New and exceptional discovery in the Upper Cretaceous of the Iberian Peninsula: the palaeontological site of "Lo Hueco", Cuenca, Spain

  1. Barroso-Barcenilla, F. 24
  2. Cambra-Moo, O. 3
  3. Escaso, F. 56
  4. Ortega, F. 3
  5. Pascual, A. 1
  6. Pérez-García, A. 46
  7. Rodríguez-Lázaro, J. 1
  8. Sanz, J.L. 6
  9. Segura, M. 2
  10. Torices, A. 4
  1. 1 Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
    info

    Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea

    Lejona, España

    ROR https://ror.org/000xsnr85

  2. 2 Universidad de Alcalá
    info

    Universidad de Alcalá

    Alcalá de Henares, España

    ROR https://ror.org/04pmn0e78

  3. 3 Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia
    info

    Universidad Nacional de Educación a Distancia

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/02msb5n36

  4. 4 Universidad Complutense de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Complutense de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR 02p0gd045

  5. 5 Museo de las Ciencias de Castilla-La Mancha, 16001 Cuenca, España, Spain
  6. 6 Universidad Autónoma de Madrid
    info

    Universidad Autónoma de Madrid

    Madrid, España

    ROR https://ror.org/01cby8j38

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Revista:
Cretaceous Research

ISSN: 0195-6671

Año de publicación: 2009

Volumen: 30

Número: 5

Páginas: 1268-1278

Tipo: Artículo

DOI: 10.1016/J.CRETRES.2009.07.010 SCOPUS: 2-s2.0-70249098007 GOOGLE SCHOLAR

Otras publicaciones en: Cretaceous Research

Resumen

The palaeontological site of "Lo Hueco" was discovered in Cuenca, Spain, in 2007. It includes a stratigraphic interval in "Garumn" facies belonging to the upper part of the Villalba de la Sierra Formation. A succession of versicolor marly mudstone levels (V, G1, R1, G2, R2 and M) can be observed at the site studied. This succession is partially modified by a sandy channel structure (C) and by a sulphated interval (S). The C structure and the G1, G2 and R2 (lower part) levels have an extremely rich and varied fossil concentration and have provided to date more than 8500 macroremains. These are mainly from vertebrates, but also from plants and invertebrates. In general, vertebrates are represented by mineralized bones with an early infilling of gypsum, a ferruginous crust, and a secondary precipitation of gypsum; invertebrates by internal moulds; and plants by carbonized remains. Among the vertebrates, titanosaur dinosaurs (some of them with partially articulated skeletons) are by far the most common representatives, although lepisosteid fishes, bothremydid turtles, squamate lizards, eusuchian crocodiles, and ornithischian and theropod dinosaurs are also well represented. The relative stratigraphic position and the palaeontological content of this site allow to attribute it to the upper Campanian-lower Maastrichtian. Interpretation of its materials suggests a near coast muddy flood plain crossed by distributary sandy channels environment, exposed to brackish to fresh water aquatic influence. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.