Early Cretaceous arthropods from plattenkalk facies in Mexico

Abstract

Several well-preserved arthropod faunas have been studied in Mexico during the past few years. The purpose of the present note is to outline advances in the study of these arthropods and of their paleoenvironmental implications, from four localities. The age for these localities ranges from the Early to the Late Cretaceous. At most of these localities lithographic limestones crop out, with fish remains representing the most attractive element of study. However, arthropods constitute a very important tool for reconstructing paleoenvironment (marine crustaceans, freshwater and terrestrial insects and arachnids). Detailed studies of these assemblages will aid in our understanding of ancient coastal dynamics and the paleoecology of these unique environments.

Advances on Stratigraphy and Paleontology of the Muhi Quarry from the Mid-Cretaceous (Albian-Cenomanian) of Hidalgo, Central Mexico

“…Paleontological summary on macrofossils is derived from previously published papers (González-Rodríguez, 2002;Vega et al, 2003;Feldman et al, 2007;González-Rodríguez and Fielitz, 2008;Fielitz and González-Rodríguez, 2008), whereas it is presented additional and preliminary information on the microfossil record. Invertebrates and fish taxonomic descriptions are in progress, and fossil collecting is continuous.…”

“…Fossil remains of ammonoids, crustaceans, echinoderms, and fishes, as well as numerous coprolites have been recovered from strata of the Muhi quarry (González-Rodríguez, 2002;Vega et al, 2003;Feldman et al, 2007;González-Rodríguez and Fielitz, 2008;Fielitz and González-Rodríguez, 2008).…”

Three new Cenomanian conifers from El Chango (Chiapas, Mexico) offer a snapshot of the geographic mosaic of the Mesozoic conifer decline

“…El Chango and adjacent quarries like "El Espinal" are considered Konservat Lagerstätten due to the excellent preservation of their fossils (Díaz-Cruz et al, 2016). In these layers, scientists have found fishes with soft tissue preservation (Díaz-Cruz et al, 2016;Than-Marchese, 2012, 2013;Vega et al, 2003) and many different types of fossil plants, including a variety of angiosperms similar to Arecaeae, Bignoniaceae, Combretaceae, Myrtaceae, and seagrasses in Cimodoceaceae and Hydrocharitaceae (Guerrero-Márquez et al, 2013). However, conifers are the most common group of plants present (González-Ramírez et al, 2013).…”

First Mesozoic Thylacocephalans (Arthropoda, ?Crustacea; Cretaceous) in the Western Hemisphere: New Discoveries from the Muhi Quarry Lagerstätte

“…A tentative age of Albian was suggested for dolomitic laminar limestones that contain plant remains, scarce insects, mollusks, and fishes, one species of tanaidacean, two species of isopods, one pagurid and one species of lobster. The deposition environment has been interpreted as that of a shallow lagoon or estuary with periodic freshwater influence (Vega et al, 2003(Vega et al, , 2006.…”

“…El Chango.-The El Chango Quarry is also part of the Sierra Madre Formation in Chiapas, where platy limestones represent part of the Cintalapa Member of Cenomanian age and correspond to a shallow lagoon environment (Alvarado-Ortega and Than-Marchese, 2012, 2013). The locality is becoming well-known because of the presence of well-preserved remains of plants, mollusks, fishes and crustaceans, including several species of shrimp and one crab (Vega et al, 2003(Vega et al, , 2007aGarassino et al, 2013).…”