Mass mortality events of autochthonous faunas in a Lower Cretaceous Gondwanan Lagerstatte.

ABSTRACT: Mass mortality events are unusual in the Crato Formation. Although mayflies' accumulations have been previously reported from that unit, they lacked crucial stratigraphic data. Here we provide the first taphonomic analysis of a mayfly mass mortality event, from a layer 285 cm from the top of the Formation, with 40 larvae, and an overview of the general biological community structure of a three meters deep excavated profile. The only other autochthonous taxon observed in the mayfly mortality layer was the gonorynchiform fish Dastilbe. The larvae and fishes were smaller than usual in the layer 285 cm, suggesting that they lived in a shallow water column. Their excellent preservation and a lack of preferential orientation in the samples suggest an absence of significant transport. All mayflie

SUBMITTER: Storari AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7997927 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature