpet sharkParaorthacodusP. sp.TeethA paraorthacodontidSquatinaS. sp.TeethAn angelshark
Crustaceans Crustaceans reported from the Quiriquina Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesAnomura indet.IndeterminateAlgarroboBroken dactylus tip (SGO.PI.6408)A possible hermit crabProtocallianassaP. saetosaAlgarrobo LoancoMultiple specimensA callianassid
Molluscs Bivalves Bivalves reported from the Quiriquina Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesCardiumC. acuticostatumLoanco82 specimensA cockle
Cephalopods Cephalopods reported from the Quiriquina Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesAnagaudrycerasA. politissimumLas Tablas Colchogüe ToméFive specimensA gaudryceratid ammoniteA. subtilineatumColchogüe Tomé LirquénThree juvenile specimensA gaudryceratid ammoniteBaculitesB. ancepsColchogüe Las Tablas Lirquén San Vicente Santa Sabina Tomé40 specimensA baculitid ammoniteB. huenickeniColchogüe Las Tablas San Vicente Santa Sabina32 specimensA baculitid ammoniteDiplomocerasD. cylindraceumColchogüe Las Tablas Loanco San VicenteSeven specimensA diplomoceratid ammoniteGaudrycerasG. kayeiColchogüe San Vicente Las Tablas Lirquén ToméSix specimensA gaudryceratid ammoniteEubaculitesE. carinatusColchogüe Las Tablas Laguna Lo Méndez Lirquén Loanco56 specimensA baculitid ammoniteGrossouvritesG. gemmatusLas Tablas Loanco San VicenteNine specimensA kossmaticeratid ammoniteG. joharaeColchogüe Las Tablas LoancoSix specimensA kossmaticeratid ammoniteGunnaritesG. cf. bhavaniformisSan VicenteTwo fragmentsA kossmaticeratid ammoniteHoploscaphitesH. constrictus quiriquiniensisColchogüe Dichato51 specimensA scaphitid ammoniteHypophyllocerasH. (Neophylloceras) hetonaienseLas Tablas Colchogüe Tomé Lirquén20 specimensA phylloceratid ammoniteH. (Neophylloceras) inflatumLas Tablas ToméSeven specimensA phylloceratid ammoniteH. (Neophylloceras) ramosumLas Tablas Los Viejos Colchogüe Tomé17 specimensA phylloceratid ammoniteH. (Neophylloceras) suryaLas Tablas ColchogüeThree specimensA phylloceratid ammoniteKitchinitesK. darwiniColchogüe Las Tablas Santa Sabina30 specimensA desmoceratid ammoniteK. ifrimaeColchogüeFour specimensA desmoceratid ammoniteK. vicentensisSan VicenteFour specimensA desmoceratid ammoniteKossmaticerasK. (Natalites) erbeniColchogüe Las Tablas San Vicente ToméNine specimensA kossmaticeratid ammoniteMaoritesM. densicostatusColchogüe Las TablasSix specimensA kossmaticeratid ammoniteMenuitesM. gerardoiSan VicenteSeven specimensA pachydiscid ammoniteM. fresvillensisLas Tablas San VicenteEight specimensA pachydiscid ammoniteNaefiaN. neogaeiaQuiriquina IslandShellA groenlandibelidPachydiscusP. (Pachydiscus) gutierreziColchogüe Las Tablas Lirquén Puente Perales14 specimensA pachydiscid ammoniteP. (Pachydiscus) jacquoti chilensisColchogüe Las TablasThree specimensA pachydiscid ammonitePhyllopachycerasP. forbesianumLas TablasOne specimenA phylloceratid ammonitePhylloptychocerasP. sp.ToméFive fragmentsA diplomoceratid ammonitePseudophyllitesP. indraColchogüe Las Tablas LoancoFive specimenA tetragonitid ammoniteTrachybaculitesT. vicenteiSan VicenteOne specimenA baculitid ammoniteZelanditesZ. varunaColchogüe Las Tablas Los Viejos Lirquén Tomé11 specimensA gaudryceratid ammonite
Gastropods Gastropods reported from the Quiriquina Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesAnisomyonA. patelliformisA siphonariidAustrosphaeraA. difficilisA buccinoidAvellanaA. (Eriptycha) chilensisA ringiculidBrunoniaB. sp.A carinariidCalyptraeaC. (Trochita) laevisA calyptraeidConcepcionellaC. bonillanaCrenilabiumC. (Nonacteonina) chilensisAn acteonidC. (Eacteon) valdovinosensisQuiriquina IslandAn acteonidGyrodesG. (Dockeryella) euryomphalusA naticidPetropomaP. biroensisQuiriquina IslandA colloniidPolinicesP. (Polinella) ganaeA naticidPyrifususP. (Deussenia) giganteaQuiriquina IslandA pholidotomidPyropsisP. (Chilenopsis) quinzioensisQuiriquina IslandA pyropsidTegulaT. ovalleiNumerous specimens, very commonA tegulidTephlonT. tummidusA pugnellidTrochifususT. hombronianaA pyropsid
See also Arauco Basin Dorotea Formation List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations Quiriquina Island
References
Further reading M. E. Suarez and O. Fritis. 2002. Nuevo registro de Aristonectes sp. (Plesiosauroidea incertae sedis) del Cretácico Tardío de la Formación Quiriquina, Cocholgüe, Chile. Boletín de la Sociedad de Biología de Concepción 73:87-93