{{Short description|Geological formation in Spain}} {{Infobox rockunit | name = Escucha Formation | image = Escucha (Terol).JPG | caption = View of Escucha and surrounding rocks | type = Geological formation | age = Late Aptian-mid Albian<br />~{{fossil range|117|103}} | period = Albian | prilithology = Siltstone, mudstone (E1, E3) sandstone (E2) | otherlithology = Coal (E1) siltstone (E2), amber | namedfor = Escucha, Teruel | namedby = | region = Teruel, Aragón<br />La Rioja | country = Spain | coordinates = {{coord|42.6|N|2.7|W|display=inline,title}} | paleocoordinates = {{coord|30.4|N|1.4|E|display=inline}} | unitof = | subunits = E1 to E3 | underlies = Utrillas Formation | overlies = Castrillo de la Reina, Benassal and Oliete Formations | thickness = ~{{convert|70|m|ft|abbr=on}} | extent = Cameros, Maestrazgo and Oliete Basins | area = | map = {{Location map+ | Spain | relief = 1 | width = 250 | float = center | places = {{Location map~ | Spain | lat_deg = 42.6 | lon_deg = -2.7 | mark = Green pog.svg | marksize = 10 }} {{Location map~ | Spain | lat_deg = 41.0 | lon_deg = -0.6 | mark = Green pog.svg | marksize = 10 }} }} | map_caption = }} The '''Escucha Formation''' is a geological formation in La Rioja and Teruel provinces of northeastern Spain whose strata date back to the late Aptian to middle Albian stages of the Early Cretaceous. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.<ref name="cretaceousdistribution">Weishampel, et al., 2004</ref>
The approximately {{convert|70|m|ft|abbr=on}} thick formation underlies the Utrillas Formation and overlies Castrillo de la Reina, Benassal & Oliete Formations. The Escucha Formation comprises siltstones, mudstones, sandstones, coal, siltstones and amber, in which several fossil insects were found. The formation was deposited in a variety of continental to paralic (deltaic) environments.<ref>Peyrot et al., 2007</ref>
== Depositional Environment == The Escucha Formation represents syn-rift depositional environment, deposited in siliciclastic carbonate platforms, coastal siliciclastic environments and other offshore settings. In the basal part of the formation, cobble to boulder-sized dropstones of glacial origin have been identified, representing long-distance iceberg rafting from Arctic sources.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Rodríguez-López |first=Juan Pedro |last2=Liesa |first2=Carlos L. |last3=Pardo |first3=Gonzalo |last4=Meléndez |first4=Nieves |last5=Soria |first5=Ana R. |last6=Skilling |first6=Ian |date=2016-06-15 |title=Glacial dropstones in the western Tethys during the late Aptian–early Albian cold snap: Palaeoclimate and palaeogeographic implications for the mid-Cretaceous |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S003101821630058X |journal=Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology |volume=452 |pages=11–27 |doi=10.1016/j.palaeo.2016.04.004 |issn=0031-0182|url-access=subscription }}</ref>
== Fossil content == The Escucha Formation has provided the following fossils, among others:<ref name=FWEscucha>[https://paleobiodb.org/classic/displayStrata?geological_group=&formation=Escucha&group_formation_member=Escucha Escucha Formation] at Fossilworks.org</ref>
=== Dinosaurs === {| class="wikitable sortable" align="center" |- ! colspan="5" align="center" | '''Dinosaurs''' |- ! Taxa ! Location ! Notes ! Images |- | ''Europelta carbonensis'' | Ariño | align=center | <ref name=Kirkland2013>Kirkland et al., 2013</ref> | center|150px |- | ''Proa valdearinnoensis'' | Ariño | align=center | <ref name=McDonald2012>McDonald et al., 2012</ref> | center|150px |- |}
;Other dinosaurs * Allosauroidea indet. * Iguanodontia indet. * Titanosauriformes indet.
;Reptiles * ''Aragochersis lignitesta''<ref name=Perez2020>Pérez García et al., 2020</ref> * ''Toremys cassiopeia'' * ''Trachydermochelys sp.'' * Testudines indet. * ''Anteophthalmosuchus escuchae'' * Goniopholididae indet. * ''Hulkepholis plotos''
;Fish * Chondrichthyes indet. * Osteichthyes indet.
;Crustaceans * ''Cretagourretia salasi''<ref name=Cretagourretia>{{cite journal|last1=Ossó |first1=À. |last2=Charbonnier |first2=S. |last3=Hyžný |first3=M. |last4=van Bakel |first4=B. W. M. |last5=Devillez |first5=J. |last6=Bover-Arnal |first6=T. |last7=Moreno-Bedmar |first7=J. A. |title=Decapod assemblages from the Aptian-Albian transition of the eastern Maestrat Basin (Iberian Chain) |year=2024 |journal=Geologica Acta |volume=22 |pages=1–35 |doi=10.1344/GeologicaActa2024.22.7 |doi-access=free }}</ref> * ''Joeranina tausi''<ref name=Cretagourretia />
=== Insects === {| class="wikitable sortable" align="center" |- ! colspan="5" align="center" | '''Insects''' |- ! Taxa ! Location/site ! Notes ! Images |- | ''Alavaraphidia'' | Peñacerrada I amber | <ref name="Pérez-de la Fuente2012">Pérez de la Fuente et al., 2012</ref> | center|150px |- | ''Amarantoraphidia'' | Peñacerrada I amber | <ref name="Pérez-de la Fuente2012"/> | center|150px |- | ''Microcostaphron parvus'' | Peñacerrada I amber | <ref name=Ortega2010_p272>Ortega Blanco et al., 2010, p.272</ref> | <!--center|150px--> |- | ''Radiophron ibericus'' | Peñacerrada I amber | <ref name=Ortega2010_p267>Ortega Blanco et al., 2010, p.267</ref> | <!--center|150px--> |- | ''Styporaphidia? hispanica'' | Peñacerrada I amber | <ref name="Pérez-de la Fuente2012"/> | center|150px |- |}
;Other arthropods {{div col|colwidth=22em}} * ''Alavia neli'' * ''Archaelagonops alavensis'' * ''Mesozygiella dunlopi'' * ''Cretogarypinus zaragozai''<ref name=Cretogarypinus>{{cite journal|last1=Sánchez-García |first1=A. |last2=Palencia |first2=L. |last3=Delclòs |first3=X. |last4=Peñalver |first4=E. |title=False scorpions (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones) from Lower Cretaceous Spanish amber |year=2024 |journal=Papers in Palaeontology |volume=10 |issue=6 |at=e1608 |doi=10.1002/spp2.1608 |doi-access=free |hdl=10550/111887 |hdl-access=free }}</ref> * ''Ithioreolpium alavensis''<ref name=Cretogarypinus /> * ''Alavesiaphis margaritae'' * ''Hispanocader lisae'' * ''Alavametra popovi'' * ''Iberovelia quisquilia'' * ''Glaesivelia pulcherrima'' * ''Gymnopollisthrips maior'' * ''G. minor'' * ''Manicapsocidus enigmaticus'' * ''Archaeatropos alavensis'' * ''Preempheria antiqua'' * ''Empheropsocus arilloi'' * ''E. margineglabrus'' * ''Morazatermes krishnai'' * ''Cantabritermes simplex'' * ''Autrigonoforceps iberica'' * ''Hispanelcana alavensis'' * ''H. arilloi'' * ''H. lopezvallei'' * ''Libanophron sugaar'' * ''Hippocoon basajauni'' * ''Burmaphron iratxoak'' * ''B. jentilak'' * ''B. sorginak'' * ''Tagsmiphron olentzero'' * ''Elasmophron mari'' * ''Ectenobythus iberiensis'' * ''Liztor pilosus'' * ''Cretepyris martini'' * ''Zophepyris alavaensis'' * ''Ampulicomorpha perialla'' * ''Microcostaphron parvus'' * ''Archephedrus stolamissus'' * ''Protorhyssalopsis perrichoti'' * ''Spathiopteryx alavarommopsis'' * ''Serphites lamiak'' * ''Aposerphites angustus'' * ''Archaeromma hispanicum'' * ''Galloromma alavaensis'' * ''Alavaromma orchamum'' * ''Tithonoscelio resinalis'' * ''Bruescelio platycephalus'' * ''Electroteleiopsis hebdomas'' * ''Alavascelio delvallei'' * ''Amissascelio temporarius'' * ''Perimoscelio tyrbastes'' * ''Perimoscelio confector'' * ''Proterosceliopsis masneri'' * ''Juxtascelio interitus'' * ''Iberopria perialla'' * ''Iberoevania roblesi'' * ''Cretevania alonsoi'' * ''Iberomaimetsha nihtmara'' * ''Iberomaimetsha rasnitsyni'' * ''Valaa delclosi'' * ''Megalava truncata'' * ''Eosyntexis parva'' * ''Cretasonoma corinformibus'' * ''Penarhytus tenebris'' * ''Prosolierius parvus'' * ''Cretakarenni hispanicus'' * ''Rhizophtoma longus'' * ''Darwinylus marcosi'' * ''Mediumiuga sinespinis'' * ''Archiaustroconops alavensis'' * ''Leptoconops (Leptoconops) zherikhini'' * ''Gerontodacus skalskii'' * ''Chimeromyia alava'' * ''Chimeromyina concilia'' * ''Euliphora grimaldii'' * ''Alavesia subiasi'' * ''Tethepomima holomma'' * ''Tethepomyia buruhandi'' * ''Lysistrata emerita'' * ''Hegalari minor'' * ''Hegalari antzinako'' * ''Alavamanota hispanica'' * ''Allocotocera xavieri'' * ''Cretohaplusia ortunoi'' * ''Eltxo cretaceus'' * ''Helius (Helius) alavensis'' * ''Helius (Helius) spiralis'' * ''Espanoderus barbarae'' * ''Alavaraphidia imperterrita'' * ''Baissoptera cretaceoelectra'' * ''Cretokatianna bucculenta'' * ''Sphyrotheciscus senectus'' * ''Archeallacma dolichopoda'' * ''Katiannasminthurus xenopygus'' * ''Pseudosminthurides stoechus'' * ''Burmisotoma spinulifera'' * ''Protoisotoma autrigoniensis'' * ''Proisotoma communis'' * ''Proleptochelia tenuissima'' * ''Electrotanais monolithus'' * ''Alavatanais carabe'' * ''Alavatanais margulisae'' * ''Eurotanais terminator'' * ''Spinomegops arcanus'' * ''Strieremaeus minguezae'' * ''Iberofoveopsis miguelesi'' * ''Hispanothrips utrillensis'' * ''Aragonitermes teruelensis'' * ''Aragonimantis aenigma'' * ''Mymaropsis turolensis'' * ''Serphites silban'' * ''Galloromma turolensis'' * ''Alavaromma orchamum'' * ''Cretevania rubusensis'' * ''Cretevania alcalai'' * ''Cretevania montoyai'' * ''Actenobius magneoculus'' * ''Arra legalovi'' * ''Leptoconops (Leptoconops) zherikhini'' * ''Atriculicoides sanjusti'' * ''Atriculicoides hispanicus'' * ''Gerontodacus skalskii'' * ''Microphorites utrillensis'' * ''Litoleptis fossilis'' * ''Burmazelmira grimaldii'' * ''Aragomantispa lacerata'' * ''Spinomegops aragonensis'' * ''Ametroproctus valeriae'' * ''Cretaceobodes martinezae'' * ''Trhypochthonius lopezvallei'' {{div col end}}
;Invertebrates * Ostracoda indet. * Bivalvia indet. * Gastropoda indet.
;Flora * Pinophyta * Angiospermae indet.
== Correlation == {{Early Cretaceous stratigraphy of Iberia}}
== See also == * List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations * Monte Grande Formation, Albian formation of the Cantabrian Basin * Caranguejeira Conglomerate, Aptian to Cenomanian formation of the Lusitanian Basin * Baltic, Burmese, Dominican and Mexican amber
== References == {{reflist|20em}}
=== Bibliography === * {{cite journal |last1=Kirkland |first1=J.I. |last2=Alcalá |first2=L. |last3=Loewen |first3=M.A. |last4=Espílez |first4=E. |last5=Mampel |first5=L. |last6=Wiersma |first6=J.P. |year=2013 |title=The Basal Nodosaurid Ankylosaur ''Europelta carbonensis'' n. gen., n. sp. From the Lower Cretaceous (Lower Albian) Escucha Formation of Northeastern Spain |journal=PLoS ONE |volume=8 |issue=12 |article-number=e80405 |doi=10.1371/journal.pone.0080405 |pmid=24312471 |pmc=3847141 |bibcode=2013PLoSO...880405K |doi-access=free }} * {{cite journal |last1=Ortega Blanco |first1=J. |last2=Rasnitsyn |first2=A.P. |last3=Delclòs |first3=X. |year=2010 |title=A new family of ceraphronoid wasps from Early Cretaceous Álava Amber, Spain |url=https://www.app.pan.pl/article/item/app20090014.html |journal=Acta Palaeontologica Polonica |volume=55 |issue=2 |pages=265–276 |doi=10.4202/app.2009.0014 |s2cid=58934033 |access-date=2019-10-09|doi-access=free }} * {{cite journal |last1=Pérez de la Fuente |first1=R. |last2=Peñalver |first2=E. |last3=Delclòs |first3=X. |last4=Engel |first4=M.S. |year=2012 |title=Snakefly diversity in Early Cretaceous amber from Spain (Neuropterida, Raphidioptera) |journal=ZooKeys |issue=204 |pages=1–40 |doi=10.3897/zookeys.204.2740 |pmid=22787417 |pmc=3391719|doi-access=free |bibcode=2012ZooK..204....1P }} * {{cite journal |first1=A. |last1=Pérez García |first2=E. |last2=Espílez |first3=L. |last3=Mampel |first4=L. |last4=Alcalá |year=2020 |title=A new basal turtle represented by the two most complete skeletons of Helochelydridae in Europe |journal=Cretaceous Research |volume=107 |article-number=104291|doi=10.1016/j.cretres.2019.104291 |bibcode=2020CrRes.10704291P |s2cid=210279023 }} * {{cite journal |last1=Peyrot |first1=Daniel |last2=Rodríguez López |first2=Juan Pedro |last3=Lassaletta |first3=Luis |last4=Meléndez |first4=Nieves |last5=Barrón |first5=Eduardo |year=2007 |title=Contributions to the palaeoenvironmental knowledge of the Escucha Formation in the Lower Cretaceous Oliete Sub-basin, Teruel, Spain |journal=Comptes Rendus Palevol |volume=6 |issue=6–7 |pages=469–481|doi=10.1016/j.crpv.2007.09.014 |bibcode=2007CRPal...6..469P }} * {{cite book |editor-last1=Weishampel |editor-first1=David B. |editor2-link=Peter Dodson |editor-last2=Dodson |editor-first2=Peter |editor-last3=Osmólska |editor-first3=Halszka |year=2004 |title=The Dinosauria, 2nd edition |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=vtZFDb_iw40C |publisher=Berkeley: University of California Press |pages=1–880 |isbn=978-0-520-94143-4 |access-date=2019-02-21|author1-link=David B. Weishampel }}
== Further reading == * L. Alcalá, E. Espílez, L. Mampel, J. I. Kirkland, M. Ortiga, D. Rubio, A. González, D. Ayala, A. Cobos, R. Royo-Torres, F. Gascó and M. D. Pesquero. 2012. A new Lower Cretaceous vertebrate bonebed near Arino (Tereul, Aragon, Spain); found and managed in a joint collaboration between a mining company and a palaeontological park. Geoheritage 4:275-286 * J. I. Canudo, A. Cobos, C. Martín-Closas, X. Murelaga, X. Pereda-Suberbiola, R. Royo-Torres, J. I. Ruiz-Omeñaca and L. M. Sender. 2005. Sobre la presencia de dinosaurios ornitópodos en la Formación Escucha (Cretácico Inferior, Albiense): redescubierto "Iguanodon" en Utrillas (Teruel) [On the presence of ornithopod dinosaurs in the Escucha Formation (Lower Cretaceous, Albian): redescribing "Iguanodon" in Utrillas (Teruel)]. Fundamental 6:51-56 * E. Peñalver, D. A. Grimaldi, and X. Delclos. 2006. Early Cretaceous spider web with its prey. Science 312:1761
Category:Geologic formations of Spain Category:Cretaceous Spain Category:Lower Cretaceous Series of Europe Category:Albian Stage Category:Aptian Stage Category:Siltstone formations Category:Mudstone formations Category:Sandstone formations Category:Coal formations Category:Coal in Spain Formations Category:Deltaic deposits Category:Paleontology in Spain Formations Formations Formations