The Cucaracha Formation (Tca)Geologic Map, 1980 is a geologic formation in Panama. It preserves vertebrate and plant fossils dating back to the Neogene period; Early to Middle Miocene epochs (Hemingfordian).Cucaracha Formation at Fossilworks.org Fossils of the crocodylian Centenariosuchus, the turtle Rhinoclemmys panamaensis and the artiodactyl Paratoceras have been found in the formation.Centenariosuchus at Fossilworks.org
The Cucaracha Formation is approximately thick,Kirby et al., 2008, p.9 and dated to 19 to 14 Ma.Kirby et al., 2008, p.11
Fossil content
Mammals Bats Bats reported from the Cucaracha Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesAmericanycterisA. cyrtodonCentenario Bridge & Hodges HillPartial jaw & right premolarA leaf-nosed bat, first reported as a new "large insectivorous phyllostomine"
Carnivorans Carnivorans reported from the Cucaracha Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesBassaricyonoidesB. sp.Gaillard CutA procyonidDaphoenodoncf. D. sp.Gaillard CutA bear dogHemicyonidae indet.IndeterminateGaillard CutRadius & ulna fragmentA bearTomarctusT. brevirostrisGaillard CutJaw & teethA borophagine dog
Rodents Rodents reported from the Cucaracha Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesNototamiasN. sp.Gaillard CutA ground squirrelPetauristodonP. sp.Gaillard CutA flying squirrelProheteromysP. sp.Gaillard CutA heteromyidTexomysT. stewartiPedro Miguel Lock & Gaillard CutTeethA jimomyid
Ungulates Ungulates reported from the Cucaracha Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesAnchitheriumA. clarenceiGaillard Cut & Centenario BridgeMandible fragment, upper cheek tooth & maxillaAn equidArchaeohippusA. sp.Gaillard CutCalcaneus & toothAn equidCynorcaC. occidentaleGaillard Cut, Centenario Bridge & Hodges HillJaw elements with teethSpecies reassigned to the genus TedfordhyusFloridacerasF. whiteiGaillard CutJaws, teeth & femur fragmentA rhinocerosFloridatraguluscf. F. nanusGaillard CutA camelidMachaeromeryxcf. M. sp.Gaillard CutA moschidMenocerasM. barbouriGaillard CutTeeth & limb elementsA rhinocerosMerycochoerusM. matthewiGaillard CutSkull elementsAn oreodontParablastomeryxcf. P. sp.Gaillard CutA moschidParatocerasP. coatesiGaillard Cut, Centenario Bridge, Hodges Hill & Cartagena HillSkull elements, teeth & limb fragmentsA protoceratid, first reported as P. wardiP. wardiGaillard CutSkull elements, teeth & limb fragmentsRemains reassigned to P. coatesiTedfordhyusT. occidentalisGaillard Cut, Centenario Bridge & Hodges HillJaw elements with teethA peccary, originally named Cynorca occidentale
Reptiles Birds Birds reported from the Cucaracha Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesAccipitridae indet.IndeterminateWest side of the Panama CanalTalonA large eagle, talon resembles those of the crowned eagle and martial eagle
Crocodilians Crocodilians reported from the Cucaracha Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesCentenariosuchusC. gilmoreiHodges HillSkull & jawA caimancf. C. gilmoreiCentenario BridgeRight angularA caimanDadagavialisD. gunaiEast margin of the Panama CanalPartial snoutA gavialidcf. D. gunaiCentenario BridgePartial mandibleA gavialidEusuchia indet.IndeterminatePanama Canal ZoneHeadless skeletonOsteoderms comparable to those of gavialids such as Gavialosuchus, but crocodilian osteoderms are non-diagnostic
Squamates Squamates reported from the Cucaracha Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesBoaB. cf. B. constrictorCartagena Hill & Hodges HillIncomplete vertebraeA boid snake
Turtles Turtles reported from the Cucaracha Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesPodocnemididae indet.Incertae sedisCentenario BridgeRight epiplastronA side-necked turtleRhinoclemmysR. panamaensisCentenario BridgeShell elementsA geoemydid turtleR. sp.Centenario Bridge & Culebra ReachIsolated bonesA geoemydid turtleStaurotypusS. moschusCentenario BridgePeripheral part of shellA kinosternid turtleTestudinidae indet.Incertae sedisCulebra ReachShell & limb elementsA tortoiseTrionychidae indet.Incertae sedisCentenario BridgeRight costalA softshell turtle
Plants Plants reported from the Cucaracha Formation Genus Species Presence Material Notes ImagesAmpelorhizaA. heteroxylonCulebra CutRootsA member of PaullinieaeAntrocaryonA. panamaensisLirio EastEndocarpsA member of AnacardiaceaeDracontomelonD. montesiiLirio EastEndocarpsA member of AnacardiaceaeGuazumaoxylonG. miocenicaHodges HillWoodA member of Malvaceae, similar to GuazumaMammeaM. paramericanaNorthern Lirio EastStemA member of CalophyllaceaeOreomunneaO. grahamiiLirio EastNutsA member of JuglandaceaePanascleroticoxylonP. crystallosaHodges HillWoodA member of MalpighialesParinariP. panamensisLirio East, Gold Hill & Empire sitesEndocarpsA member of ChrysobalanaceaeParinarioxylonP. panamensisLirio EastWoodA member of ChrysobalanaceaePeriplanetoxylonP. panamenseHodges HillWoodA member of MalvaceaePrioriaP. canalensisHodges HillWoodA legumeP. hodgesiiHodges HillWoodA legumeRoureaR. blattaNorthern Lirio East siteWoodA liana belonging to the ConnaraceaeSpondiasS. rothwelliiLirio EastEndocarpsA member of Anacardiaceae
See also List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Panama
References
Bibliography