Coordinates: 26°06′S 65°24′W / 26.1°S 65.4°W / -26.1; -65.4

Lecho Formation

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Lecho Formation
Stratigraphic range: Early Maastrichtian
~70–68 Ma
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofSalta Group
UnderliesYacoraite Formation
OverliesLos Blanquitos Formation
Lithology
PrimarySandstone
Location
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Approximate paleocoordinatesLua error: callParserFunction: function "#coordinates" was not found.
RegionJujuy, Salta
CountryArgentina
ExtentSalta Basin

The Lecho Formation is a geological formation in the Salta Basin of the provinces Jujuy and Salta of northwestern Argentina. Its strata date back to the Early Maastrichtian, and is a unit of the Salta Group. The fine-grained bioturbated sandstones of the formation were deposited in a fluvial to lacustrine coastal plain environment.

Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[1]

According to Frankfurt and Chiappe (1999), the Lecho Formation is composed of reddish sandstones. The Lecho is part of the Upper/Late Cretaceous Balbuena Subgroup (Salta Group), which is a near-border stratigraphic unit of the Andean sedimentary basin. Fossils from this formation include the titanosaur Saltasaurus along with a variety of avian and non-avian theropods.

Fossil content

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Dinosaurs

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Dinosaurs from the Lecho Formation
Genus Species Location Material Notes Images
Abelisauridae[2] Indeterminate El Brete Isolated teeth. May represent more than one species of abelisaurid
Elbretornis[3] E. bonapartei El Brete Scapula, partial coracoid, humerus, partial radius, partial ulna An enantiornithine bird
Enantiornis[3][4] E. leali El Brete Postcranial elements An enantiornithine bird
Euenantiornithes indet.[3] Indeterminate El Brete Partial right lower jaw An enantiornithine bird
Lectavis[5] L. bretincola El Brete Tarsometatarsus and tibiotarsus An enantiornithine bird
File:Lectavis bretincola reconstruction by Lauren Helton.jpg
Martinavis[3] M. minor El Brete Partial humerus An enantiornithine bird
M. saltariensis El Brete Humerus
M. vincei El Brete Humeri
M. whetstonei El Brete Partial humerus
Noasaurus[2] N. leali El Brete Isolated elements from the head and foot, as well as a verebral arch. A Noasaurid abelisaur
File:Noasaurus.png
Saltasaurus[6] S. loricatus El Brete "Partial skeletons of at least [six] individuals, including jaws and armor."[7] A saltasaurid titanosaur
File:Saltasaurus dinosaur.png
Soroavisaurus[5] S. australis El Brete Tarsometatarsus and phalanges. An enantiornithine bird
File:Soroavisaurus.png
Yungavolucris[5] Y. brevipedalis El Brete Tarsometatarsi An enantiornithine bird

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Weishampel et al., 2004, "Dinosaur distribution (Late Cretaceous, South America)." pp. 600-604
  2. ^ a b Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  3. ^ a b c d Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
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  5. ^ a b c Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  6. ^ Lua error in Module:Citation/CS1/Configuration at line 2172: attempt to index field '?' (a nil value).
  7. ^ "Table 13.1," in Weishampel et al., 2004, p.270

Bibliography

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