BIOTIC ASSEMBLAGES FROM LOWER CRETACEOUS LACUSTRINE SYSTEMS, SAN LUIS BASIN, CENTRAL-WESTERN ARGENTINA

ARCUCCI, A. B, M.B. PRÁMPARO, L. CODORNIÚ, G.GIORDANO, G.CASTILLO ELÍAS, G.G.PUEBLA, N.MEGO, M.GOMEZ, E. BUSTOS ESCALONA

BOLETIN GEOLOGICO Y MINERO

Instituto Geológico y Minero de España

Lugar: Madrid; Año: 2015 vol. 126 p. 109 - 127

0366-0176

Significant paleobiological data came out from the San Luis Basin (Early Cretaceous, Aptian-Albian from Central Argentina) during the last decades. Two units in this basin include lake paleoenvironments and important fossil content in an excellent mode of preservation that could be considered as Konservat Lagerstatten deposits. The association of fossil leaves and pollen grains from La Cantera Formation is one of the most ancient and complete record of basal angiosperms in South America. The bryophyte association of the same unit constitutes one the most complete record of its type in Argentina. Insects from five different orders were identified in this association, and three endemic species of aquatic insects were described from La Cantera Formation belonging to the Families Notonectidae and Corixidae, including the oldest member of the Anisopinae subfamily. The Pterodaustro guinazui association from Lagarcito Formation is one of the scarce fossil associations recorded worldwide from which it is possible to make studies on the life history parameters of pterosaurs like growth patterns and ontogeny. The Pleuropholid fishes from Lagarcito Formation are the only record of this rare group in Argentina and the second from South America. Several new species of Ostracods and Conchostracea are also recorded in these same levels. Despite the amount of paleontological information now available from this area, much work remains to be done on these fossil associations, the correlation between them and the interpretation of its depositional environments.