Astoria Formation
Geologic formation in Oregon and Washington, United States
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The Astoria Formation (formerly known as the Astoria shales) is a geologic formation in Washington state & Oregon. It preserves fossils dating back to the early to middle Miocene (but was formerly thought to date to the Oligocene).[1]
Sub-unitsFrom top to bottom:[1]
- Big Creek sandstone member
- Newport sandstone member
- Silver Point mudstone member
- Angora Peak sandstone member
UnderliesMontesano Formation[2]
OverliesLincoln Creek Formation[2]
| Astoria Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Miocene | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Sub-units | From top to bottom:[1]
|
| Underlies | Montesano Formation[2] |
| Overlies | Lincoln Creek Formation[2] |
| Location | |
| Region | Washington, Oregon |
| Country | United States |
Description
The Astoria Formation is a thick marine formation representing a near shore, relatively shallow-water shelf deposit.[2] The formation spans a considerable amount of time, with its base considered to be lower boundary of Newportian Stage (late Early Miocene) & its top to be upper boundary of Newportian Stage (middle Middle Miocene).[1]
Fossil content
Color key
|
Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; |
Mammals
Carnivorans
| Genus | Species | Stratigraphy | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Desmatophoca | D. brachycephala | East of Knappton, Washington.[3] | Skull elements.[3] | A desmatophocid. | |
| D. oregonensis | Iron Mountain Bed & an unspecified horizon.[3][4] | Multiple specimens.[3][4] | A desmatophocid. |  | |
| Enaliarctos | E. emlongi | South of Big Creek, Lincoln County, Oregon.[5] | USNM 250345.[5] | A pinnipedimorph, may instead be from the Nye Mudstone.[citation needed] |  |
| E. sp. | Iron Mountain bed, Lincoln County, Oregon.[6] | Partial skeleton (UWBM 89114).[6] | A pinnipedimorph. |  | |
| Eodesmus | E. condoni | Iron Mountain Bed, Oregon.[7] | A nearly complete cranium.[7] | A desmatophocid. | |
| Pacificotaria | P. hadromma | Iron Mountain bed, Lincoln County, Oregon.[8] | Complete cranium (LACM 127973).[8] | A pinnipedimorph. | |
| Proneotherium | P. repenningi | Lincoln County, Oregon.[9] | Remains of multiple individuals.[9] | An odobenid. | |
| Pteronarctos | P. goedertae | Lincoln County, Oregon.[10] | Skulls.[10] | A pinnipedimorph. |
Cetaceans
| Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cophocetus | C. oregonensis | North of Yaquina Bay.[4] | Associated skull, jaws & skeletal elements.[4] | A baleen whale. | |
| Dilophodelphis | D. fordycei | Nye Beach, Oregon.[11] | USNM 214911.[11] | A platanistid. |  |
| Wimahl | W. chinookensis | Washington State[12] | A kentriodontid. | ||
| Zarhinocetus | Z. donnamatsonae | Near Elma, Washington.[2] | UCMP 86139.[2] | An allodelphinid. | |
Perissodactyls
| Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aphelops | A. sp. | Fragment of skull (USNM 187123).[4] | A rhinoceros. | _(Ash_Hollow_Formation,_Middle_Miocene;_Hottell_Ranch,_near_Harrisburg,_Nebraska,_USA)_5_(32695130172).jpg) | |
| Tylocephalonyx | T. sp. | Iron Mountain Bed, Lincoln County, Oregon.[13] | A skull (NMNH 187129).[13] | A chalicothere. | |
Birds
| Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Diomedeidae | Gen. et. sp. indet. | East of Knappton, Washington.[14] | Partial skeleton (SMF Av 644).[14] | An albatross. | |
Cartilaginous fish
| Genus | Species | Presence | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carcharodon | C. megalodon | North of Newport, Oregon.[15] | Species reassigned to the genus Otodus. | .jpg) | |
| Cetorhinus | C. piersoni | North of Newport, Oregon.[16] | Teeth.[16] | A basking shark. | |
| Cosmopolitodus | C. hastalis | Coos Bay, Oregon.[15] | A tooth.[15] | A lamnid shark. |  |
| C. planus? | North of Newport, Oregon.[15] | A lamnid shark. |  | ||
| Galeocerdo | G. cf. aduncus | North of Newport, Oregon.[15] | A requiem shark. | ,_Zuber,_Florida,_Estados_Unidos,_2021-01-19,_DD_105-144_FS.jpg) | |
| Hexanchus | North of Newport, Oregon.[15] | A cow shark. |  | ||
| Isurus | I. hastalis | Coos Bay, Oregon.[15] | A tooth.[15] | Species reassigned to Cosmopolitodus. | |
| I. planus? | North of Newport, Oregon.[15] | Species reassigned to Cosmopolitodus. | |||
| Myliobatis | North of Newport, Oregon.[15] | An eagle ray. |  | ||
| Otodus | O. megalodon | North of Newport, Oregon.[15] | Originally reported as Carcharodon megalodon. |  | |
