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The oldest South American ichthyosaur from the late Triassic of northern Chile

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 May 2009

M. Suarez  and
C. M. Bell
M. Suarez
Affiliation:
Servicio Nacional de Geología y Minería, Avenida Santa María 0104, Santiago, Chile
C. M. Bell
Affiliation:
Department of Geography and Geology, Cheltenham and Gloucester College of Higher Education, Cheltenham GL50 2RH, U.K.
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Abstract

Ichthyosaur remains found in late Triassic shallow marine limestones in Quebrada Doña Inés Chica (latitude 26° 07′ S; longitude 69° 20′ W), northern Chile, are the oldest known ichthyosaur fossils from Central and South America. The previous oldest South American ichthyosaur was recorded in Hettangian rocks, also from northern Chile. The fossils comprise five worn teeth, one paddle bone and one scapula or humerus fragment, all collected from a single bed at the same locality. Although the material has not been identified to a generic or specific level, its presence alone broadens the knowledge of the distribution and habitat of Triassic ichthyosaurs. Late Triassic ammonites and brachiopods in the same stratum provide the age control.

Type
Rapid Communications
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 129 , Issue 2 , March 1992 , pp. 247 - 249
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1992

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