First megafloristic record for the Chubut Group at Somuncurá Canadón Asfalto Basin: An angiosperm dominated flora from the Upper Cretaceous Puesto Manuel Arce Formation, Patagonia Argentina

The first association of fossil plantimpressionsin the Chubut Group at the Somuncurá-Cañadón Asfalto Basin is described herein. Themid-Cretaceous megafloral assemblage from Patagonia, Argentina was recovered from the Puesto Manuel Arce Formation.The taphocenosis consists mostly of leaves preserved a...

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Bibliographic Details
Authors: Passalia, Mauro Gabriel, Llorens, Magdalena, Páez, Manuel Antonio
Format: article
Status:Published version
Publication Date:2015
Country:Argentina
Institution:Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas
Repository:CONICET Digital (CONICET)
Language:English
OAI Identifier:oai:ri.conicet.gov.ar:11336/5587
Online Access:http://hdl.handle.net/11336/5587
Access Level:Open access
Keyword:Cretaceous Angiosperms
Patagonia
Chubut Group
Fm. Puesto Manuel Arce
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1.5
https://purl.org/becyt/ford/1
Description
Summary:The first association of fossil plantimpressionsin the Chubut Group at the Somuncurá-Cañadón Asfalto Basin is described herein. Themid-Cretaceous megafloral assemblage from Patagonia, Argentina was recovered from the Puesto Manuel Arce Formation.The taphocenosis consists mostly of leaves preserved as impressions, although a variety of cuticle remains are also present. Angiosperms are both quantitatively and qualitativelythe main component of the flora (at least 9 leaf morphotypes recognized). A few ferns and conifers complete the plant assemblage.The angiosperm leaves exhibit physiognomic heterogeneity with a variety of well-defined venation patterns.The myrtophyll morphotype (Myrtoidea sp.) and palmatilobed palinactinodromous leaves (Bamfordphyllum crassivena gen. et sp. nov.) are significant components of the assemblage. Flora characters are consistent with the Cenomanian - earliest Turonianage proposed for the Puesto Manuel Arce Formation. Comparisons were made with coeval Patagonian and extra-regional floras which suggest both local as well as long-distance gondwanan links.