Chapada do Araripe [Romualdo Fm.] (general): Late Aptian, Brazil

List of taxa
Where & when
Geology
Taphonomy & methods
Metadata & references
Taxonomic list
Chondrichthyes - Rajiformes - Rhinobatidae
Silva Santos 1968 2 specimens
Holotype: No. 2510 D e V; Paratype: No. 917-P, D e V
Chondrichthyes - Hybodontiformes - Hybodontidae
Brito and Ferreira 1989 1 specimen
Holotype: GP/2T-2 IG-USP
Ionoscopidae
Wenz and Kellner 1986 1 specimen
CD-P-31
Reptilia - Testudines
Lapparent de Broin 2000 1 specimen
Museu de Geologia de Barcelona, Catalunya, Spain, number MGB 37911. A carapace with a partial skull, two hyoid branches, left lower jaw; axis and 3d cervical vertebrae in the carapace
Reptilia
Frey and Martill 1995 1 individual
SMNS 58023 (last 3 sacral vertebrae & ribs, 2 caudal vertebrae, & postacetabular process of R ilium)
Aranciaga Rolando et al. 2018
Reptilia - Spinosauridae
Aureliano et al. 2018 1 specimen
LPP-PV-0042, a fragmentary tibia
Reptilia - Pterosauria
Wellnhofer 1985 2 individuals
BSP 1982 I 91, 1982 I 93
    = Pterodactyloidea indet. Plieninger 1901
Kellner and Tomida 2000
Pterodactyloidea indet. (Plieninger 1901)
Martill and Unwin 1989 11 specimens
DNPM D6M 488-LE, wing bones. AMNH 22569, pelvis. Geol. Inst. Univ. Amsterdam 4895, two cervical vertebrae. Gigase collection V-201, 10 articulated posterior cervical and anterior dorsal vertebrae. BSP 1987 I 65, right scapulocoracoid. SMNS 55408, humerus. SMNS 82001, ulna. SMNS 81976, humerus and ulna/radius. SMNS 55412, 55415, phalanges. SMNS 80437
Wellnhofer 1985 5 individuals
BSP 1980 I 122 (holotype), partial left forelimb. Paratypes: BSP 1980 I 43, 1980 I 120, MZ A/III 522, forelimb material. BSP 1987 I 1, partial left forelimb
Veldmeijer 2002 3 specimens
SMNS 55883, humerus, 55410, ulna, 55411, ulna and radius
Veldmeijer et al. 2005 1 specimen
SAO 200602, mandible
Wellnhofer 1987 1 individual
BSP 1987 I 47, lower jaw
Wellnhofer 1985 1 individual
BSP 1982 I 90, partial skull and partial forelimb
Campos and Kellner 1985 1 individual
Blittersdorff collection, complete skull
Dalla Vecchia 1993 1 individual
CSRL 12692/12713 (holotype), anterior part of a skull
Wellnhofer 1985 4 individuals
BSP 1982 I 89, skull, lower jaws, partial forelimb. BSP 1987 I 66, right metacarpal. SMNS 55409, humerus. SAO 16494, skull
Wellnhofer 1985 1 individual
BSP 1982 I 92, forelimb material
Reptilia - Pterosauria - Anhangueridae
Veldmeijer 2002 1 specimen
SMNS 55413, ulna
Veldmeijer 2003 1 specimen
RGM 401 880, skull and postcrania
Wellnhofer 1987 1 individual
BSP 1987 I 46, skull and lower jaw
Veldmeijer 2002 1 individual
SMNS 56994, mandible
Reptilia - Pterosauria
Veldmeijer 2003 1 individual
AMNH 24444, skull and partial left wing
Kellner 1984 1 specimen
MN 4804–V, anterior part of mandible
Leonardi and Borgomanero 1985 1 individual
F-PV-93 (holotype), incomplete skull with mandibles
Reptilia - Pterosauria - Pteranodontidae
Wellnhofer 1985 1 individual
BSP 1980 I 121, partial forelimb
Buisonjé 1980 1 specimen
Geol. Inst. Univ. Amsterdam 4894 (holotype), humerus/scapula/coracoid
Reptilia - Pterosauria
Azhdarchoidea indet. (Unwin 1992)
Elgin and Hone 2013 2 individuals
SMNK PAL 3985, MPSC R 859 (prob. different taxa)
Reptilia - Pterosauria - Thalassodromidae
Kellner and Campos 1988 1 individual
Reptilia - Pterosauria - Tapejaridae
Kellner 1989 1 individual
Blittersdorff collection, CD-R-080, partial skull
Aires et al. 2013 1 individual
AMNH 22567, three posteriormost cervical vertebrae, first seven dorsals, (fused in to a notarium), right and left scapulocoracoids, a partial sternum, incomplete right humerus, part of the wing finger, incomplete right femur and parts of the right tibia/fibula
Cerqueira et al. 2021 1 individual
Holotype: MPSC R 1056, fairly complete skull, preserving most of its temporal, orbital, and preorbital portions, part of its premax- illary crest, an almost complete lower jaw and four cervical vertebrae
Reptilia - Pterosauria - Dsungaripteridae
Veldmeijer et al. 2005 1 specimen
SAO 251093, mandible
    = Banguela oberlii n. gen., n. sp. Headden and Campos 2014
Headden and Campos 2014
NMSG SAO, 251093 (formerly SAO 251093), anterior portion of both mandibles, fused at the symphysis, missing the post symphyseal rami and the rostral tip
Reptilia - Pterosauria
1 individual
529-R, partial forelimb
Wellnhofer 1977 1 specimen
BSPG 1975 I 166, proximal phalanx, right wing-finger
Reptilia - Pterosauria - Ornithocheiridae
Elgin and Frey 2011 1 individual
MNHS/00/85, skull and partial postcranium
Reptilia - Uruguaysuchidae
Hecht 1991 1 individual
AMNH 24450 - complete articulated skeleton
Reptilia
Kellner 1987 2 specimens
CD-R-041 & DGM 1468 R - partial skeleton
Actinopteri - Pycnodontiformes - Pycnodontidae
Iemanja palma n. gen., n. sp. Wenz 1989
Poyato-Ariza and Wenz 2002 2 specimens
MNHN BCE 166 a**-b (holotype, nearly complete specimen); DGN-DNPM 1160 (complete specimen)
Silva Santos 1970 1 individual
Holotype: No. 918, DGM - DNPM
Actinopteri - Lepisosteiformes
Brito and Gallo 2003 1 individual
Holotype: MNHN-BCE 387
Actinopteri - Lepisosteiformes - Obaichthyidae
Wenz and Brito 1992 1 specimen
DGM 1155
Wenz and Brito 1992 1 specimen
DGM 1336
unclassified
Clupeiformes indet. Bleeker 1859
Maisey 1991 2 specimens
AMNH 12790, complete specimen; AMNH 12789
    = Santanaclupea silvasantosi n. gen., n. sp. Maisey 1993
Maisey 1993
see common names

Geography
Country:Brazil State/province:Ceará
Coordinates: 7.2° South, 39.3° West (view map)
Paleocoordinates:5.1° South, 3.0° East (Wright 2013)
Basis of coordinate:estimated from map
Geographic resolution:basin
Time
Period: Cretaceous Epoch: Early Cretaceous
10 m.y. bin: Cretaceous 2-3
Key time interval: Late Aptian
Age range of interval: 119.57 - 113.2 m.y. ago
Stratigraphy
Geological group:Santana Formation:Romualdo
Stratigraphic resolution:member
Stratigraphy comments: In recent stratigraphic schemes (e.g. Martill 2007) the Santana Formation and the "Romualdo Member" are essentially synonyms
Santana Formation suggested to be early Albian in age by Heimhofer & Hochuli (2010) on the basis of palynomorphs
Cerqueira et al. 2021:The Romualdo Formation was recently considered as Aptian in age, based on palynomorph, foraminifera and ostracod data (Arai and Assine 2020; Melo et al. 2020).
From Melo et al. 2020: In summary, this integrated study of foraminifera, ostracodes and other microfossil data from the Romualdo Formation indicates that the local Alagoas Stage (Ostracoda Zone RT-011) can now be constrained to the Aptian. Arai and Assine 2020 also support that the Romualdo Formation and Santana Group is entirely Aptian in age.
Lithology and environment
Primary lithology:concretionary calcareous "shale"
Includes fossils?Y
Lithology description: Limestone concretions in black shales Cerqueira et al. 2021: characterized by conglomeratic sandstone followed by a sequence of green and black shale (Assine 2007), stratified conglomerates, fine-to medium-grained sandstone, laminated limestone, marl, and coquina levels (Assine et al. 2014; Melo et al. 2020). The black shale is occasionally intercalated with sev- eral layers where carbonate concretions are abundant (Fara et al. 2005; Saraiva et al. 2007; Vila Nova et al. 2011; Kellner et al. 2013).
Environment:lagoonal/restricted shallow subtidal Tectonic setting:pull-apart basin
Geology comments: Cerqueira et al. 2021: These layers probably were deposited follow- ing pulses of mass mortality, and the lithologies character- ize a coastal/marine environment (Melo et al. 2020).
Taphonomy
Modes of preservation:body,concretion,soft parts
Lagerst�tten type:conservation
Size of fossils:macrofossils
Preservation of anatomical detail:good
Associated major elements:all
Temporal resolution:snapshot
Spatial resolution:parautochthonous
Collection methods and comments
Collection methods:selective quarrying,chemical
Reason for describing collection:taxonomic analysis
Museum repositories:AMNH,BSP,SMNS
Metadata
Also known as:Araripe Plateau
Database number:92290
Authorizer:R. Butler, B. Allen, R. Benson, M. Bell, M. Carrano, P. Mannion Enterer:R. Butler, G. Varnham, J. Tennant, B. Allen, M. Carrano, P. Mannion, M. Bell, R. Benson
Modifier:M. Carrano Research group:vertebrate
Created:2009-11-05 00:29:50 Last modified:2025-02-22 15:12:02
Access level:the public Released:2009-11-05 00:29:50
Creative Commons license:CC0
Reference information

Primary reference:
32251. L. I. Price. 1971. A presença de Pterosauria no Cretáceo Inferior da Chapada do Araripe, Brasil. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências 43:451-461 [R. Butler/R. Butler]

Secondary references:

47919 A. S. S. Aires, A. W. A. Kellner, R. T. Muller, L. R. Da Silva, C. P. Pacheco and S. Dias-Da-Silva. 2013. New postcranial elements of the Thalassodrominae (Pterodactyloidea, Tapejaridae) from the Romualdo Formation (Aptian-Albian), Santana Group, Araripe Basin, Brazil. Palaeontology 57(2):343-355 [P. Mannion/J. Tennant/J. Tennant]
84711 A. M. Aranciaga Rolando, F. Brissón Egli, M. A. F. Sales, A. G. Martinelli, J. I. Canale and M. D. Ezcurra. 2018. A supposed Gondwanan oviraptorosaur from the Albian of Brazil represents the oldest South American megaraptoran. Cretaceous Research 84:107-119 [M. Carrano/M. Carrano]
84082 T. Aureliano, A. M. Ghilardi, P. V. Buck, M. Fabbri, A. Samathi, R. Delcourt, M. A. Fernandes and P. M. Sander. 2018. Semi-aquatic adaptations in a spinosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil. Cretaceous Research 90:283-295 [M. Carrano/M. Carrano]
32260 S. C. Bennett. 1990. A pterodactyloid pterosaur pelvis from the Santana Formation of Brazil: implications for terrestrial locomotion. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 10(1):80-85 [R. Butler/R. Butler]
47048 P. M. Brito and P. L. N. Ferreira. 1989. The first hybodont shark, Tribodus limae n.g., n.sp., from the Lower Cretaceous of Chapada do Araripe (North-East Brasil). Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias 61(1):53-57 [M. Bell/M. Bell/M. Bell]
45582 P. M. Brito and V. Gallo. 2003. A new species of Lepidotes (Neopterygii: Semionotiformes: Semionotidae) from the Santana Formation, Lower Cretaceous of Northeastern Brazil. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 23(1):47-53 [M. Bell/M. Bell]
32253 P. H. Buisonjé. 1980. Santanadactylus brasilensis nov. gen., nov. sp., a long-necked, large pterosaurier from the Aptian of Brasil. Proceedings of the Koninklijke Nederlandse Akademie van Wetenschappen, B 83:145-172 [R. Butler/R. Butler]
23368ETE D. d. A. Campos and A. W. A. Kellner. 1985. Panorama of the flying reptiles study in Brazil and South America. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências 57(4):453-466 [M. Carrano/M. Carrano]
81184 G. M. Cerqueira, M. A. C. Santos, M. F. Marks, J. M. Sayão, and F. L. Pinheiro. 2021. A new azhdarchoid pterosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil and the paleobiogeography of the Tapejaridae. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 66(3):555-570 [P. Mannion/G. Varnham]
31100 F. M. Dalla Vecchia. 1993. Cearadactylus? ligabuei nov. sp., a new early Cretaceous (Aptian) pterosaur from Chapada do Araripe (Northeastern Brazil). Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana 32(3):401-409 [R. Butler/R. Butler]
36271 R. A. Elgin and E. Frey. 2011. A new ornithocheirid, Barbosania gracilirostris gen. et sp. nov. (Pterosauria, Pterodactyloidea) from the Santana Formation (Cretaceous) of NE Brazil. Swiss Journal of Palaeontology 130(259) [R. Butler/R. Butler/S. Bruning]
48030 R. A. Elgin and D. W. E. Hone. 2013. Pneumatization of an immature azhdarchoid pterosaur. Cretaceous Research 45:16-24 [P. Mannion/J. Tennant]
84745 E. Frey and D. M. Martill. 1995. A possible oviraptorosaurid theropod from the Santana Formation (Lower Cretaceous, ?Albian) of Brazil. Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie Monatshefte 1995(7):397-412 [M. Carrano/M. Carrano]
50992 J. A. Headden and H. B. N. Campos. 2014. An unusual edentulous pterosaur from the Early Cretaceous Romualdo Formation of Brazil. Historical Biology [P. Mannion/J. Tennant]
39669 M. Hecht. 1991. Araripesuchus Price, 1959. In J. G. Maisey (ed.), Santana Fossils 342-347 [P. Mannion/P. Mannion]
33195 U. Heimhofer and P. A. Hochuli. 2010. Early Cretaceous angiosperm pollen from a low-latitude succession (Araripe Basin, NE Brazil). Review of Palaeobotany and Palynology 161:105-126 [R. Butler/R. Butler/P. Santamarina]
32255 A. W. A. Kellner. 1984. Ocorrência de uma mandibula de Pterosauria (Brasileodactylus araripensis nov.gen., nov. sp.) na formação Santana, Cretáceo da chapada do Araripe, Ceará-Brasil. XXXIII Anais Congresso Brasileiro de Geologia, Rio de Janeiro 1984:578-590 [R. Butler/R. Butler]
97455% 22540A. W. A. Kellner. 1987. Occurence of a new crocodile in the Lower Cretaceous of the Araripe Basin, northeastern Brazil [Ocorrencia de um novo crocodiliano no Cretaceo Inferior da Bacia do Araripe, nordeste do Brasil]. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias, Rio de Janeiro: Academia Brasileira de Ciencias 59(3):219-232 [J. Alroy/R. Whatley/P. Mannion]
23370ETE A. W. A. Kellner. 1989. A new edentate pterosaur of the Lower Cretaceous from the Araripe Basin, northeast Brazil. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências 61(4):439-446 [M. Carrano/M. Carrano]
12526ETE A. W. A. Kellner. 1996. Remarks on Brazilian dinosaurs. Memoirs of the Queensland Museum 39(3):611-626 [M. Carrano/M. Carrano/M. Carrano]
76705% 21000A. W. A. Kellner and D. d. A. Campos. 1988. Sobre um novo pterossauro com crista sagital da Bacia do Araripe, Cretáceo Inferior do nordeste do Brasil. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências 60(4):459-469 [M. Carrano/M. Carrano/J. Alroy]
40022 A. W. A. Kellner and D. d. A. Campos. 1999. Vertebrate paleontology in Brazil — a review. Episodes 22(3):238-251 [M. Carrano/M. Carrano]
32265 A. W. A. Kellner and Y. Tomida. 2000. Description of a new species of Anhangueridae (Pterodactyloidea) with comments on the pterosaur fauna from the Santana Formation (Aptian-Albian), northeastern Brazil. National Science Museum Monograph 17:1-135 [R. Butler/R. Butler]
41980 F. d. Lapparent de Broin. 2000. The oldest pre-Podocnemidid turtle (Chelonii, Pleurodira), from the early Cretaceous, Ceará state, Brasil, and its environment. Treballs del Museu de Geologia de Barcelona 9:43-95 [R. Benson/R. Benson]
31091 G. Leonardi and G. Borgomanero. 1985. Cearadactylus atrox nov. gen., nov. sp.: novo Pterosauria (Pterodactyloidea) da Chapada do Araripe, Ceará, Brasil. Coletânea de Trabalhos Paleontológicos, Série Geologia, Brasilia 75-80 [R. Butler/R. Butler/R. Butler]
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45581 J. G. Maisey. 1993. A new clupeomorph fish from the Santana Formation (Albian) of NE Brazil. American Museum Novitates 3076:1-15 [M. Bell/M. Bell]
32273 D. M. Martill. 2007. The age of the Cretaceous Santana Formation fossil Konservat Lagerstätte of north-east Brazil: a historical review and an appraisal of the biochronostratigraphic utility of its palaeobiota. Cretaceous Research 28:895-920 [R. Butler/R. Butler]
32259 D. M. Martill and D. M. Unwin. 1989. Exceptionally well preserved pterosaur wing membrane from the Cretaceous of Brazil. Nature 340:138-140 [R. Butler/R. Butler]
70516 F. L. Pinheiro and C. L. Schultz. 2012. An unusual pterosaur specimen (Pterodactyloidea, ?Azhdarchoidea) from the Early Cretaceous Romualdo Formation of Brazil, and the evolution of the pterodactyloid palate. PLoS ONE 7(11):e50088:1-11 [M. Carrano/M. Carrano]
39016 F. J. Poyato-Ariza and S. Wenz. 2002. New insight into pycnodontiform fishes. Geodiversitas 24(1):139-248 [M. Clapham/M. Clapham]
47768 R. d.a. Silva Santos. 1968. A paleoictiofauna da Formacao Santana - Euselachii. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias 40(4):491-497 [M. Bell/M. Bell]
47767 R. d.a. Silva Santos. 1970. A paleoictiofauna da Formacao Santana - Holostei: Familia Girodontidae. Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciencias 42(3):446-452 [M. Bell/M. Bell]
10457 M. D. Uhen. 2004. Form, Function, and Anatomy of Dorudon atrox (Mammalia, Cetacea): An Archaeocete from the Middle to Late Eocene of Egypt. University of Michigan Papers on Paleontology 34:1-222 [M. Uhen/M. Uhen/M. Uhen]
32274 A. J. Veldmeijer. 2002. Pterosaurs from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil in the Stuttgart collection. Stuttgarter Beiträge zur Naturkunde Serie B (Geologie und Paläontologie) 327:1-27 [R. Butler/R. Butler]
32275 A. J. Veldmeijer. 2003. Preliminary description of a skull and wing of a Brazilian Cretaceous (Santana Formation; Aptian-Albian) pterosaur (Pterodactyloidea) in the collection of the AMNH. PalArch, Vertebrate Palaeontology 1-13 [R. Butler/R. Butler]
32278 A. J. Veldmeijer. 2003. Coloborhynchus spielbergi sp. nov. (Pterodactyloidea) from the Albian (Lower Cretaceous) of Brazil. Scripta Geologica 125:35-139 [R. Butler/R. Butler]
32276 A. J. Veldmeijer, M. Signore, and H. J. M. Meijer. 2005. Description of two pterosaur (Pterodactyloidea) mandibles from the Lower Cretaceous Santana Formation, Brazil. Deinsea 11:67-86 [R. Butler/R. Butler]
32252 P. Wellnhofer. 1977. Araripedactylus dehmi nov. gen., nov. sp., ein neuer Flugsaurier aus der Unterkreide von Brasilien. Mitteilungen dr Bayerischen Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und historische Geologie 17:157-167 [R. Butler/R. Butler]
32256 P. Wellnhofer. 1985. Neue Pterosaurier aus der Santana-Formation (Apt) der Chapada do Araripe, Brasilien. Palaeontographica Abteilung A 187:105-182 [R. Butler/R. Butler]
32258 P. Wellnhofer. 1987. New crested pterosaurs from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil. Mitteilungen der Bayerischen Staatssammlung für Paläontologie und historische Geologie 27:175-186 [R. Butler/R. Butler]
32262 P. Wellnhofer. 1991. Weitere Pterosaurierfunde aus der Santana-Formation (Apt) der Chapada do Araripe, Brasilien. Palaeontographica Abteilung A 215:43-101 [R. Butler/R. Butler]
32254 P. Wellnhofer, E. Buffetaut, and P. Gigase. 1983. A pterosaurian notarium from the Lower Cretaceous of Brazil. Palaeontologische Zeitschrift 57(1/2):147-157 [R. Butler/R. Butler]
45784 S. Wenz and P. M. Brito. 1992. Première découverte de Lepisosteidae (Pisces, Actinopterygii) dans le Crétacé inférieur de la Chapada do Araripe (N-E du Brésil). Conséquences sur la phylogénie des Ginglymodi. Comptes rendus de l'Academie des sciences. Serie 2, Mecanique, Physique, Chimie, Sciences de l'univers, Sciences de la Terre 314(13):1519-1525 [M. Bell/M. Bell]
45773 S. Wenz and A. W. A. Kellner. 1986. Découverte du premier Ionoscopidae (Pisces, Halecomorphi) sud-américain, Oshunia brevis n.g., n.sp., dans le Crétacé inférieur de la Chapada do Araripe (nord-est du Brésil). Bulletin du Museum national d'historie naturelle. Section C. Sciences de la terre, paleontologie, geologie, mineralogie 8(1):77-88 [M. Bell/M. Bell/M. Bell]