A new marine fossil assemblage from the Pliensbachian of Condeixa (Vale das Fontes formation, Portugal)
Keywords:
Ichthyosauria, Ammonoidea, Lower Jurassic, Lusitanian BasinAbstract
We report the preliminary finds of an unknown marine fossil assemblage
located in Condeixa (Portugal), corresponding to Pliensbachian (Early
Jurassic)marine deposits of the Vale das Fontes Formation, in Portugal. This
marine fossil assemblage is characterized by the presence of ammonites,
belemnites, bivalves, brachiopods, and crinoids. A jaw fragment of an indeterminate
ichthyosaur was also recovered, making it the first described cranial
material referred to Ichthyosauria from the Pliensbachian of Condeixa.
The fossil record of ichthyosaurs in the Iberian Peninsula is quite scarce and
poorly known compared to that of some other regions of Europe. The discovery
of these ichthyosaur remains gives us additional information regarding
the distribution of ichthyosaurs in the Iberian Peninsula, although the
assemblage where these remains were recovered is currently endangered
due to human activity and intrusive natural vegetation.
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