Wind River Formation

The Wind River Formation is a geologic formation in Wyoming. It preserves fossils dating back to the Paleogene period. A recent study by Stanford suggests that fracking has contaminated the entire ground water resource in the basin.[1]

Wind River Formation
Stratigraphic range: Paleogene
TypeGeological formation
Location
RegionWyoming
Country United States
Wind River Formation at Hell's Half Acre, Natrona County, Wyoming.

Fossil content

Apatotheres
Apatotheres reported from the Wind River Formation
GenusSpeciesPresence MaterialNotesImages
Apatemys A. bellulus Lost Cabin Member.[2] Also found in the Willwood Formation.[2]

Cimolestans
Cimolestans reported from the Wind River Formation
GenusSpeciesPresence MaterialNotesImages
Palaeosinopa P. incerta Lost Cabin Member.[2] A pantolestid also known from the Willwood and San Jose formations .[2]
P. sp. Lost Cabin Member.[3] A pantolestid.

Leptictids
Leptictids reported from the Wind River Formation
GenusSpeciesPresence MaterialNotesImages
Palaeictops P. bicuspis Lost Cabin Member.[2] Also known from the Willwood Formation.[2]

Primatomorphs
Primatomorphs reported from the Wind River Formation
GenusSpeciesPresence MaterialNotesImages
Absarokius A. sp. Cottonwood Creek, Lysite Member.[3] An omomyid.
Arapajovius A. cf. gazini [3]
Copelemur C. feretutus Lysite Member.[3] "ACM 4326, an isolated right M1".[3] A notharctine.

Rodents
Rodents reported from the Wind River Formation
GenusSpeciesPresence MaterialNotesImages
Paramys P. sp. Lost Cabin Member.[3] "ACM 327, a right mandible with M1 through M3 and partial P4".[3]

Ungulates
Ungulates reported from the Wind River Formation
GenusSpeciesPresence MaterialNotesImages
Diacodexis D. secans AMNH 4899 (left and right P4-M3).[3] A dichobunid.

Squamates
Squamates reported from the Wind River Formation
GenusSpeciesPresence MaterialNotesImages
Ototriton O. solidus Lysite Member.[4] ACM 3539.[4] A worm lizard.
Protorhineura P. hatcherii [4] A worm lizard also known from the Brule & White River formations.
Spathorhynchus S. fossorium [4] A worm lizard also known from the Bridger Formation.

Insects
Insects reported from the Wind River Formation
GenusSpeciesPresence MaterialNotesImages
Phyllocnistis Near Dubois, Wyoming.[5] Mine on a leaflet impression of Cedrela.[5]

Plants
Plants reported from the Wind River Formation
GenusSpeciesPresence MaterialNotesImages
Cedrela Near Dubois, Wyoming.[5] Leaflet impression.[5]

See also

References
  1. "Fracking Can Contaminate Drinking Water". Scientific American.
  2. Bown, T.; Schankler, David M. (1982). "A review of the Proteutheria and Insectivora of the Willwood Formation (Lower Eocene), Bighorn Basin, Wyoming". doi:10.3133/B1523. S2CID 127861247. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  3. Johnson, Edward (2005-06-01). "A New Early Eocene Mammalian Fauna from the Great Divide Basin, Southwestern Wyoming: Vertebrate Paleontology, Paleoclimatology, and Biostratigraphy". Masters Theses.
  4. Hembree, Daniel I. (April 30, 2007). "Phylogenetic revision of Rhineuridae (Reptilia: Squamata: Amphisbaenia) from the Eocene to Miocene of North America". The University of Kansas Paleontological Contributions (15): 1–20. doi:10.17161/PCNS.1808.3763. S2CID 59354440.
  5. Hickey, Leo J.; Hodges, Ronald W. (1975-08-29). "Lepidopteran Leaf Mine from the Early Eocene Wind River Formation of Northwestern Wyoming". Science. 189 (4204): 718–720. doi:10.1126/science.189.4204.718. ISSN 0036-8075.


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