Northumberland Formation

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TypeGeological formation
Unit ofNanaimo Group
UnderliesSpray Formation
Coordinates49°36′N 124°42′W / 49.6°N 124.7°W / 49.6; -124.7
Northumberland Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late Cretaceous,
?Campanian–Maastrichtian
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofNanaimo Group
UnderliesSpray Formation
Location
Coordinates49°36′N 124°42′W / 49.6°N 124.7°W / 49.6; -124.7
Approximate paleocoordinates56°06′N 94°24′W / 56.1°N 94.4°W / 56.1; -94.4
CountryCanada

The Northumberland Formation is a Late Cretaceous (?Campanian-?Maastrichtian)-aged geologic formation in Canada. It belongs to the larger Nanaimo Group. Indeterminate bird and pterosaur fossils have been recovered from the formation,[1] as well as a potential gladius of Eromangateuthis.[2] An extensive diversity of shark teeth is known from the formation; many appear to be closely allied with modern deep-water shark taxa, suggesting a deep-water environment for the formation.[3] The most well-known exposures of the formation are on Hornby Island.

Cartilaginous fish

Source:[3]

Hybodontiformes

Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images
Meristodonoides M. sp. A hybodontid shark.

Hexanchiformes

Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images
Chlamydoselachus C. balli A chlamydoselachid shark, related to the modern frilled shark.
Rolfodon R. ludvigseni A chlamydoselachid shark.
R. cf. thompsoni
Dykeius D. garethi A very large chlamydoselachid shark.
Hexanchus H. microdon A cow shark related to the modern bluntnose sixgill shark.
Notidanodon N. pectinatus A cow shark.
Xampylodon X. dentatus A large cow shark.
Protoheptranchias P. lowei A cow shark similar to the modern sharpnose sevengill shark.
Paraorthacodus P. rossi A paraorthacodontid shark.
Komoksodon K. kwutchakuth A komoksodontid shark.

Echinorhiniformes

Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images
Echinorhinus E. lapaoi A echinorhinid shark, related to the modern bramble shark.

Squaliformes

Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images
Eoetmopterus E. supercretaceus An etmopterid shark similar to modern lantern sharks.
Squalus S. vondermarcki A dogfish shark, related to modern spurdogs.
S. nicholsae
S. sp.
Centrosqualus C. mustardi A dogfish shark.
Protocentrophorus P. steviae A dogfish shark.
Rhinoscymnus R. clarki A sleeper shark, possibly included within Somniosus.
Centroscymnus C. sp. A sleeper shark related to the modern Portuguese dogfish.
Squaliodalatias S. savoiei A dalatiid shark.
Hessinodon H. wardi A possibly dalatiid shark.

Pristiophoriformes

Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images
Pristiophorus P. smithi A sawshark.
P. pricei

Orectolobiformes

Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images
Plicatoscyllium P. cf. globidens A ginglymostomatid shark.
Hemiscyllium H. hermani A bamboo shark.

Lamniformes

Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images
Carcharias C. dominguei A sand shark, related to the modern sand tiger shark.

Synechodontiformes

Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images
Synechodus S. dereki A palaeospinacid shark.

Carcharhiniformes

Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images
Scyliorhinidae indent. A catshark of uncertain affinities.
Florenceodon F. johnyi A florenceodontid shark.

Bony fish

Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images
Gwawinapterus G. beardi Jaw. A saurodontid ichthyodectiform, initially identified as an istiodactylid pterosaur.[4]

Birds

Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images
Maaqwi[5] M. cascadensis Coracoid and wing bones. A large ornithuran, either a vegaviid or a Procellariiform.[6]
Enantiornithes indet.[7] indeterminate Incomplete left femur, tibiotarsus and fibula. An enanthiornithine avialan.

Pterosaurs

Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images
Azhdarchoidea indet.[1] A possibly azhdarchid pterosaur.

Squamates

Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images
Mosasauridae indet.[8] A mosasaur.

Invertebrate paleofauna

Molluscs

Cephalopods

Genus[9] Species Location Abundance Notes Images
Baculites B. occidentalis A baculitid ammonite.
Fresvillia F. constricta A baculitid ammonite.
Diplomoceras D. cylindraceum A diplomoceratid ammonite.
D. cf. cylindraceum
Exiteloceras E. densicostatum A diplomoceratid ammonite.
E. bipunctatum
Phylloptychoceras P. horitai A diplomoceratid ammonite.
Solenoceras S. exornatus A diplomoceratid ammonite.
S. cf. reesidei
Nostoceras N. adrotans A nostoceratid ammonite.
N. hornbyensis
N. aff. pauper
Enchoteuthis[2] E. sp. A muensterellid octopodiform.
Eromangateuthis[2] E. soniae? A plesioteuthid octopodiform.
Cyrtobelus[10] C. hornbyense A groenlandibelid spirulid.[2]
Actinosepia[2] A. canadensis An actinosepiid vampyromorphid.[11]
Cirroteuthidae indet.[2] Gladius. A cirroteuthid octopus.

Gastropods

Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images
Tessarolax[8] T. louellae An aporrhaid gastropod.

Crustaceans

Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images
Neocallichirus N. manningi A callianassid decapod.
Longusorbis L. cuniculosus A longusorbiid decapod.
Bournelyreidus[12] B. grahamae A raninoid decapod.

Paleoflora

Gymnosperms

Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images
Cunninghamia C. hornbyensis Permineralized wigs and leaves. A member of the extant Cupressaceae genus Cunninghamia. Closely resembles extant species.[13]
Cycadeoidea[14] C. maccafferyii A bennettitalean.

Angiosperms

Genus Species Location Abundance Notes Images
Atli[15] A. morinii Stem A member of the Ranunculales with a liana-like growth habit.
Comoxia[16] C. multiporosa Stem A liana of uncertain affinities.

See also

Footnotes

References

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