Distribution of fossil marine vertebrates in Cerro Colorado, the type locality of the giant raptorial sperm whaleLivyatan melvillei(Miocene, Pisco Formation, Peru)

Abstract

Hundreds of fossil marine vertebrates cropping out at Cerro Colorado (Pisco Basin, Peru) are identified and reported on a 1:6500 scale geological map and in a joined stratigraphic section. All the fossils are from the lower strata of the Pisco Formation, dated in this area to the late middle or early late Miocene. They are particularly concentrated (88%) in the stratigraphic interval from 40 to 75 m above the unconformity with the underlying Chilcatay Formation. The impressive fossil assemblage includes more than 300 specimens preserved as bone elements belonging mostly to cetaceans (81%), represented by mysticetes (cetotheriids and\ud balaenopteroids) and odontocetes (kentriodontid-like delphinidans, pontoporiids, ziphiids, and physeteroids, including the giant raptorial sperm whale Livyatan melvillei). Seals, crocodiles, sea turtles, seabirds, bony fish, and sharks are also reported. Isolated large teeth of Carcharocles and Cosmopolitodus are common throughout the investigated stratigraphical interval, whereas other shark teeth, mostly of carcharinids, are concentrated in one sandy interval. This work represents a first detailed census of the extraordinary paleontological heritage of the Pisco Basin and the basis for future taphonomic, paleoecological, and systematic studies, as well as a much needed conservation effort for this extremely rich paleontological site

No deep diving: evidence of predation on epipelagic fish for a stem beaked whale from the Late Miocene of Peru

“…These are the most likely places for prey that would have been swallowed recently and, for some of them, possibly regurgitated (see below). (3) No other such concentration of articulated bony fish skeletons is observed elsewhere in the abundantly prospected and fossil-rich Cerro Colorado locality; only isolated scales attributed to Sardinops are frequently found [17]. This strengthens the idea that this unique ziphiid-fish association is not fortuitous.…”

“…Karenia concordia [42]) and thus fossilize rarely. The proposed rapid death of the ziphiid and the possible regurgitation of part of the prey items support the scenario of a toxin poisoning, a hypothesis that should be tested on a larger scale with the high number of fully articulated whale carcasses found in successive levels of the Pisco Formation in Cerro Colorado [17].…”

“…The ziphiid skeleton with associated fish remains examined here originates in the lower allomember, where a large number of other fossil vertebrate remains were found, including sperm whales (e.g. the holotype of Livyatan melvillei), beaked whales, several delphinidans (Pontoporiidae and kentriodontid-like delphinidans), cetotheriid and balaenopteroid baleen whales, sea turtles, crocodiles, seabirds, sharks and bony fish [9,17,18]. These fossiliferous deposits were first tentatively dated from the late Middle to early Late Miocene (Serravallian to early Tortonian, ca 13 -11 Ma [9,18]).…”

“…The specimens described here were found northwest to the main Cerro (geographical coordinates: 14820 0 59.5 00 S, 75853 0 00.5 00 W) during a 2014 geological and palaeontological campaign; they are indicated with the field number O38 in the fossil map published by Bianucci et al [17]. The main specimen consists of a partly articulated medium size odontocete skeleton, with the rspb.royalsocietypublishing.org Proc.…”

A new Miocene baleen whale from the Peruvian desert

“…Here, one of the richest sources is the Miocene–Pliocene Pisco Formation exposed in the coastal Pisco-Ica and Sacaco Basins of southern Peru [30,31,34]. Previous work has focused mostly on odontocetes, which are represented by a diverse Miocene assemblage including physeteroids, ziphiids, pontoporiids, phocoenids and kentriodontids [30,31,35,36].…”