Melovatka Formation
| Melovatka Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Middle Cenomanian ~ | |
The Melovatka Formation in 1941 | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Phosphorite |
| Other | Sandstone |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 50°54′N 44°42′E / 50.9°N 44.7°E |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | 43°06′N 38°48′E / 43.1°N 38.8°E |
| Region | Volgograd Oblast |
| Country | Russia |
| Extent | Saratov |
| Type section | |
| Named for | Melovatka |
Melovatka Formation (Russia) Melovatka Formation (Volgograd Oblast) | |
The Melovatka or Melovatsskaya Formation is a Cenomanian geologic formation in Russia. Pterosaur fossils have been recovered from the formation.
Description
The two phosphorite horizons are separated in places by a yellowish sand interbed up to 1 m thick; however, they sometimes merge into a single horizon. The lower interbed or part of the integrated phosphorite horizon shows in places straight diagonal bedding, which is manifested in the orientation of almost flat pellets, pebbles, and pseudomorphs on bivalve shells. The phosphate concretions are irregular aggregates and rounded pebbles, ranging in size from several millimeters to 5–10 cm. They are dark brown or nearly black.[1]
Fossil content
The following vertebrate fossils were reported from the formation:[1]
- Cerebavis cenomanica
- Cretolamna appendiculata
- Edaphodon sedgwicki
- Elasmodectes kiprijanoffi
- Elasmodus sinzovi
- Eostriatolamia subulata
- Ischyodus latus
- Paraorthacodus recurvus
- Pseudoisurus denticulatus
- Synechodus dispar
- Lonchodectes sp.
- Odontaspis sp.
- Polyacrodus sp.
- Saratovia glickmani[2]
- Squatina sp.
- ?Platypterygius sp.
- Chelonioidea indet.
- Chimaeridae indet.
- Elasmosauridae indet.
- Enchodontidae indet.
- Ornithocheiroidea indet.
- Osteichthyes indet.
- Pliosauridae indet.
See also
References
- ^ a b Melovatka 3 at Fossilworks.org
- ^ Averianov, A. O. (2025). "A new ornithocheiran pterosaur from the Upper Cretaceous (Cenomanian) of Saratov, Russia". Anais da Academia Brasileira de Ciências. 97 (Suppl. 1). e20241063. doi:10.1590/0001-3765202520241063. PMID 40298668.