TY - CHAP
T1 - Taphonomy of fossil whales in the diatomaceous sediments of the Miocene/Pliocene Pisco Formation, Peru
AU - Esperante, Raul
AU - Brand, Leonard R.
AU - Chadwick, Arthur
AU - Porna, Orlando
PY - 2002
Y1 - 2002
N2 - The Miocene/Pliocene Pisco Formation in Peru consists mostly of sandstones, siltstones, and tuffaceous beds in the lower units and diatomaceous mudstones in the upper units (Carvajal et af. 2000). Tuffaceous and diatomaceous sediments are rich in well-preserved fossil marine mammals (Esperante et af. 1999, 2000). Toothed whales (Suborder Odontoceti), baleen whales (Suborder Mysticeti), pinnipeds ofthe families Phocidae and Otariidae, dolphins, and shark teeth are the most abundant fossils, with sparse occurrences of other vertebrates, Invertebrates are rare, and are concentrated in a few beds. The purpose of this paper is to describe the general taphonomic features ofthe fossil whales of the Pisco Formation. Degree of articulation and preservation before burial, presence and absence of fauna associated with the whale bones, and the characteristics ofthe associated sediments are some ofthe features that will be addressed. These data will allow a more complete analysis of the paleoenvironment in which the whales died and were deposited,
AB - The Miocene/Pliocene Pisco Formation in Peru consists mostly of sandstones, siltstones, and tuffaceous beds in the lower units and diatomaceous mudstones in the upper units (Carvajal et af. 2000). Tuffaceous and diatomaceous sediments are rich in well-preserved fossil marine mammals (Esperante et af. 1999, 2000). Toothed whales (Suborder Odontoceti), baleen whales (Suborder Mysticeti), pinnipeds ofthe families Phocidae and Otariidae, dolphins, and shark teeth are the most abundant fossils, with sparse occurrences of other vertebrates, Invertebrates are rare, and are concentrated in a few beds. The purpose of this paper is to describe the general taphonomic features ofthe fossil whales of the Pisco Formation. Degree of articulation and preservation before burial, presence and absence of fauna associated with the whale bones, and the characteristics ofthe associated sediments are some ofthe features that will be addressed. These data will allow a more complete analysis of the paleoenvironment in which the whales died and were deposited,
UR - http://ftp.llu.edu/lbrand/pdf/taphonomy_of_fossil_whales_in_the_diatomaceous_sediments_of_the_miocene-pliocene_pisco_formation_peru.pdf
M3 - Chapter
BT - Current Topics on Taphonomy and Fossilization
ER -