View source for Earth:Castillo Formation, Venezuela

{{Infobox rockunit
| name           = Castillo Formation
| image          =
| caption        =
| type           = [[Earth:Geological formation|Geological formation]]
| age            = [[Earth:Burdigalian|Burdigalian]] ([[Earth:Colhuehuapian|Colhuehuapian]]-[[Earth:Santacrucian|Santacrucian]])<br />~{{fossil range|19.2|17}}
| period         = Burdigalian
| prilithology   = Argillaceous [[Earth:Marl|marl]]
| otherlithology = Hardground, [[Chemistry:Gypsum|gypsum]]
| namedfor       = 
| namedby        = Wheeler
| year_ts        = 1960
| region         = Falcón, Lara
| country        = {{VEN}}
| coordinates    = {{coord|10|33|50|N|69|43|42|W|display=inline,title}}
| paleocoordinates = {{coord|9.6|N|66.7|W|display=inline}}
| unitof         = Falcón Basin
| subunits       = 
| underlies      = Capadare Formation
| overlies       = Matatere, Misoa, El Paují and Jarillal Formations
| thickness      = {{convert|367|m|ft|abbr=on}}
| extent         = From La Mesa to Siquisique
| area           = 
| map            = Blakey 020Ma - COL.jpg
| map_caption    = Paleogeography of Northern South America, 20 Ma<br />{{small|by Ron Blakey}}
}}
{{Location map | Venezuela
| relief = 1
| width   = 330
| lat_deg = 10.563904
| lon_deg = -69.728501
| label   = 
| float = right
| position = right
| mark = Yellow pog.svg
| marksize = 12
| caption = Type locality of the Castillo Formation in Venezuela
}}
The '''Castillo Formation''' is an [[Earth:Early Miocene|Early Miocene]] ([[Earth:Burdigalian|Burdigalian]], [[Earth:Colhuehuapian|Colhuehuapian]] to [[Earth:Santacrucian|Santacrucian]] in the [[Earth:South American land mammal age|SALMA classification]]) geologic formation in the Falcón Basin of Venezuela. The formation unconformably overlies the Matatere, Misoa, El Paují and Jarillal Formations.<ref name=Urbani_p17>Urbani & Mendi, 2010, p.17</ref> The Castillo Formation is overlain by Quaternary alluvium and in places by the Capadare Formation.<ref name=Urbani_p19>Urbani & Mendi, 2010, p.19</ref> The formation, deposited in a calm near-shore lagoonal brackish environment, with possibly fluvial influence, has provided a rich assemblage of fossil crocodylians, turtles, giant sloths and various types of fish.

== Description ==
The Castillo Formation crops out cover a wide semicircular area that extends through the northwestern Venezuelan states of Falcón and Lara. During Oligocene to Miocene times, the formation formed the northwest to southeast edge of the Falcón Basin.<ref name=Solorzano2018a_p3>Solórzano et al., 2018a, p.3</ref> The formation, with a minimum thickness of {{convert|367|m|ft}},<ref name=Rincon2014_p510>Rincón et al., 2014, p.510</ref> has formerly been regarded as [[Earth:Oligocene|Late Oligocene]] in age (Wheeler, 1960), but more recent workers, regard it to be Early Miocene. The Castillo Formation at Cerro La Cruz comprises {{convert|87|m|ft}} of clayey [[Earth:Marl|marl]]s, interbedded with numerous thin (less than {{convert|1|m|ft}}) hardground units. The strata are underlain and overlain by sandstones, and the upper {{convert|15|m|ft}} are [[Chemistry:Gypsum|gypsiferous]].

The formation was deposited in a calm near-shore marine to brackish [[Earth:Lagoon|lagoon]]al [[Earth:Depositional environment|environment]] with possibly fluvial influence.<ref>[http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=collectionSearch&collection_no=43063 Cerro La Cruz] at [[Biology:Fossilworks|Fossilworks]].org</ref> Elements of the fauna are consistent with the hypothesis that a tributary and/or delta of the Orinoco existed in this area of northwestern Venezuela during Early Miocene times.<ref name=CruzUnitC/> Other authors did not find convincing results to support this hypothesis.<ref name=Rincon2014_p522>Rincón et al., 2014, p.522</ref>

== Fossil content ==
In the formation, apart from [[Biology:Coral|coral]]s, fossils of the giant sloth ''[[Biology:Baraguatherium|Baraguatherium takumara]]'', the turtle ''Chelus colombiana'', the crocodylians ''[[Biology:Siquisiquesuchus|Siquisiquesuchus venezuelensis]]'',<ref>[http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=collectionSearch&collection_no=143603 Siquisique] at [[Biology:Fossilworks|Fossilworks]].org</ref> ''[[Biology:Purussaurus|Purussaurus]]'', ''[[Biology:Caiman|Caiman]]'',<ref name=Solorzano2018a_p12>Solórzano et al., 2018a, p.12</ref> ''[[Biology:Gryposuchus|Gryposuchus]]'',<ref name=Solorzano2018b_p121>Solórzano, 2018b, p.121</ref> and indeterminate other crocodylians,<ref name=Solorzano2018_p1>Solórzano et al., 2018, p.1</ref> and the pelican-like ''[[Biology:Pelagornis|Pelagornis sp.]]'' have been found. The pelican-like fossil is the oldest of South America.<ref name=RNV>{{in lang|es}} [http://rnv.gob.ve/tres-curiosos-animales-prehistoricos-emergen-del-subsuelo-venezolano/ Tres curiosos animales prehistóricos emergen del subsuelo venezolano] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816005607/http://rnv.gob.ve/tres-curiosos-animales-prehistoricos-emergen-del-subsuelo-venezolano/ |date=2017-08-16 }}</ref><ref name=ElUniversal>{{in lang|es}} [http://www.eluniversal.com/noticias/estilo-vida/hallan-restos-tres-animales-prehistoricos-lara_314610 Hallan restos de tres animales prehistóricos en Lara] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170816015343/http://www.eluniversal.com/noticias/estilo-vida/hallan-restos-tres-animales-prehistoricos-lara_314610 |date=2017-08-16 }}</ref>

Other fossils reported from the formation are:<ref name=CruzUnitC>[http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=collectionSearch&collection_no=145379 Cerro La Cruz, Unit C] at [[Biology:Fossilworks|Fossilworks]].org</ref><ref name=Cruz>[http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=collectionSearch&taxon_no=36831 Cerro La Cruz] at [[Biology:Fossilworks|Fossilworks]].org</ref>
{{div col|colwidth=20em}}
* [[Biology:Silky shark|silky shark]] (''Carcharhinus falciformis'')
* [[Biology:Wahoo|wahoo]] (''Acanthocybium sp.'')
* [[Biology:Barracuda|barracuda]] (''Sphyraena sp.'')
* ''Carcharhinus cf. obscurus'' 
* ''Carcharhinus cf. perezi''
* ''[[Biology:Hemipristis serra|Hemipristis serra]]''
* ''[[Biology:Prosqualodon|aff. Prosqualodon australis]]''
* ''[[Biology:Bairdemys|Bairdemys sp.]]''
* ''[[Biology:Rhinoptera|Rhinoptera sp.]]''
* ''[[Biology:Scirrotherium|Scirrotherium sp.]]''
* [[Biology:Arecaceae|Arecaceae indet.]]
* [[Biology:Astrapotheriidae|Astrapotheriidae indet.]]
* [[Biology:Iniidae|Iniidae indet.]]
* [[Biology:Litopterna|Litopterna indet.]]
* [[Biology:Mylodontidae|Mylodontidae indet.]]
* Platanistoidea indet.
* [[Biology:Squalidae|Squalidae indet.]]
* [[Biology:Tardigrada|Tardigrada indet.]]
* Trionychoidea indet.
{{colend}}

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! SALMA
! Group
! Fossils
! class=unsortable | Notes
|-
| style="background-color: {{period color|chattian}};" | [[Earth:Deseadan|Deseadan]] || Corals || ''Acropora saludensis'', ''Alveopora tampae'', ''Agathiphyllia antiguensis'', ''A. tenuis'', ''Antiguastrea cellulosa'', ''Astrocoenia portoicensis'', ''Colpophyllia willoughbiensis'', ''Diploastrea crassolamellata'', ''Goniastrea canalis'', ''Montastrea canalis'', ''Montastrea cavernosa'', ''Montastrea imperatoris'', ''Pocillopora arnoldi'', ''Porites baracoaensis'', ''Porites portoricensis'', ''Porites trinitatis'', ''Porites waylandi'', ''Siderastrea conferta'', ''Stephanocoenia duncani'', ''Stylophora affinis'', ''S. granulata'' || {{center|<ref name=FWCerroGuariro>[http://www.fossilworks.org/cgi-bin/bridge.pl?a=collectionSearch&collection_no=87067 Cerro Guariro] at [[Biology:Fossilworks|Fossilworks]].org</ref>}}
|-
|}

== See also ==
* Urumaco
* [[Earth:Honda Group, Colombia|Honda Group]]
* [[Earth:South American land mammal age|South American land mammal age]]s

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

=== Bibliography ===
* {{cite LSA |last=Johnson |first=Kenneth G. |last2=Sánchez Villagra |first2=Marcelo R. |last3=Aguilera |first3=Orangel A. |year=2009 |title=The Oligocene-Miocene transition on coral reefs in the Falcón Basin (NW Venezuela) |url=http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download?doi=10.1.1.617.9079&rep=rep1&type=pdf
|journal=PALAIOS |volume=24 |pages=59–69 |accessdate=2017-08-15}}
* {{cite LSA |last=Rincón |first=Ascanio D. |last2=Solórzano |first2=Andrés |last3=McDonald |first3=H. Gregory |last4=Núñez Flores |first4=Mónica |year=2017 |title=''Baraguatherium takumara'', gen. et sp. nov., the earliest mylodontoid sloth (early Miocene) from northern South America |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/300000528_Baraguatherium_takumara_Gen_et_Sp_Nov_the_Earliest_Mylodontoid_Sloth_Early_Miocene_from_Northern_South_America |journal=Journal of Mammalian Evolution |volume=24 |issue=2 |pages=179–191 |accessdate=2019-02-12}}
* {{cite LSA |last=Rincón |first=Ascanio D. |last2=Solórzano |first2=Andrés |last3=Benammi |first3=Mouloud |last4=Vignaud |first4=Patrick |last5=McDonald |first5=H. Gregory |year=2014 |title=Chronology and geology of an Early Miocene mammalian assemblage in North of South America, from Cerro La Cruz (Castillo Formation), Lara State, Venezuela: implications in the 'changing course of Orinoco River' hypothesis |url=https://scielo.conicyt.cl/pdf/andgeol/v41n3/art02.pdf |journal=Andean Geology |volume=41 |pages=507–528 |accessdate=2018-09-07}}
* {{cite LSA |last=Solórzano |first=Andrés |last2=Rincón |first2=Ascanio D. |last3=Cidade |first3=Giovanne M. |last4=Núñez Flores |first4=Mónica |last5=Sánchez |first5=Leonardo |year=2018a |title=Lower Miocene alligatoroids (Crocodylia) from the Castillo Formation, northwest of Venezuela |url=http://www.paleolab.com.br/assets/uploads/files/Solorzano_et_al.%2C_2018._Crocodilos_de_castillo.pdf |journal=Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments |volume=_ |pages=1–19 |accessdate=2018-09-07}}
* {{Cite LSA |last=Solórzano |first=Andrés |last2=Núñez Flores |first2=Mónica |last3=Rincón |first3=Ascanio D. |year=2018b |title=''Gryposuchus'' (Crocodylia, Gavialoidea) from the early Miocene of Venezuela |url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/320214077_Gryposuchus_Crocodylia_Gavialoidea_from_the_early_Miocene_of_Venezuela |journal=PalZ |volume=92 |pages=121–129 |accessdate=2018-09-07}}
* {{cite LSA |last=Urbani |first=Franco |last2=Mendi |first2=David |year=2010 |title=Notas sobre la discordancia del margen sur de la cuenca Oligo-Miocena de Falcón estados Lara, Falcón y Yaracuy, Venezuela |url=https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Franco_Urbani/publication/289375537_Notas_sobre_la_discordancia_del_margen_sur_de_la_cuenca_oligo-miocena_de_falcon_estados_Lara_Falcon_y_Yaracuy_Venezuela/links/568bf57708ae16c414a9cf68/Notas-sobre-la-discordancia-del-margen-sur-de-la-cuenca-oligo-miocena-de-falcon-estados-Lara-Falcon-y-Yaracuy-Venezuela.pdf |journal=Boletín de la Academia de Ciencias Físicas, Matemáticas y Naturales |volume=LXX |pages=9–25 |accessdate=2017-08-15}}

== Further reading ==
* C. A. Brochu and A. D. Rincón. 2004. A gavialoid crocodylian from the Lower Miocene of Venezuela. Special Papers in Palaeontology 71:61-79
* R. M. Feldmann and C. E. Schweitzer. 2004. Decapod Crustaceans from the Lower Miocene of North-Western Venezuela (Cerro La Cruz, Castillo Formation). Special Papers in Palaeontology 71:7-22
* M. R. Sánchez Villagra, R. J. Asher, A. D. Rincón, A. A. Carlini, P. Meylan and R. W. Purdy. 2004. New faunal reports for the Cerro La Cruz locality (lower Miocene), north-western Venezuela. Special Papers in Palaeontology 71:105-112
* M. R. Sánchez Villagra, R. J. Burnham, D.C. Campbell, R.M. Feldmann, E.S. Gaffney, R.S. Kay, R. Lozsan, R. Purdy, and J.G.M. Thewissen. 2000. A new near-shore marine fauna and flora from the early Neogene of northwestern Venezuela. Journal of Paleontology 74(5):957-968

[[Category:Burdigalian]]
[[Category:Colhuehuapian]]
[[Category:Santacrucian]]
[[Category:Shallow marine deposits]]
[[Category:Fluvial deposits]]

{{Sourceattribution|Castillo Formation, Venezuela}}