Title
Fossil marine vertebrates of Cerro Los Quesos: Distribution of cetaceans, seals, crocodiles, seabirds, sharks, and bony fish in a late Miocene locality of the Pisco Basin, Peru
Date Issued
19 October 2016
Access level
open access
Resource Type
journal article
Author(s)
Bianucci G.
Di Celma C.
Collareta A.
Landini W.
Post K.
Tinelli C.
de Muizon C.
Bosio G.
Gariboldi K.
Gioncada A.
Malinverno E.
Cantalamessa G.
Lambert O.
Publisher(s)
Taylor and Francis Ltd.
Abstract
One-hundred and ninety-two fossil marine vertebrate specimens, preserved as bone elements cropping out at Cerro Los Quesos (Pisco Basin, Peru), are identified and reported on a 1:4,000 scale geological map and in the corresponding stratigraphic section. All the fossils originate from the Pisco Formation, which is dated in this area to the late Miocene (from 7.55 Ma to ≥6.71 Ma, based on40Ar/39Ar analyses of three volcanic ash layers along the section). Specimens are particularly concentrated near the top of the two main hills, where the geologically youngest portion of the examined section crops out. The impressive fossil assemblage includes cetaceans (91.6%), represented by mysticetes (balaenopteroids and cetotheriids) and odontocetes (phocoenids, physeteroids, and ziphiids, including the holotype of Nazcacetus urbinai). Seals, a crocodile, a seabird, bony fish, and sharks are also reported. Isolated large teeth of Carcharocles and Cosmopolitodus are common and, in several instances, associated to mysticete skeletons. Together with a similar work recently published for the other late Miocene locality of Cerro Colorado, this work represents a case study for the detailed inventory of the extraordinary paleontological heritage of the Pisco Basin. As such, it constitutes the basis for future taphonomic, paleoecological, and systematic studies, as well as for a much-needed conservation effort.
Start page
1037
End page
1046
Volume
12
Issue
5
Language
English
OCDE Knowledge area
Paleontología
Scopus EID
2-s2.0-84954132907
Source
Journal of Maps
ISSN of the container
17445647
Sources of information: Directorio de Producción Científica Scopus