New Data about the Paleo Environment of the Papo-Seco Formation (Lower Cretaceous) of Southern Portugal

Abstract

New vertebrate and invertebrate remains are reported from the basal deposits (marls, sands and gravels) of Papo-Seco Formation (Lower Barremian, Lower Cretaceous) of Areias do Mastro, nearby Cabo Espichel, Sesimbra, south of Lisbon. The studied layers were formed in an environment of shallow-marine features (lagoon, estuary). Recent paleontological inspection generated several vertebrate and invertebrate remains, including shells and trace fossils (casts and molds) of gastropods and bivalves; after examination, there were identified bones and teeth of fish, crocodiles, dinosaurs, pterosaurs and turtle shell fragments. The new data constitute an important contribution to the knowledge of vertebrate paleo-diversity for the environment during the Lower Cretaceous of Portugal.