Calvert Formation
| Calvert Formation Stratigraphic range: Miocene | |
|---|---|
 Fossils from the Calvert Formation, Zone 10, Calvert Co., MD (Miocene) | |
| Type | Formation |
| Unit of | Chesapeake Group |
| Underlies | Choptank Formation |
| Overlies | Old Church Formation |
| Location | |
| Region |  Maryland, Virginia, Delaware |
| Country | United States |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Calvert County |
The Calvert Formation is a geologic formation in Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware. It preserves fossils dating back to the early to middle Miocene epoch of the Neogene period. The formation is a destination for amateur fossil hunters as well as professional paleontologists. It is one of the three formations which make up the Calvert Cliffs, all of which are part of the Chesapeake Group.
Fossils[]
The Calvert Formation is extremely fossiliferous. Some of the fossil species represented include the following:[1][2]
Carcharocles megalodon partially buried in gravel along the Calvert Cliffs, Maryland
Sharks[]
- Carcharocles megalodon
- Carcharocles chubutensis
- Carcharodon hastalis
- Isurus oxyrhincus
- Physogaleus contortus
- Physogaleus hemmooriensis
- Galeocerdo aduncus
- Carcharhinus
- Hemipristis serra
- Squatina sp.
- Squalus sp.
- Echinorhinus blakei
- Notorhyncus cepedianus
- Hexanchus gigas
- Carcharias
- Isurus retroflexus
- Parotodus benedeni
- Alopias vulpinus
- Alopias grandis
- Alopias palatasi
- Cetorhinus
- Rhincodon sp.
- Negaprion brevirostris
- Rhizoprionodon
- Sphryna laevissima
- Mustelus sp.
- Scyliorhinidae sp.
Rays and other Cartilaginous Fish[]
- Mobula pectinata
- Mobula fragilis
- Mobula loupianensis
- Rhinoptera cf. R. studeri
- Aetobatus arcuatus
- Pteromylaeus sp.
- Dasyatis probsti
- Dasyatis rugosa
- Pristis sp.
- Edaphodon sp.
- Chimaera sp.
Bony Fish[]
- Acipenseridae indet.
- Bagre sp.
- Brotula sp.
- Pogonias sp.
- Sciaenops sp.
- Tautoga sp.
- Acanthocybium cf. solandri
- Thunnus sp.
- Istiophoruscf. platypterus
- Ranzania grahami
- Ranzania tenneyorum
- Ariopsis stauroforus
- Trisopterus sculptus
- Micromesistius cognatus
- Prionotus
- Lophius sp.
- Paralbula dorisiae
- Morone
- Rachycentron sp.
- Pomatomus sp.
- Lagodon sp.
- Micropogonias sp.
- Sphyraena sp.
- Sarda sp.
- Makaira cf. nigricans
- Chilomycterus sp.
Cetaceans[]
- Aglaocetus sp.
- Squalodon calvertensis
- Eurhinodelphis sp.
- Parietobalaena palmeri
- Eobalaenoptera harrisoni
- Cephalotrophis coronatus
- Araeodelphis
- Cetotherium
- Pelocetus
- Xiphiacetus
Pinnipeds[]
Crocodilians[]
- Thecachampsa antiquus
- Thecachampsa sericodon
Invertebrates[]
- Chesapecten nefrens
- Chesapecten coccymelus
- Isognomon sp.
- Ecphora
- Architectonica trilineata
Terrestrial Mammals[]
- Cynarctus marylandica
- Tomarctus brevirostris
- Gomphotherium calvertensis
- Hipparion cf. phosphorum
- Amphicyon cf. frendens
- Amphicyon intermedius
- Aphelops sp.
- Archaeohippus cf. blackbergi
Birds[]
- Mergus miscellus
- Morus loxostylus
See also[]
- List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Virginia
- Paleontology in Virginia
- Paleontology in Maryland
- Calvert Cliffs State Park
- List of fossiliferous stratigraphic units in Maryland
- Chesapeake Group
References[]
- ^ Godfrey, Stephen J., ed. (2018-09-25). "The Geology and Vertebrate Paleontology of Calvert Cliffs, Maryland, USA". Smithsonian Contributions to Paleobiology (100): 2–274. doi:10.5479/si.1943-6688.100. ISSN 1943-6688.
- ^ "Paleobiology Collections Search". collections.nmnh.si.edu. Retrieved 2020-08-14.
Categories:
- Neogene Maryland
- Neogene geology of Virginia