The Miguasha Fossil-Fish-Lagerstätte: a consequence of the Devonian land–sea interactions

Cloutier, Richard; Proust, Jean‐Noël; Tessier, Bernadette

doi:10.1007/s12549-011-0058-0

Cited by 22 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 91 publications

(110 reference statements)

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“…Numerous sedimentological descriptions of the Escuminac Formation show the importance of the alternation between siltstone -sandstone and shale (Alcock 1935;Russell 1939 1992; Vézina and Cloutier 1991;Prichonnet et al 1996;Cloutier et al 2011), and suggest that the sequence comprises lacustrine or estuarine turbidite deposits (Hesse and Sawh 1992;Prichonnet et al 1996). The clear alternation of lithology allows recognition of 394 individually numbered horizons from the base to the top of the Escuminac Formation at René Bureau's Cliffs (Fig.…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…3d). As a result of such precise stratigraphic positioning, systematic collecting has enabled documentation of the stratigraphic distribution of various Escuminac species Cloutier et al 2011) and of taphonomic modes (Parent and Cloutier 1996; Cloutier et al 2011).…”

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The overall paleoecology and food web of the aquatic Miguasha biota has been inferred from the gross morphology of the organisms and comparisons with closely related forms (Janvier 1996a;Cloutier et al 2011), as well as from direct evidence of predation. Bacteria and other micro-organisms constitute the decomposers of the Miguasha biota.…”

Section: Evolutionary Significance Of the Miguasha Biotamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Conchostracans (Asmusia membranacea) were the primary consumers of the Miguasha biota. Conchostracans are non-selective algal and detrital feeders (Orr and Briggs 1999) Original data are provided in Cloutier et al (2011). Bothriolepis, Triazeugacanthus, Eusthenopteron and Scaumenacia are clearly the most abundant taxa.…”

Section: Evolutionary Significance Of the Miguasha Biotamentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Bothriolepis, Triazeugacanthus, Eusthenopteron and Scaumenacia are clearly the most abundant taxa. (Cloutier 1996a;Cloutier et al 2011). The anaspid Euphanerops and Endeiolepis were most likely microphagous bottom feeders, based on the presence of sediment in a structure interpreted as their stomach (Stensiö 1939;Janvier 1996a;Janvier and Arsenault 2007).…”

Section: Evolutionary Significance Of the Miguasha Biotamentioning

confidence: 99%

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Great Canadian Lagerstätten 4. The Devonian Miguasha Biota (Québec): UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Time Capsule in the Early History of Vertebrates

Cloutier¹

2013

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Over the past 170 years, the Late Devonian Miguasha biota from eastern Canada has yielded a diverse aquatic assemblage including 20 species of lower vertebrates (anaspids, osteostracans, placoderms, acanthodians, actinopterygians and sarcopterygians), a more limited invertebrate assemblage, and a continental component including plants, scorpions and millipedes. Originally interpreted as a freshwater lacustrine environment, recent paleontological, taphonomic, sedimentological and geochemical evidence corroborates a brackish estuarine setting. Over 18,000 fish specimens have been recovered showing various modes of fossilization, including uncompressed material and soft-tissue preservation. Most vertebrates are known from numerous, complete, articulated specimens. Exceptionally well-preserved larval and juvenile specimens have been identified for 14 out of the 20 species of fishes, allowing growth studies. Numerous horizons within the Escuminac Formation are now interpreted as either Konservat– or Konzentrat–Lagerstätten.SOMMAIREAu cours des 170 dernières années, le biote du Dévonien supérieur de Miguasha de l’Est du Canada a fourni un assemblage aquatique diversifié, comprenant 20 espèces de vertébrés inférieurs (anaspides, ostéostracés, placodermes, acanthodiens, actinoptérygiens et sarcoptérygiens) et un assemblage peu diversifié d’invertébrés ainsi qu’une composante continentale, représentée par des plantes, des scorpions et des mille-pattes. À l’origine interprété comme un milieu lacustre d’eau douce, les dernières preuves paléontologiques, taphonomiques, sédimentologiques et géochimiques confirment un environnement saumâtre rappelant celui d’un estuaire. Plus de 18,000 fossiles de poissons ont été découverts montrant différents états de conservation, notamment en trois dimensions et la préservation de tissus mous. La plupart des vertébrés sont connus par de nombreux spécimens complets et articulés. Des spécimens de larves et de juvéniles, exceptionnellement bien conservés, ont été identifiées pour 14 des 20 espèces de poissons permettant des études détaillées de leur croissance. De nombreux horizons au sein de la Formation d’Escuminac sont interprétés soit comme des Konservat– ou Konzentrat–Lagerstätten.

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Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Geological Settingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Evolutionary Significance Of the Miguasha Biotamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Evolutionary Significance Of the Miguasha Biotamentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Evolutionary Significance Of the Miguasha Biotamentioning

confidence: 99%

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