Wind River Formation at Hell's Half Acre, Natrona County, Wyoming.

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]

Fossil content

Mammals

Apatotheres

Apatotheres reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
Apatemys A. bellulus Lost Cabin Member.[2] Also found in the Willwood Formation.[2]

Cimolestans

Cimolestans reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
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
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
Palaeictops P. bicuspis Lost Cabin Member.[2] Also known from the Willwood Formation.[2]

Primatomorphs

Primatomorphs reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
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
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
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
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
Diacodexis D. secans AMNH 4899 (left and right P4-M3).[3] A dichobunid.

Reptiles

Squamates

Squamates reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
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.

Invertebrates

Insects

Insects reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
Phyllocnistis Near Dubois, Wyoming.[5] Mine on a leaflet impression of Cedrela.[5]

Plants

Plants reported from the Wind River Formation
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
Cedrela Near Dubois, Wyoming.[5] Leaflet impression.[5]

See also

References


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