On the occurrence of an avian vertebra in Cretaceous strata of Morocco, Africa

Abstract

The Bauru Group is mainly composed of fluvial sandstones, siltstones and mudstones, representing the most extensive continental Cretaceous deposits from Brazil. In the years 2000 and 2001, fieldwork was carried out by the researchers of the Paleovertebrate Sector of the Museu Nacional/UFRJ, in conjunction with researchers from UNESP, to the outcrops of the Adamantina Formation near Pirapozinho, Presidente Prudente and Álvares Machado localities, all situated in the State of São Paulo. Emphasis was placed at the site know informally as ‘‘Tartaruguito’’, located in the municipality of Pirapozinho, which is mainly known for the numerous turtle skeletons and carapace fragments found there. A great excavation was made at this Lagerstätte and several turtle remains were collected, some fairly complete with cranial and postcranial elements. Other reptilian taxa previously unknown from that site were found associated with them and are still being prepared. Preliminary taphonomic studies of this site indicate that this accumulation was due to a drought that resulted in an accumulation of fossil vertebrates.