REVISED FAUNA OF THE LOWER CRETACEOUS NEWARK CANYON FORMATION OF THE FISH CREEK RANGE OF EAST-CENTRAL NEVADA

Ongoing research in the Lower Cretaceous Newark Canyon Formation (NCF) of east-central Nevada has led to recent discoveries of numerous vertebrate fossil localities in the southern Fish Creek Range. New specimens continue to be discovered on a macro- and micro-scale, making the NCF significant for understanding Cretaceous biomes of Nevada and the North American Cordillera. In the Fish Creek section, the lithofacies depict transitioning depositional environments consistent with fluvial systems and debris flows, that fine progressively to mudstone and lacustrine facies. Current biostratigraphic and lithostratigraphic research is being conducted to construct a working chronostratigraphic model of the NCF.

Vertebrate remains recently obtained from the NCF expand on the list of taxa previously reported, and significantly increase the abundance of specimens recovered from the unit. Recovered remains include: neovenatorid allosauroid vertebra, ankylosaur vertebra and osteoderms, iguanodont vertebra and teeth, crocodilian scutes, shark teeth, and a plethora of unidentified bone fragments consistent with ribs, long bones, and metatarsals. Majority of the specimens were collected as surface float. The updated list of fauna for the Newark Canyon Formation can assist in dating the formation, and help understand the continuity of Early Cretaceous ecosystems in North America and within an active contractional orogen.