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A Preliminary Report on Vertebrates from the Permian Vale Formation of Texas

1948; University of Chicago Press; Volume: 56; Issue: 3 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1086/625500

1537-5269

Everett C. Olson,

Fish biology, ecology, and behavior

Field work during 1946 and 1947 has produced a moderately extensive fauna of fish, amphibians, and reptiles from the Vale formation of Knox County, Texas. The youngest terrestrial vertebrates previously known from the Texas Permian are of Arroyo age. Aerial photographs were used successfully in exploration and as a basis for accurate indexing of localities. The vertebrates occur exclusively in channel conglomerates laid down in moderately evenly bedded red and green sands and clays. The environment appears to have been one of moderate rainfall, with extended dry periods interrupted by torrential rains. Dimetrodon and Diplocaulus occur with the greatest frequency. Xenacanth sharks, dipnoans, gymnarth-rids, lysorophids, diplocaulids, captorhinids, and various pelycosaurs make up much of the fauna. A preliminary survey indicates that the Vale fauna was derived from the Arroyo fauna, with the addition of a few new elements. A well-developed flora is preserved but is as yet unstudied.