The Cuchara Formation is a geologic formation in Colorado. It preserves fossils dating back to the Ypresian stage of the Eocene period, or Wasatchian in the NALMA classification.[1]

Cuchara Formation
Stratigraphic range: Wasatchian
~55.8–50 Ma
Along Highway 12 just north of La Veta
TypeFormation
Location
Coordinates37°48′N 105°06′W / 37.8°N 105.1°W / 37.8; -105.1
Approximate paleocoordinates42°12′N 89°24′W / 42.2°N 89.4°W / 42.2; -89.4
RegionColorado
Country United States
ExtentRaton Basin
Cuchara Formation is located in the United States
Cuchara Formation
Cuchara Formation (the United States)
Cuchara Formation is located in Colorado
Cuchara Formation
Cuchara Formation (Colorado)

Fossil content

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The following fossils have been reported from the formation:[1]

Mammals

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Ferae
Perissodactyla
Placentalia

Wasatchian correlations

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Wasatchian correlations in North America
Formation Wasatch DeBeque Claron Indian Meadows Pass Peak Tatman Willwood Golden Valley Coldwater Allenby Kamloops Ootsa Lake Margaret Nanjemoy Hatchetigbee Tetas de Cabra Hannold Hill Coalmont Cuchara Galisteo San Jose Ypresian (IUCS) • Itaboraian (SALMA)
Bumbanian (ALMA) • Mangaorapan (NZ)
Basin Powder River
Uinta
Piceance
Colorado Plateau
Wind River
Green River
Bighorn
Piceance




Colorado Plateau





Wind River





Green River






Bighorn
Williston Okanagan Princeton Buck Creek Nechako Sverdrup Potomac GoM Laguna Salada Rio Grande North Park Raton Galisteo San Juan
Cuchara Formation (North America)
Country   United States   Canada   United States   Mexico   United States
Copelemur        
Coryphodon                    
Diacodexis              
Homogalax              
Oxyaena          
Paramys                  
Primates              
Birds          
Reptiles              
Fish              
Insects            
Flora                  
Environments Alluvial-fluvio-lacustrine Fluvial Fluvial Fluvio-lacustrine Fluvial Lacustrine Fluvio-lacustrine Deltaic-paludal Shallow marine Fluvial Shallow marine Fluvial Fluvial
  Wasatchian volcanoclastics

  Wasatchian fauna

  Wasatchian flora
Volcanic Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No Yes No

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b Cuchara Formation at Fossilworks.org
  2. ^ a b c Robinson, 1963

Bibliography

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  • Robinson, P (1963), University of Colorado Studies, vol. 1