Wind River Formation

The Wind River Formation is a geologic formation in Wyoming in the Wind River Basin. 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

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. Bibcode:1975Sci...189..718H. doi:10.1126/science.189.4204.718. ISSN 0036-8075.


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