Danata Formation

Danata Formation Stratigraphic range: Late Paleocene-Mid Eocene ~58–45 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Type	Geological formation
Location
Coordinates	[ ⚑ ] : 38°38′N 55°48′E / 38.633°N 55.8°E / 38.633; 55.8[1]
Paleocoordinates	[ ⚑ ] 35°06′N 51°12′E / 35.1°N 51.2°E / 35.1; 51.2
Country	Turkmenistan
Danata Formation (Turkmenistan)

The Danata Formation (or Danatinskaya, Danatinsk, Russian: Danata Svita) is an Upper Paleocene to Middle Eocene sedimentary succession located in Turkmenistan. It is mostly famous for its fish-bearing horizons (Ichthyofauna).^[1] The formation for example crops out in the Kopet Dag mountain range in the border region of Turkmenistan and Iran.^[1]

Fossil content

The Danata Formation is famous for its ichthyofauna. The fish are found in a 9 metres (30 ft) thick clay horizon in the middle of the succession, that has been dated as Upper Paleocene.^[1] This includes fossils of the family Turkmenidae. Luvarus necopinatus was first described in this formation. Other fossils of fish include the genera Eospinus, Danatinia, Exellia, Turkmene and Avitoluvarus. The snake species Archaeophis turkmenicus has also been described.^[2]

A similar fauna occurs in the Moler Formation in Denmark.^[1]

References

Bibliography

• Head, Jason J.; Patricia A. Holroyd; J. Howard Hutchison, and Russell L. Ciochon. 2005. First report of snakes (Serpentes) from the Late Middle Eocene Pondaung Formation, Myanmar. Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 25. 246–250.

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