Itapecuru Formation

Itapecuru Formation
Itapecuru Formation
Stratigraphic range: Aptian-Cenomanian; ~120–95 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Type	Geological formation
Underlies	Alluvium and Corda Formation
Overlies	Codó, Grajaú and Piauí Formations
Thickness	up to 2,000 m (6,600 ft) in São Luís Basin; 700 m (2,300 ft) in Parnaíba Basin
Lithology
Primary	Mudstone, sandstone
Other	Breccia, diamictite
Location
Coordinates	3°23′30″S 44°21′30″W / 3.39167°S 44.35833°W
Approximate paleocoordinates	8°36′S 15°54′W / 8.6°S 15.9°W
Region	Itapecuru Mirim; Maranhão
Country	Brazil
Extent	São Luís and Parnaíba Basins
Type section
Named for	Itapecuru Mirim
	Itapecuru Formation (Brazil)

The Itapecuru Formation is a geological formation in Itapecuru Mirim, Maranhão, Brazil.

It was formed during the Aptian to Albian stages of the Early Cretaceous.^[1] Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.^[2]

Fossil content

Color key

Taxon	Reclassified taxon	Taxon falsely reported as present	Dubious taxon or junior synonym	Ichnotaxon	Ootaxon	Morphotaxon

Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; ~~crossed out~~ taxa are discredited.

Dinosaurs

Sauropods

Sauropods of the Itapecuru Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Amazonsaurus^[3]	A. maranhensis				A rebbachisaurid sauropod
Sauropoda indet.^[2]	Indeterminate

Theropods

Theropods of the Itapecuru Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Abelisauridae Indet.^[2]	Indeterminate
Carcharodontosauridae Indet.^[4]	Indeterminate			Tooth
Oxalaia^[2]	O. quilombensis				A spinosaurid theropod
Theropoda indet.^[2]	Indeterminate

Crocodylomorphs

Crocodylomorphs of the Itapecuru Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Candidodon^[5]	C. itapecuruense				A candidodontid notosuchian

Turtles

Turtles of the Itapecuru Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Araripemys	A. barretoi				A araripemydid side-necked turtle
Itapecuruemys^[6]	I. amazoniensis				A bothremydid side-necked turtle

Fish

Fishes of the Itapecuru Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Arganodus	A. tiguidiensis				A arganodontid lungfish
Ceratodus	C. africanus				A ceradodontid lungfish
Mawsonia	M. gigas				A mawsoniid coelacanth

References

^ Ferreira, Neila N.; Ferreira, Elizabete P.; Ramos, Renato R.C.; Carvalho, Ismar S. (2016). "Palynological and sedimentary analysis of the Igarapé Ipiranga and Querru 1 outcrops of the Itapecuru Formation (Lower Cretaceous, Parnaíba Basin), Brazil". Journal of South American Earth Sciences. 66: 15–31. Bibcode:2016JSAES..66...15F. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2015.12.005. ISSN 0895-9811.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Cretaceous, South America)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 600-604. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
^ de Souza Carvalho, Ismar; dos Santos Avilla, Leonardo; Salgado, Leonardo (2003). "Amazonsaurus maranhensis gen. et sp. nov. (Sauropoda, Diplodocoidea) from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian) of Brazil". Cretaceous Research. 24 (6). Elsevier BV: 697–713. Bibcode:2003CrRes..24..697D. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2003.07.005. ISSN 0195-6671.
^ França, T. C.; Brilhante, N. S.; Delcourt, R.; Silva, J. L.; Hendrickx, C.; Medeiros, M. A.; Costa, F. R. (2025). "A carcharodontosaurid tooth from "Boca de Forno" Ravine of the Itapecuru Formation, Parnaíba Basin, Maranhão, Brazil". Cretaceous Research. 106163. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106163.
^ Candidodon itapecuruense type locality at Fossilworks.org
^ Batista, Diego L.; de Sousa Carvalho, I.; de la Fuente, M.S. (2020). "A new Cretaceous (Pleurodira: Pelomedusoides) from the Lower Cretaceous of Parnaíba Basin, Brazil": Journal of South American Earth Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsames.2020.102872

[1] Ferreira, Neila N.; Ferreira, Elizabete P.; Ramos, Renato R.C.; Carvalho, Ismar S. (2016). "Palynological and sedimentary analysis of the Igarapé Ipiranga and Querru 1 outcrops of the Itapecuru Formation (Lower Cretaceous, Parnaíba Basin), Brazil". Journal of South American Earth Sciences. 66: 15–31. Bibcode:2016JSAES..66...15F. doi:10.1016/j.jsames.2015.12.005. ISSN 0895-9811.

[cretaceousdistribution-2] Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Cretaceous, South America)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 600-604. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.

[3] Souza Carvalho, Ismar; dos Santos Avilla, Leonardo; Salgado, Leonardo (2003). "Amazonsaurus maranhensis gen. et sp. nov. (Sauropoda, Diplodocoidea) from the Lower Cretaceous (Aptian–Albian) of Brazil". Cretaceous Research. 24 (6). Elsevier BV: 697–713. Bibcode:2003CrRes..24..697D. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2003.07.005. ISSN 0195-6671.

[4] França, T. C.; Brilhante, N. S.; Delcourt, R.; Silva, J. L.; Hendrickx, C.; Medeiros, M. A.; Costa, F. R. (2025). "A carcharodontosaurid tooth from "Boca de Forno" Ravine of the Itapecuru Formation, Parnaíba Basin, Maranhão, Brazil". Cretaceous Research. 106163. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2025.106163.

[5] Candidodon itapecuruense type locality at Fossilworks.org

[6] Batista, Diego L.; de Sousa Carvalho, I.; de la Fuente, M.S. (2020). "A new Cretaceous (Pleurodira: Pelomedusoides) from the Lower Cretaceous of Parnaíba Basin, Brazil": Journal of South American Earth Sciences. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsames.2020.102872

[1]