The Makah Formation is a geologic formation in Washington (state). It was deposited during the late Paleogene period between the late Eocene and early Oligocene epoches, and preserves marine fossils dating to the early Oligocene. It outcrops at the northwestern edge of the Olympic Peninsula. It appears to have been deposited in a deepwater environment, and the presence of glendonites suggests that water temperatures ranged near freezing at certain sites of deposition.
Vertebrate paleobiota The following fossil taxa are known:
Mammals Mammals of the Makah FormationGenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImagesFucaiaF. buelliAn aetiocetid baleen whale.Mysticeti indet.A baleen whale of uncertain affinities.
Birds Birds of the Makah FormationGenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImagesGalliformes indet.SkullA landfowl of uncertain affinities.KlallamornisK. buchananiA plotopterid suliform.K. clarkiMakahalaM. miraeAn early tubenose seabird. Type locality of genus and species.?Phalacrocoracoidea indet.An indeterminate relative of cormorants and darters.TonsalaT. hildegardaeA plotopterid suliform.
Ray-finned fish Ray-finned fish of the Makah FormationGenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotesImagesCoryphaenoidesC. richiScales, bones, and otolithA grenadier. Type locality of species.
See also
List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Washington (state) Paleontology in Washington (state)
References