Silveirinha Formation

The Silveirinha Formation, named after the Silveirinha clay pit, crops out in the western part of the Mondego Basin in the Região Centro of central-western Portugal. The formation comprises fossiliferous lenticular calcitic conglomerates as well as laminated and cross bedded sands and brownish-red silts. Climate The climate in the Early Eocene was substantially warmer than today. == Paleontological significance ==

The Silveirinha clay pit after which the formation is named was first discovered in 1977 by Rui Pena dos Reis of Coimbra University. Most fossils were deposited in the channels after short transportation. Vegetation should have been rich in nearby areas, supporting a rich fauna. Ostracods, gastropods, amphibians and pelomedusid chelonians indicate fresh waters, although rare bivalves show that salt or at least brackish waters were not very far away. Fossil content The formation has provided the following fossils: ;Artiodactyls • Diacodexis antunesi ;"Condylartha" • Microhyus reisi ;Ferae • Dormaalocyon latouri • Corbarimys paisi • Microparamys cf. nanus ;Hyaenodonta • Didelphodus sp. ;Insectivora • Russellmys denisae • Apatemys sp. • Heterohyus sp. • Pliolophus vulpiceps ;Theriiformes • Archaeonycteris praecursor • Leptacodon nascimentoi • Peratherium cf. constans Reptiles ;Crocodiles • Diplocynodon sp. ;Lizards • Geiseltaliellus sp. • cf. Tinosaurus sp. • Glyptosaurinae indet. • Gekkonidae indet. • Boidae indet. Amphibians • Pelobatidae indet. • Salamandridae indet. Invertebrates ;Mollusks • Bithynia soaresi • Gyraulus antunesi • Chlamys sp. • Ilyocypris lusitanicus • ?Cyclocypris sp. == See also ==