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Peedee Formation
Lithostratigraphic unit

The Peedee Formation is a geologic formation in North and South Carolina. A marine deposit representing an inner neritic environment, named for exposures along the Great Peedee River, it preserves invertebrate (primarily belemnites, echinoderms and foraminifera) and vertebrate (primarily shark teeth, with some marine reptile remains) fossils dating to the Late Cretaceous (Maastrichtian).

The formation is notable for its occurrence of Belemnitella americana, known as the Pee Dee Belemnite (PDB), a long-standing standard in stable carbon isotope research. A single pterosaur femur, possibly an Azhdarchid, from the Peedee formation is one of the few pterosaur body fossils found in Eastern North America.

The stratigraphy of the formation spans from the early Maastrichtian (in South Carolina) to the late Maastrichtian shortly before the Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event. The formation is divided into several members, including the early-mid Maastrichtian Rocky Point Member and the late Maastrichtian Island Creek Member. Based on its fauna, it appears to be roughly concurrent with the Navesink Formation from New Jersey.

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Vertebrate paleobiota

Cartilaginous fish

Based on Case et al. (2017):7

Sharks

GenusSpeciesLocationMemberNotesImages
AnomotodonA. cf. toddiMartin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaIsland CreekA goblin shark.
ArchaeolamnaA. kopingensisDuplin County, North CarolinaAn archaeolamnid mackerel shark.
CantioscylliumC. cf. meyeriMartin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaIsland CreekA nurse shark.
CarchariasC. cf. samhammeriMartin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaIsland CreekA sand shark, related to the modern sand tiger shark.
CretalamnaC. maroccanaMartin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaIsland CreekA megatooth shark.
HeterodontusH. grantiMartin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaIsland CreekA bullhead shark.
"Hybodus""H." sp.Duplin County, North CarolinaA hybodont shark.
NotidanodonN. sp.Martin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaIsland CreekA cow shark. Teeth damaged but resemble those of the widespread species N. dentatus.
OdontaspisO. aculeatusMartin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaIsland CreekA sand shark.
PalaeogaleusP. sp.Martin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaIsland CreekA houndshark.
PlicatoscylliumP. antiquumMartin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaA nurse shark.
P. derameei
PseudocoraxP. cf. affinisMartin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaIsland CreekA pseudocoracid mackerel shark.
ScapanorhynchusS. texanusDuplin County, North CarolinaA goblin shark.
SerratolamnaS. serrataMartin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaIsland CreekA serratolamnid mackerel shark.
SqualicoraxS. kaupiMartin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaIsland CreekA crow shark.
S. pristodontus
SqualusS. huntensisMartin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaIsland CreekA spurdog.

Rays

GenusSpeciesLocationMemberNotesImages
DasyatisD. commercensisMartin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaIsland CreekA whiptail stingray.
IschyrhizaI. avonicolaMartin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaIsland CreekA sawskate.
I. mira
PtychotrygonP. clementsiMartin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaIsland CreekA ptychotrygonid sawskate.
RajaR. farishiMartin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaIsland CreekA skate.
RhinobatosR. sp.Martin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaIsland CreekA guitarfish, tentatively placed in Rhinobatos.
RhombodusR. binkhorstiMartin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaIsland CreekA rhombodontid stingray.
SclerorhynchusS. cf. pettersiMartin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaIsland CreekA ganopristid sawskate.

Bony fish

GenusSpeciesLocationMemberNotesImages
EnchodusE. sp.East Coast Limestone Quarry, North CarolinaRocky PointAn enchodontid aulopiform.8

Reptiles

Pterosaurs

GenusSpeciesLocationMemberNotesImages
cf. Azhdarchidae indet.East Coast Limestone QuarryRocky PointA potential azhdarchid, known from a femur closely resembling that of Azhdarcho.9

Crocodilians

GenusSpeciesLocationNotesImages
BorealosuchusB. sp.Diamondhead Loop Road, South CarolinaA eusuchian.10

Turtles

GenusSpeciesLocationMemberNotesImages
PeritresiusP. ornatusEast Coast Limestone Quarry, North Carolina

Allison Ferry, South Carolina

Rocky PointA pancheloniid sea turtle.11
"Trionyx""T." halophilusLynchburg, South CarolinaA stem-trionychian.12

Plesiosaurs

GenusSpeciesLocationMemberNotesImages
CimoliasaurusC. magnusEast Coast Limestone Quarry, North CarolinaRocky PointAn elasmosaurid.13

Mosasaurs

GenusSpeciesLocationNotesImages
HalisaurusH. sp.Holden Beach, North CarolinaA halisaurine.14
MosasaurusM. cf. beaugeiHolden Beach, North CarolinaA mosasaurine.15
M. cf. hoffmannii
PrognathodonP. cf. solvayiHolden Beach, North Carolina

?Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

A mosasaurine.16
Prognathodontini indet.Holden Beach, North CarolinaAn indeterminate mosasaurine with large teeth, reminiscent of Thalassotitan.17
TylosaurusT. sp.Diamondhead Loop Road, South CarolinaA tylosaurine.18

Invertebrate paleobiota

Echinoderms

Echinoids

GenusSpeciesLocationMemberNotesImages
CardiasterC. leonensisEast Coast Limestone Quarry, North CarolinaRocky PointA holasterid.
CatopygusC. mississippiensisEast Coast Limestone Quarry, North CarolinaA cassidulid.
HardouiniaH. aequoriaWadsworth Marl Pit, North Carolina

Niels Eddy Landing, North CarolinaEast Coast Limestone Quarry, North CarolinaMyrtle Beach, South Carolina

A cassiduloid.
H. kellumi
H. mortonia
FaujasiaF. cheloniumEast Coast Limestone Quarry, North CarolinaA sand dollar.
LefortiaL. trojanaEast Coast Limestone Quarry, North CarolinaA sand dollar.
LinthiaL. variabilisEast Coast Limestone Quarry, North CarolinaA schizasterid heart urchin.
PorosomaP. sp.East Coast Limestone Quarry, North CarolinaA phymosomatid.

Sea stars

GenusSpeciesLocationMemberNotesImages
AldebaraniaA. areniteaMartin-Marietta Castle Hayne Quarry, North CarolinaRocky PointAn astropectinid.19

Crinoids

The Peedee Formation preserves some of the latest-occurring remains of the Roveacrinida, an extinct order of minute, pelagic crinoids.20

GenusSpeciesLocationMemberNotesImages
ApplinocrinusA. texanusWilmington, North CarolinaAn applinocrinine saccocomid.
BirgelocrinusB. degraafiWilmington, North CarolinaAn hessicrinine saccocomid.
LucernacrinusB. degraafiWilmington, North CarolinaAn hessicrinine saccocomid.
B. jagti
PeedeecrinusP. sadorfiWilmington, North CarolinaAn applinocrinine saccocomid.

Molluscs

Cephalopods

GenusSpeciesLocationMemberNotesImages
BelemnitellaB. americanaEast Coast Limestone Quarry, North Carolina

Black Rock Landing, North Carolina

Rocky PointA belemnite, source of the famous "Pee Dee Belemnite".
SphenodiscusS. lobatusEast Coast Limestone Quarry, North CarolinaRocky PointA sphenodiscid ammonite.

See also

  • Paleontology portal

References

  1. Case, Gerard R.; Cook, Todd D.; Saford, Eric M.; Shannon, Kevin R. (2016). "A late Maastrichtian selachian assemblage from the Peedee Formation of North Carolina, USA". Vertebrate Anatomy Morphology Palaeontology. 3. doi:10.18435/B5T88N. ISSN 2292-1389. https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/vamp/index.php/VAMP/article/view/28648

  2. USGS Peedee Formation South Carolina and USGS Peedee Formation North Carolina https://mrdata.usgs.gov/geology/state/sgmc-unit.php?unit=SCKpd%3B1

  3. Parris, David, C.; Smith Grandstaff, Barbara; Clements, Donald (August 2004). "A Pterosaur Femur from the Upper Cretaceous of North Carolina". Southeastern Geology. 43 (1): 51–55.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279545200_A_pterosaur_femur_from_the_upper_Cretaceous_of_North_Carolina

  4. Schwimmer, David R.; Sanders, Albert E.; Erickson, Bruce R.; Weems, Robert E. (2015). "A Late Cretaceous Dinosaur and Reptile Assemblage from South Carolina, Usa". Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. 105 (2): i–157. ISSN 0065-9746. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24398224

  5. Case, Gerard R.; Cook, Todd D.; Saford, Eric M.; Shannon, Kevin R. (2016). "A late Maastrichtian selachian assemblage from the Peedee Formation of North Carolina, USA". Vertebrate Anatomy Morphology Palaeontology. 3. doi:10.18435/B5T88N. ISSN 2292-1389. https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/vamp/index.php/VAMP/article/view/28648

  6. Parris, David, C.; Smith Grandstaff, Barbara; Clements, Donald (August 2004). "A Pterosaur Femur from the Upper Cretaceous of North Carolina". Southeastern Geology. 43 (1): 51–55.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279545200_A_pterosaur_femur_from_the_upper_Cretaceous_of_North_Carolina

  7. Case, Gerard R.; Cook, Todd D.; Saford, Eric M.; Shannon, Kevin R. (2016). "A late Maastrichtian selachian assemblage from the Peedee Formation of North Carolina, USA". Vertebrate Anatomy Morphology Palaeontology. 3. doi:10.18435/B5T88N. ISSN 2292-1389. https://journals.library.ualberta.ca/vamp/index.php/VAMP/article/view/28648

  8. Parris, David, C.; Smith Grandstaff, Barbara; Clements, Donald (August 2004). "A Pterosaur Femur from the Upper Cretaceous of North Carolina". Southeastern Geology. 43 (1): 51–55.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279545200_A_pterosaur_femur_from_the_upper_Cretaceous_of_North_Carolina

  9. Parris, David, C.; Smith Grandstaff, Barbara; Clements, Donald (August 2004). "A Pterosaur Femur from the Upper Cretaceous of North Carolina". Southeastern Geology. 43 (1): 51–55.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279545200_A_pterosaur_femur_from_the_upper_Cretaceous_of_North_Carolina

  10. Schwimmer, David R.; Sanders, Albert E.; Erickson, Bruce R.; Weems, Robert E. (2015). "A Late Cretaceous Dinosaur and Reptile Assemblage from South Carolina, Usa". Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. 105 (2): i–157. ISSN 0065-9746. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24398224

  11. Parris, David, C.; Smith Grandstaff, Barbara; Clements, Donald (August 2004). "A Pterosaur Femur from the Upper Cretaceous of North Carolina". Southeastern Geology. 43 (1): 51–55.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279545200_A_pterosaur_femur_from_the_upper_Cretaceous_of_North_Carolina

  12. Schwimmer, David R.; Sanders, Albert E.; Erickson, Bruce R.; Weems, Robert E. (2015). "A Late Cretaceous Dinosaur and Reptile Assemblage from South Carolina, Usa". Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. 105 (2): i–157. ISSN 0065-9746. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24398224

  13. Parris, David, C.; Smith Grandstaff, Barbara; Clements, Donald (August 2004). "A Pterosaur Femur from the Upper Cretaceous of North Carolina". Southeastern Geology. 43 (1): 51–55.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/279545200_A_pterosaur_femur_from_the_upper_Cretaceous_of_North_Carolina

  14. Rempert, Trevor H.; Martens, Brennan P.; Vinkeles Melchers, Alexander P. M. (2024). "Mosasaurs (Squamata: Mosasauridae) from the Late Cretaceous (Late Maastrichtian) of North Carolina, USA". Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS. 328 (3): 384–391. doi:10.31610/trudyzin/2024.328.3.384. https://www.zin.ru/journals/trudyzin/eng/publication.html?id=566

  15. Rempert, Trevor H.; Martens, Brennan P.; Vinkeles Melchers, Alexander P. M. (2024). "Mosasaurs (Squamata: Mosasauridae) from the Late Cretaceous (Late Maastrichtian) of North Carolina, USA". Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS. 328 (3): 384–391. doi:10.31610/trudyzin/2024.328.3.384. https://www.zin.ru/journals/trudyzin/eng/publication.html?id=566

  16. Rempert, Trevor H.; Martens, Brennan P.; Vinkeles Melchers, Alexander P. M. (2024). "Mosasaurs (Squamata: Mosasauridae) from the Late Cretaceous (Late Maastrichtian) of North Carolina, USA". Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS. 328 (3): 384–391. doi:10.31610/trudyzin/2024.328.3.384. https://www.zin.ru/journals/trudyzin/eng/publication.html?id=566

  17. Rempert, Trevor H.; Martens, Brennan P.; Vinkeles Melchers, Alexander P. M. (2024). "Mosasaurs (Squamata: Mosasauridae) from the Late Cretaceous (Late Maastrichtian) of North Carolina, USA". Proceedings of the Zoological Institute RAS. 328 (3): 384–391. doi:10.31610/trudyzin/2024.328.3.384. https://www.zin.ru/journals/trudyzin/eng/publication.html?id=566

  18. Schwimmer, David R.; Sanders, Albert E.; Erickson, Bruce R.; Weems, Robert E. (2015). "A Late Cretaceous Dinosaur and Reptile Assemblage from South Carolina, Usa". Transactions of the American Philosophical Society. 105 (2): i–157. ISSN 0065-9746. https://www.jstor.org/stable/24398224

  19. Blake, Daniel B.; Sturgeon, Keith (1995). "Aldebarania arenitea, a new genus and species of Astropectinidae (Asteroidea; Echinodermata) from the Maastrichtian (Upper Cretaceous) Peedee Formation of North Carolina". Journal of Paleontology. 69 (2): 376–380. doi:10.1017/S0022336000034697. ISSN 0022-3360. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-paleontology/article/abs/aldebarania-arenitea-a-new-genus-and-species-of-astropectinidae-asteroidea-echinodermata-from-the-maastrichtian-upper-cretaceous-peedee-formation-of-north-carolina/2F7F5FF8ED805872D85A50941F74382B

  20. Gale, Andrew S.; Sadorf, Eric; Jagt, John W. M. (2018-05-01). "Roveacrinida (Crinoidea, Articulata) from the upper Maastrichtian Peedee Formation (upper Cretaceous) of North Carolina, USA – The last pelagic microcrinoids". Cretaceous Research. 85: 176–192. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2018.01.008. ISSN 0195-6671. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0195667117304913