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Rio do Rasto Formation

Coordinates: 28°24′26″S 49°32′46″W / 28.40722°S 49.54611°W / -28.40722; -49.54611
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Rio do Rasto Formation
Stratigraphic range: Wordian to Wuchiapingian
~266–254 Ma
A paleoart reconstruction the fauna of the Rio do Rasto Formation.
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofParaná & Pelotas Basins
Sub-unitsMorro Pelado Mb., Serrinha Mb.
UnderliesPirambóia Formation (Paraná Basin)
Botucatu Formation (Pelotas Basin)
OverliesTeresina Formation
Lithology
PrimaryShale, sandstone
Location
Coordinates28°24′26″S 49°32′46″W / 28.40722°S 49.54611°W / -28.40722; -49.54611
Approximate paleocoordinates41°18′S 22°24′W / 41.3°S 22.4°W / -41.3; -22.4
RegionParaná, Santa Catarina, Rio Grande do Sul
Country Brazil
ExtentParaná Basin

The Rio do Rasto Formation is a Late Permian sedimentary geological formation in the South Region of Brazil. The official name is Rio do Rasto, although in some publications it appears as Rio do Rastro.

The strata were deposited between the Wordian and the Wuchiapingian, from about 266 to 254 million years ago. The geology, alongside its paleobiota, indicate that the locality was a freshwater environment. Some of the animals discovered in the formation include Tiarajudens, Parapytanga and Pampaphoneus.

Description

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Geology

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The Rio do Rasto Formation is found mainly in the Brazilian states of Santa Catarina, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul. It was formed during the Late Permian and is divided into two members: the lower Serrinha Member and the upper Morro Pelado Member, spanning from the Wordian to Wuchiapingian stages of the Permian. The deposits of the Formation are mainly continental, having lacustrine, fluvial and aeolian sediment deposition.[1][2]

Although there have been many interpretations of the Serrinha Member, most agree on it being a shallow lacustrine environment. Hypotheses about the Member's formation range from deposits in lacustrine and deltaic environments with large lakes influenced by storm waves to it being a deposit of shallow lakes occasionally influenced by fluvial incursions and storm waves. The member is 150–250 metres (490–820 ft) thick and it is composed chiefly of mudstone and fine-grained sandstone.[1][3]

The Morro Pelado Member was deposited in smaller lakes, alluvial plains, fluvial meanders, delta systems and temporary bodies of water. The rock deposits of Morro Pelado were covered by aeolian stones, such as the dunes of the Pirambóia Formation. It is 250–300 metres (820–980 ft) thick and mainly composed of fine to medium-grained reddish sandstones, usually stratified, with fossils being found on its pelitic intercalations. Tetrapod fossils only occur in this Member.[1][2][3]

The transition between the two Members occurs in the center-east portion of the Paraná Basin.[4]

Age

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Extent of Paleozoic (including the Rio do Rasto Formation) and Mesozoic units in the Paraná Basin in light blue

Estimating the age of the Rio do Rasto formation has long relied solely on the basis of biostratigraphic correlations. Since 2018, radiometric dating has made it possible to specify the age of part of the formation.[5][6] Based on conchostracan and bivalve faunas, Holz and colleagues have suggested that the sedimentary succession of this formation extended from the Wordian (middle Guadalupian) to the Wuchiapingian (base of the Lopingian).[3] Among the tetrapods, the presence of dinocephalians in Fagundes and Boqueirão sites (State of Rio Grande do Sul) as well as in the region of Serra do Cadeado (State of Paraná) indicates a Guadalupian age for these localities, given that this synapsid group is restricted to this age in the rest of the world. In the Fagundes farm site, dinocephalians coexist with the pareiasaur Provelosaurus. The latter is present in the Aceguà area about 2 m above a 30 cm thick layer of bentonite radiometrically dated at 266 ± 5.4 million years.[6][7] The broad error margin of this radiometric dating places the Brazilian dinocephalian sites in the Lower Roadian – Middle Capitanian time interval, confirming the Guadalupian age of this part of the Morro Pelado Member.[7] The other tetrapods of the Morro Pelado Member in Rio Grande do Sul suggest an age not exceeding Wordian: Tapinocephalids are only known from Wordian and Capitanian rocks, the basal anomodont Tiarajudens is closely related to the South African genus Anomocephalus of the Tapinocephalus Assemblage Zone whose age extends from the late Wordian to the late Capitanian, and the temnospondyl Konzhukovia, present at the Boqueirão farm site in São Gabriel, is also known in eastern European Russia in strata limited to the Wordian-Capitanian interval.[7] The probable Wordian age of the Morro Pelado Member is also reinforced by a radiometric age of the Serrinha Member (lower part of the Rio do Rasto formation) obtained from a volcanic ash layer which gave an age of 270.61 + 1.76/− 3.27 Ma corresponding to the Roadian (early Guadalupian).[5]

Paleoecology

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The rock deposits of the Serrinha and Morro Pelado Members, as well as the abundant conchostracan fossils, indicate a freshwater environment, with Serrinha being composed of shallow lakes with occasional storms and Morro Pelado being composed of small lakes, alluvial plains, meanders and temporary bodies of water, which were later covered up by dunes. The increased occurrence of aeolian sandstone in Morro Pelado indicate a drier climate with greater aridity. Fossils of the Rio do Rasto Formation, and neighboring Permian formations, have revealed a flora composed of plants like glossopterids, sphenophytes and pteridophytes. The fauna is composed of Invertebrates, such as bivalves, gastropods and conchostracans, and vertebrates like palaeonisciform and elasmobranch fish such as Xenacanthus and Sphenacanthus. Tetrapods are only found in the upper Morro Pelado Member, and are represented by terrestrial herbivores like the dicynodonts Endothiodon and Rastodon, the pareiasaur Provelosaurus, a tapinocephalid and the saber-toothed Tiarajudens. Therapsid predators such as Pampaphoneus were also present, as well as another unidentified anteosaur, and a titanosuchid. Temnospondyls such as Australerpeton, Bageherpeton and Rastosuchus lurked in the abundant bodies of water. These giant amphibians filled the niche of aquatic predators, much like the modern day crocodiles.[1][3][2][8][9]

Coprolite remains have also been found, some of which likely belong to palaeonisciform and elasmobranch fish, and some of the coprolites contained pieces of bones and scales, demonstrating clear evidence of predation. Some of the scales preserved peg-and-socket structures, associated with palaeonisciform fish. In at least one coprolite it was possible to recognise a fish jaw with teeth.[4]

Stromatolites have also been found in the formation, interpreted as having developed in waters that were shallow, clear and warm and in habitats that were inhospitable for competitors.[10]

Fossil content

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Flora

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Genus Species Description Image
Glossopteris[10] G. aff. angustifolia

G. decipiens

G. dorizonensis

G. cf. formosa

G. grafi

G. cf. indica

G. aff. longicaulis

G. margiondulata

G. riorastensis

G. singenervis

G. spathulato-emarginata

G. aff. stricta

G. cf. surangei

G. cf. taeniopteroides

G. sp.

A genus of seed fern.
Vertebraria[10] V. sp.
Ilexoidephyllum[10] I. permicum
Sphenophyllum[10] S. paranaense

S. cf. thonii

A genus of fern.
Schizoneura[10] S. gondwanensis
Paracalamites[10] P. sp.
Dichophyllites[10] D. sp.
Pecopteris[10] P. dolianitii

P. esperancensis

P. bracatingaensis

P. cadeadensis

P. sp.

A genus of fern.
Dizeugotheca[10] D. sp.

D. bortoluzzii

Sphenopteris S. sp. A genus of seed fern.

Bivalves

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Genus Species Description Image
Leinzia[10] L. similis
Oliveiraia[10] O. pristina
Terraia[10] T. altissima
Cowperesia[10] C. emerita

C. cf. Terraria sp.

Relogiicola[10] R. delicata.
Nothoterraria[10] N. acarinata
Palaeomutela[10] P. platinensis

Conchostraca

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Genus Species Description Image
Monoleaia[10] M. unicostata micropolygonata

M. unicostata timboensis

Paranaleaia[10] P. supina
Asmussia[10] A. regularis

A. sp.

Cyzicus[10] C. sp.
Gabonestheria[10] G. sp.
Palaeolimnadiopsis[10] P. subalata
Palaeolimnadia[10] P. sp.

Gastropods

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Genus Species Occurrence Description Image
Dendropupa[10] D. sp. Serrinha Member A land snail. According to Rohn (1988),

the specimens found in the formation

rarely reach more than 5mm of height.

Hydrobia[10]

Fish

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Genus Species Occurrence Description Image
Coelacanthidae indet.[10] Serrinha Member Coelacanth known from fossil scales.
Elonichthys[10] cf. E. gondwanus Serrinha Member A Palaeoniscid, fish known from fossil scales.
Acrolepis[10] A bony fish, known from fossil scales.
Sphenacanthus[1] S. riorastoensis Serrinha Member A sphenacanthid shark.
Paranaichthys[11] P. longianalis Serrinha Member A ray-finned fish.
Xenacanthus[12] X. ragonhai Serrinha Member A xenacanthid shark, known from fossil teeth.
Triodus[13] T. richterae Morro Pelado Member A xenacanthid shark, known from fossil teeth.
Actinopterygii indet.[14] Species A, B and C Specimens cannot be ascribed to any species.

Amphibians

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Genus Species Occurrence Description Image
Australerpeton[15] A. cosgriffi Morro Pelado Member A temnospondyl.
Bageherpeton[16] B. longignathus Morro Pelado Member A temnospondyl.
Konzhukovia[17] K. sangabrielensis Morro Pelado Member A temnospondyl.
"Otacillus"[18] "O. aumondi" Morro Pelado Member A temnosponsyl. Only described in preprint.
Rastosuchus[19] R. hammeri Morro Pelado Member A temnospondyl.
Parapytanga[9] P. catarinensis Morro Pelado Member A temnospondyl.
Temnospondyl indet.[20] Morro Pelado Member A temnospondyl. Due to the fragmentary nature of the fossil and the absence of a skull, identification was impossible.

Parareptiles

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Genus Species Occurrence Description Image
Provelosaurus[21] P. americanus Morro Pelado Member A pareiasaur reptile.

Synapsids

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Genus Species Occurrence Description Image
Rastodon[8] R. procurvidens Morro Pelado Member A dicynodont.
Endothiodon[18] E. sp. Morro Pelado Member A dicynodont.
Tapinocephalidae indet.[2] Morro Pelado Member A tapinocephalid.
Tiarajudens[22] T. eccentricus Morro Pelado Member An anomocephaloid.
Pampaphoneus[23] P. biccai Morro Pelado Member An anteosaur.
Anteosaur indet.[18] Morro Pelado Member An anteosaur.
Titanosuchid indet.[18] Morro Pelado Member A titanosuchid.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Pauliv, Victor Eduardo; Dias, Eliseu Vieira; Sedor, Fernado Antonio (2012). "A NEW SPECIES OF SPHENACANTHID (CHONDRICHTHYES, ELASMOBRANCHII) FROM THE RIO DO RASTO FORMATION (PARANÁ BASIN), SOUTHERN BRAZIL" (PDF). Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia. 15 (3): 243–250. doi:10.4072/rbp.2012.3.01.
  2. ^ a b c d A.D.S. Boos; C.F. Kammerer; C.L. Schultz; V.D. Paes Neto (2015). "A tapinocephalid dinocephalian (Synapsida, Therapsida) from the Rio do Rasto Formation (Paraná Basin, Brazil): Taxonomic, ontogenetic and biostratigraphic considerations". Journal of South American Earth Sciences. 63: 375–384. Bibcode:2015JSAES..63..375B. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2015.09.003.
  3. ^ a b c d Holz, Michael; França, Almério B.; Souza, Paulo A.; Iannuzzi, Roberto; Rohn, Rosemarie (2010). "A stratigraphic chart of the Late Carboniferous/Permian succession of the eastern border of the Paraná Basin, Brazil, South America". Journal of South American Earth Sciences. 29 (2): 381–399. Bibcode:2010JSAES..29..381H. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2009.04.004 – via ResearchGate.
  4. ^ a b FONTANELLI, RAÍSSA CRISTINA OLIVEIRA; VEGA, CRISTINA SILVEIRA (2020). "Coprólitos da Formação Rio do Rasto (Neopermiano da Bacia do Paraná) registrados no estado do Paraná". Boletim Paranaense de Geociências. 77 (3): 20–25. doi:10.5380/geo.v77i0.78642.
  5. ^ a b Francischini, H.; Dentzien-Dias, P.; Guerra-Sommer, M.; Menegat, R.; Santos, J.O.S.; Manfroi, J.; Schultz, C.L. (2018). "A Middle Permian (Roadian) lungfish aestivation burrow from the Rio do Rasto Formation (Paraná Basin, Brazil) and associated U-Pb dating". PALAIOS. 33 (2): 69–84. Bibcode:2018Palai..33...69F. doi:10.2110/palo.2017.050. S2CID 134435628.
  6. ^ a b Rocha-Campos, A.C.; Basei, M.A.S.; Nutman, A.P.; Santos, P.R.; Passarelli, C.R .; Canile, F.M.; Rosa, O.C.R.; Fernandes, M.T.; Santa Ana, H.; Veroslavsky, G. (2019). "U-Pb zircon dating of ash fall deposits from the Paleozoic Paraná Basin of Brazil and Uruguay: a reevaluation of the stratigraphic correlations". The Journal of Geology. 127 (2): 167–182. Bibcode:2019JG....127..167R. doi:10.1086/701254. hdl:1885/202604. S2CID 134671451.
  7. ^ a b c Cisneros, J.C.; Dentzien-Dias, P.; Francischini, H. (2021). "The Brazilian Pareiasaur revisited". Frontiers in Ecology and Evolution. 9: 758802. doi:10.3389/fevo.2021.758802.
  8. ^ a b Boos, Alessandra D. S.; Kammerer, Christian F.; Schultz, Cesar L.; Soares, Marina B.; Ilha, Ana L. R. (2016). "A New Dicynodont (Therapsida: Anomodontia) from the Permian of Southern Brazil and Its Implications for Bidentalian Origins". PLoS ONE. 11 (5): e0155000. Bibcode:2016PLoSO..1155000B. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0155000. PMC 4880204. PMID 27224287 – via ResearchGate.
  9. ^ a b STRAPASSON, ADRIANA; PINHEIRO, FELIPE L.; SOARES, MARINA B. (2015). "On a new stereospondylomorph temnospondyl from the Middle–Late Permian of Southern Brazil" (PDF). Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 60 (4): 843–855.
  10. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac Rohn, Rosemarie (1988). "BIOESTRATIGRAFIA E PALEOAMBIENTES DA FORMAÇÃO RIO Do RASTO NA BORDA LESTE DA BACIA DO PARANÁ (PERMIANO SUPERIOR, ESTADO DO PARANÁ)". Universidade de São Paulo Instituto de Geociências. 1.
  11. ^ DIAS, ELISEU VIEIRA (2012). "A new deep-bodied fossil fish (Actinopterygii) from the Rio do Rasto Formation, Paraná Basin, Brazil". Zootaxa. 3192 (1): 1–23. doi:10.11646/zootaxa.3192.1.1.
  12. ^ PAULIV, VICTOR E.; DIAS, ELISEU V.; SEDOR, FERNANDO A.; RIBEIRO, ANA MARIA (2014). "A new Xenacanthiformes shark (Chondrichthyes, Elasmobranchii) from the Late Paleozoic Rio do Rasto Formation (Paraná Basin), Southern Brazil". Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências. 86 (1): 135–145. doi:10.1590/0001-37652014107612. PMID 24676160 – via Scielo.
  13. ^ Pauliv, Victor E.; Martinelli, Agustín G.; Francischini, Heitor; Dentzien-Dias, Paula; Soares, Marina B.; Schultz, Cesar L.; Ribeiro, Ana M. (2017). "The first Western Gondwanan species of Triodus Jordan 1849: A new Xenacanthiformes (Chondrichthyes) from the late Paleozoic of Southern Brazil". Journal of South American Earth Sciences. 80: 482–493. Bibcode:2017JSAES..80..482P. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2017.09.007.
  14. ^ Vega-Dias, Cristina; Dias, Eliseu Vieira; Richter, Martha (2000). "ACTINOPTERYGIAN REMAINS FROM THE RIO DO RASTO FORMATION, UPPER PERMIAN OF THE PARANÁ BASIN, BRAZIL". Gaea - Journal of Geoscience. 23 (51): 21–31 – via ResearchGate.
  15. ^ AZEVEDO, KARINE LOHMANN; VEGA, CRISTINA SILVEIRA; SOARES, MARINA BENTO (2017). "A NEW SPECIMEN OF AUSTRALERPETON COSGRIFFI BARBERENA, 1998 (STEREOSPONDYLI: RHINESUCHIDAE) FROM THE MIDDLE/UPPER PERMIAN RIO DO RASTO FORMATION, PARANÁ BASIN, BRAZIL" (PDF). Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia. 20 (3): 333–344. doi:10.4072/rbp.2017.3.05.
  16. ^ DIAS, ELISEU V.; BARBERENA, MARIO C. (2000). "A Temnospondyl Amphibian from the Rio do Rasto Formation, Upper Permian of Southern Brazil". Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências. 73: 135–143. doi:10.1590/S0001-37652001000100011. hdl:10183/37595 – via Scielo.
  17. ^ Pacheco, Cristian Pereira; Eltink, Estevan; Müller, Rodrigo Temp; Dias- da-Silva, Sérgio (2016). "A new Permian temnospondyl with Russian affinities from South America, the new family Konzhukoviidae, and the phylogenetic status of Archegosauroidea" (PDF). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 15 (3): 241. Bibcode:2017JSPal..15..241P. doi:10.1080/14772019.2016.1164763.
  18. ^ a b c d ELIAS, RAFAEL LUIZ; SCHMITT, MAURÍCIO RODRIGO; SCHULTZ, CESAR LEANDRO (2024). "A New Temnospondyl for the Permian Rio Do Rasto Formation, Paraná Basin of Santa Catarina State, Brazil". SSRN 4911965. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  19. ^ DIAS, ELISEU VIEIRA; DIAS-DA-SILVA, SÉRGIO; SCHULTZ, CESAR LEANDRO (2020). "A new short-snouted rhinesuchid from the Permian of southern Brazil". Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia. 23 (2): 98–122. doi:10.4072/rbp.2020.2.03. hdl:10183/229929.
  20. ^ RAMOS, BRUNO DIAS; VEGA, CRISTINA SILVEIRA (2011). "TEMNOSPONDYL REMAINS FROM THE LATE PERMIAN RIO DO RASTO FORMATION (PARANÁ BASIN) OF BRAZIL" (PDF). Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia. 14 (1): 67–74. doi:10.4072/rbp.2011.1.07.
  21. ^ CISNEROS, JUAN CARLOS; ABDALA, FERNANDO; MALABARBA, MARIA C. (2005). "PAREIASAURIDS FROM THE RIO DO RASTO FORMATION, SOUTHERN BRAZIL: BIOSTRATIGRAPHIC IMPLICATIONS FOR PERMIAN FAUNAS OF THE PARANÁ BASIN" (PDF). Revista Brasileira de Paleontologia. 8 (1): 13–24. doi:10.4072/rbp.2005.1.02.
  22. ^ Cisneros, J.C.; Abdala, F.; Rubidge, B.S.; Dentzien-Dias, D.; Bueno, A.O. (2011). "Dental Occlusion in a 260-Million-Year-Old Therapsid with Saber Canines from the Permian of Brazil". Science. 331 (6024): 1603–1605. Bibcode:2011Sci...331.1603C. doi:10.1126/science.1200305. PMID 21436452.
  23. ^ Cisneros, Juan Carlos; Abdala, Fernando; Atayman-Güven, Saniye; Rubidge, Bruce S.; Sengör, A. M. Celâl; Schultz, Cesar L. (2011). "Carnivorous dinocephalian from the Middle Permian of Brazil and tetrapod dispersal in Pangaea". Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. 109 (5).
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