Cucaracha Formation

The Cucaracha Formation (Tca)[1] is a geologic formation in Panama. It preserves vertebrate and plant fossils dating back to the Neogene period; Early to Middle Miocene epochs (Hemingfordian).[2] Fossils of the crocodylian Centenariosuchus, the turtle Rhinoclemmys panamaensis and the artiodactyl Paratoceras have been found in the formation.[3]

Cucaracha Formation Stratigraphic range: Early Burdigalian-Mid Langhian (Hemingfordian-Barstovian) 19–14 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Type	Formation
Underlies	Pedro Miguel & La Boca Formations
Overlies	Culebra Formation
Thickness	~125 m (410 ft)
Lithology
Primary	Sandstone, conglomerate
Other	Claystone
Location
Coordinates	9.0°N 79.6°W / 9.0; -79.6
Approximate paleocoordinates	8.4°N 77.5°W / 8.4; -77.5
Region	Panamá Province
Country	Panama
Extent	Panama Basin
Cucaracha Formation (Panama)

The Cucaracha Formation is approximately 125 metres (410 ft) thick,[4] and dated to 19 to 14 Ma.[5]

Fossil content

• Centenariosuchus[6]
• Panascleroticoxylon[7]
• Paratoceras coatesi[8]
• Prioria canalensis, P. hodgesii[9]
• Rhinoclemmys panamaensis[10]
• Rourea blatta[11]
• Staurotypus moschus[10]
• Podocnemididae indet.[12]

See also

• List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Panama

References

1. Geologic Map, 1980
2. Cucaracha Formation at Fossilworks.org
3. Centenariosuchus at Fossilworks.org
4. Kirby et al., 2008, p.9
5. Kirby et al., 2008, p.11
6. Hastings et al., 2013
7. Rodríguez Reyes et al., 2017a
8. Rincón et al., 2015
9. Rodríguez Reyes et al., 2017b
10. Cadena et al., 2012
11. Jud & Nelson, 2017
12. Cadena et al., 2012, p.549

Bibliography

• Cadena, E.; J.R. Bourque; A.F. Rincón; J.I. Bloch; C.A. Jaramillo, and B.J. MacFadden. 2012. New turtles (Chelonia) from the late Eocene through Late Miocene of the Panama Canal Basin. Journal of Paleontology 86. 539–557. Accessed 2019-02-09.
• Hastings, Alexander K.; Jonathan I. Bloch; Carlos A. Jaramillo; Aldo F. Rincón, and Bruce J. Macfadden. 2013. Systematics and biogeography of crocodylians from the Miocene of Panama. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 33. 239–263. Accessed 2019-02-09.
• Jud, Nathan A., and Chris W. Nelson. 2017. A liana from the lower Miocene of Panama and the fossil record of Connaraceae. American Journal of Botany 104. 685–693. Accessed 2019-02-09.
• Kirby, Michael Xavier; Douglas S. Jones, and Bruce J. MacFadden. 2008. Lower Miocene Stratigraphy along the Panama Canal and Its Bearing on the Central American Peninsula. PLoS ONE 3. 1–14. Accessed 2019-02-09.
• Rincon, Aldo F.; Jonathan I. Bloch; Bruce J. Macfadden, and Carlos A. Jaramillo. 2015. New early Miocene protoceratids (Mammalia, Artiodactyla) from Panama. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 35. e970688. Accessed 2019-02-09.
• Rodríguez Reyes, Oris; Peter Gasson; Carolyn Thornton; Howard J. Falcon Lang, and Nathan A. Jud. 2017. Panascleroticoxylon crystallosa gen. et sp. nov.: a new Miocene malpighialean tree from Panama. IAWA Journal 38. 437–455. Accessed 2019-02-09.
• Rodríguez Reyes, Oris; Peter Gasson; Howard J. Falcon-Lang, and Margaret Collinson. 2017. Fossil legume woods of the Prioria-clade (subfamily Detarioideae) from the lower Miocene (early to mid-Burdigalian) part of the Cucaracha Formation of Panama (Central America) and their systematic and palaeoecological implications. Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 246. 44–61. Accessed 2019-02-09.
• Stewart, R.H.; J.L. Stewart, and W.P. Woodring. 1980. Geologic Map of the Panama Canal and Vicinity, 1. USGS. Accessed 2019-02-09.
• Woodring, W.P. 1957. Geology and Paleontology of Canal Zone and Adjoining Parts of Panama - 306A Geology and description of Tertiary mollusks (Gastropods: Trochidae to Turritellidae), 1–186. USGS. Accessed 2019-02-09.