Preliminary Taphonomic Analysis of Antlers Formation Fossil Sites and Comments on Early Cretaceous Paleoenvironment and Faunas

Project Abstract

The Trinity Group of Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas offers an intriguing opportunity to examine Early Cretaceous coastal ecosystems in the United States. Within Texas, the Trinity Group consists of the Twin Mountain, Glen Rose, and Paluxy formations, with the Antlers Formation being a lateral equivalent of the Texas formations located primarily in Oklahoma. The Antlers Formation represents fluvial, deltaic, and strand plain environments occurring within a transgressive–regressive sequence during the expansion of the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. The taphonomy of individual specimens and sites in the Antlers Formation has been previously evaluated but a formation-wide comparison of taphonomic characteristics has not yet been conducted. Antlers Formation sites produce organisms of varying size, ranging from mammals to large dinosaurs that inhabited terrestrial and freshwater to marginal marine environments. Preliminary findings show that teeth and jaw fragments of triconodont and multituberculate mammals, crocodyliforms, lissamphibians, chondrichthyians, and pycnodont and ceratodontid fish make up most of the material, typical of Early Cretaceous microsite assemblages. Testudines shell material and osteichthyan scales are extremely abundant at sites as well. Mammal material shows greater amounts of weathering and abrasion, compared to herpetofaunas, fish, sharks, and crocodyliforms, which consistently show minimal to moderate levels of surface modification. Dinosaur and pterosaur material display varying levels of weathering, abrasion, and crushing, with concentration and condition of site material possibly varying per stratigraphic location. Post-cranial Dinosaurian material is dominated by ornithopod and sauropod elements, which display lower quality preservation than microvertebrate material. Sauropod limb bones display higher degrees of rounding, abrasion and fragmentation. Ornithopod material varies in condition from moderately abraded, angular bone to heavily abraded and uniformly rounded. The taphonomic features of aquatic, semi-aquatic, and terrestrial faunas in Antlers assemblages help paint a picture of the accumulation processes in Mesozoic coastal ecosystems. This work also increases our understanding of the paleoenvironmental context of the Antlers Formation, allowing comparison to other Early Cretaceous faunas, such as the Cloverly Formation.

Conference Name

Society of Vertebrate Paleontology

Conference Details

The Society of Vertebrate Paleontology’s Annual Meeting is a premier global gathering for researchers, students, preparators, and others dedicated to advancing the study of vertebrate paleontology. Held each fall in a rotating host city, this 4-day meeting showcases cutting‑edge scientific presentations (talks and posters), symposia, field trips and workshops, and social events while providing a welcoming, collaborative environment for sharing new discoveries and strengthening connections across the community. Attendees can expect a dynamic mix of scientific exchange, professional development, networking opportunities, and Society traditions—making it one of the year’s most anticipated events for anyone passionate about the history of life on Earth.

Funding Type

Travel Grant

Academic College

Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology

Area/Major/Minor

Environmental Geology

Degree

M.S. in Environmental Geology

Classification

Graduate

Name

Dr. Katharine Loughney

Academic College

Jesse D. Jones College of Science, Engineering and Technology

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