Preliminary Survey of a Paleocene Faunule from the Angels Peak Area, New MexicoWilson, Robert W. (Robert Warren)
Science
Preliminary Survey of a Paleocene Faunule from the Angels Peak Area, New Mexico
Wilson, Robert W. (Robert Warren)
Geology, Stratigraphic -- Paleocene
It is not clearly evident, however, that we are dealing with exactly
contemporaneous assemblages when comparison is made between the Angels
Peak faunule and the rest of the San Juan fauna which serves
collectively to define the typical Torrejonian. It may be: (1) that the
Angels Peak faunule is of slightly different age than the latter, or
(2) that the latter is susceptible of stratigraphic subdivision, and
the Angels Peak faunule marks one stage of a sequence in time. This
problem will not be easily solved, and perhaps may never be, for
concentrations similar to that of the Angels Peak faunule are of
infrequent occurrence. It is beyond the scope of the present paper, and
of the present stage of our knowledge of the "Torrejon" fauna, to
discuss at length the possible difference in age, but the following
remarks summarize the matter for the Angels Peak material.
Many of the Angels Peak specimens differ in minor ways from those
previously described from the Torrejonian of the San Juan Basin. Some
of these differences are sufficiently great for the recognition of new
species. Other differences at present are not clearly valid on a
specific level, and it may become necessary to restudy the entire fauna
if satisfactory conclusions ever are reached.
A direct comparison can be made between the Angels Peak faunule, and a
numerically smaller and less well preserved one obtained by the
University of Kansas from a bone concentration near the head of
Kimbetoh Arroyo. The latter faunule presumably is from the
"_Deltatherium_ zone," and hence does not occupy a demonstrably high
position in the "Torrejon," rather, one seemingly down toward the first
known appearance of the fauna. Closely related or identical species of
nine genera occur at both localities. Of these, the specimens of one
species seem to be indistinguishable; the specimens of another Angels
Peak member are perhaps slightly more advanced; and seven include
specimens, distinguishable in greater or lesser degree, which suggest,
principally in smaller size, a less advanced stage for the Angels Peak
faunule.
In general, the non-ferungulate part of the Angels Peak faunule seems
to depart more widely from what is typical of the "Torrejon" fauna than
do the Carnivora and Condylarthra. Because the former is very poorly
represented in the faunule, and not too well known elsewhere in the San
Juan Basin, it may be argued that the apparent differences would
disappear with the acquisition of more material. This may be so, but at
present the point can not be demonstrated.
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