The Papo Seco Formation is a geological formation in Portugal, whose strata date back to the Early Cretaceous. Dinosaur fossils are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.Weishampel et al., 2004, p.562Papo Seco Formation at Fossilworks.org
Name The unit was previously referred to as the "Gres a Dinosauriens", due to the abundant dinosaur remains found in the past.Aillud, 2001, p.211
Description The Papo Seco Formation (Rey, 1992) marks the return to clastic-dominated sedimentation. Exposure of the formation is found above the low cliff between Rochadouro and Areia do Mastro, and on the foreshore and beach at Boca do Chapim. The Papo Seco Formation is dominated by silty mud-mud deposition. This is interbedded with medium to coarse, commonly ribbon shaped, clastic sandstones. Along the exposure, between Rochadouro and Boca do Chapim, the clastic sands are not laterally continuous. The exposure clearly shows that the ribbon sands are isolated and change laterally into muds. Three distinct sand facies have been identified within the Papo Seco Formation.
Vertebrate paleofauna
Pseudosuchia Pseudosuchians of the Papo Seco Formation Genus Species Presence Materials Notes Images cf. Anteophthalmosuchus cf. A. sp. Praia do Areia do Mastro Five teeth Pterosaurs Pterosaurs of the Papo Seco Formation Genus Species Presence Materials Notes Images Ornithocheiridae indeterminate Praia do Areia do Mastro Single tooth Ctenochasmatoidea indeterminate Praia do Areia do Mastro Two teeth Ornithischians Ornithischians of the Papo Seco Formation Genus Species Presence Materials Notes Images Cariocecus C. bocagei Praia do Areia do Mastro A partial skull A hadrosauroid ornithopod, which represents the first iguanodontian skull found in PortugalOrnithopodaIndeterminate Boca do Chapim Praia do Areia do MastroPrevious supposed reports of Mantellisaurus and Iguanodon cannot be substantiatedIguanodontiacf. Styracosterna Saurischians Saurischians of the Papo Seco Formation Genus Species Presence Materials Notes Images cf. Dromaeosauridae indet. Indeterminate Praia do Areia do Mastro IberospinusI. natarioiPraia de Aguncheiras Several assorted bones consist of dentary fragments, teeth, an incomplete right scapula, partial dorsal and caudal vertebrae, rib fragments, a partial pubis, two incomplete calcanea, and a pedal ungual phalanx.Was once thought to be a specimen of Baryonyx. Paraves indet. Indeterminate Boca do ChapimForelimb elements including humerus, ulna and carpal bone, at least from two individuals Suchosaurus S. girardi Boca do Chapim Two fragment specimens consists of a mandible and one tooth Was considered a species of Baryonyx Titanosauriformes indet. Indeterminate Boca do Chapim Was referred to "Pleurocoelus" valdensis Theropoda indet. Indeterminate Boca do Chapim Including Megalosaurus superbus, now known as Erectopus" Theropoda indet. Indeterminate Praia do Areia do Mastro
Correlation
See also List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
References
Further reading S. Figueiredo, I. Bachtsevanidou Strantzali, M. Gomes, R. Pimenta, and M. Santos. 2017. Preliminary Data of New Dinosaurs and Turtles Remains from the basal Deposits of the Papo-Seco Formation in Areias do Mastro's Quarry (Cabo Espichel - Portugal). Arnava 6(1):117-130