The Belgrade Formation is a limestone geologic formation in North Carolina characterized by limestone coquina mixed with sand, and thinly laminated clays. It preserves fossils dating back to the Paleogene period.

Description The Belgrade Formation is composed of two subunits: the Pollocksville member and the Haywood Landing member. The Pollocksville member is composed of unconsolidated oyster shells and sand. It was deposited in the Oligocene and early Miocene. The Haywood Landing member is composed of shelly sands and thinly laminated clays. The Belgrade Formation was originally considered part of an Eocene formation called the Trent Marl before it was identified as being deposited in the Miocene and split off.

Strontium isotope dating suggests that the marine invertebrates in the formation primarily originate from an older Late Oligocene-aged facies, while the vertebrates (including the land mammals and sharks) date to a younger, earliest Miocene-aged facies.

Fossil content Mammals A small but diverse land mammal fauna is known from the formation.

Rodents Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images cf. Palaeocastorcf. P. sp. Jones County A castorid.

Lagomorphs Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images cf. Megalaguscf. M. sp. Jones County A leporid.

Carnivorans Carnivorans Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images AmphictisA. cf. timucua Jones County.A right mandible (NCSM 33670). An ailurid. CraterogaleC. cf. simusJones CountyA mustelid.

Perissodactyls Perissodactyls Genus Species Presence Material Notes Imagescf. Anchitheriumcf. A. sp.An equid. ArchaeohippusA. blackbergi An equid. cf. Menocerascf. M. barbouriA rhinoceros.NexuotapirusN. marslandensisA tapir.

Artiodactyls Artiodactyls Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesArretotheriumA. cf. frickiAn anthracotheriid.DaeodonD. shoshonensisAn entelodont.Hesperhyinae indet.A peccary of uncertain affinities.ParatocerasP. wardiA protoceratid.

Cetaceans Cetaceans Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesAlbertocetusA. meffordorumIsolated right petrosal (USNM 559392).A xenorophid.AnkylorhizaA. tiedemaniCCNHM 6045 (a well preserved 10th lower postcanine).An odontocete.A. sp.CCNHM 5554 (an isolated postcanine) and CCNHM 5465 (a partial bulla).An odontocete.Cotylocaracf. C. sp.CCNHM 4277 (a partial left bulla)".A xenorophid. EchovenatorE. sp.A fragmentary petrosal. A xenorophid.cf. E.Partial tympanic bullae.A xenorophid, possibly the same taxon as Echovenator sp.EomysticetidaeEomysticetidae indet.CCNHM 1831 and CCNHM 1821, both are right tympanic bullae.An indeterminate species most similar to (but sti differing from) Eomysticetus whitmorei.cf. Eoplatanistacf. E. sp."CCNHM 4276 (a partial right tympanic bulla)".EurhinodelphinidaeEurhinodelphinidae indet.CCNHM 1828 (a partial right periotic) and CCNHM 4274 (a partial left tympanic bulla)."Compares favorably with Xiphiacetus cristatus and Eurhinodelphis cocheteuxi".?Kentriodontidae?Kentriodontidae indet."CCNHM 4275 (a partial bulla)".OdontoceteIndeterminate Belgrade Quarry.CCNHM 1903 (an isolated tooth).Indeterminate toothed whale remains, may represent a squalodelphinid or kentriodontid.cf. Physeteroideacf. Physeteroidea indet."CCNHM 1904 (a partial tooth)".May represent a juvenile physeteroid tooth.SqualodelphinidaeSqualodelphinidae indet.3 right periotics and 3 right tympanic bullae.cf. Squalodoncf. S. sp.A periotic and multiple teeth.A squalodontid.WaipatiidaeWaipatiidae indet."CCNHM 1354 (a posterior lower molar)".XenorophidaeXenorophidae indet."CCNHM 1833 (a partial right squamosal)"."Falls within the size range of Albertocetus, Echovenator, and Inermorostrum."XenorophusX. sp.CCNHM 1826 (a partial postcanine) and CCNHM 1187 (a partial tympanic bulla).A xenorophid, may represent X. sloanii.

Sirenians Sirenians Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesCrenatosirenC. olseniOnslow Beach.Skull caps.An early dugongid. SireniaSirenia indet."CCNHM 1906 (a partial rib fragment)". "Approximately twice the diameter of ribs of Crenatosiren olseni, potentially representing a larger dugongid like Dioplotherium, Stegosiren, or Priscosiren".

Reptiles Reptiles Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesChelonioideaBelgrade Quarry.Indeterminate sea turtle remains. Crocodilia Belgrade Quarry. Indeterminate crocodilian remains.

Fish

Chondrichthyes Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesAnoxypristisA. sp.Belgrade Quarry.A sawfish.CarcharhinusBelgrade Quarry.CarchariasC. sp.Belgrade Quarry.A sand shark.CarcharoclesC. angustidens Belgrade Quarry.A megatooth shark, now reassigned to the genus Otodus.GaleocerdoG. casei or mayumbensisBelgrade Quarry.A tiger shark.GinglymostomaG. delfortrieiA nurse shark.HemipristisH. serraBelgrade Quarry.A snaggletooth shark.MyliobatisM. sp.Belgrade Quarry.An eagle ray.Nebrius or GinglymostomaBelgrade Quarry.A nurse shark.NegaprionBelgrade Quarry.A lemon shark. NotorynchusN. primigenius Belgrade Quarry. A cow shark.OdontaspisO. sp.Belgrade Quarry.A sand shark.OtodusO. angustidensBelgrade Quarry.A megatooth shark.PlinthicusP. stenodonBelgrade Quarry.An extinct ray.PhysogaleusP. aduncasBelgrade Quarry.A ground shark.RhinopteraR. sp.Belgrade Quarry.A cownose ray.SquatinaS. sp.Belgrade Quarry.An angelshark.

Osteichthyes Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesLagodonL. sp. Belgrade Quarry.A pinfish.

Invertebrates Molluscs Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesCrassostreaC. gigantissima Upper finer grained unit, Pollocksville Member.An oyster. See also

List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in North Carolina

References