The Demopolis Chalk is a geological formation in North America, within the U.S. states of Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee. The chalk was formed by pelagic sediments deposited along the eastern edge of the Mississippi embayment during the middle Campanian age of the Late Cretaceous. It is a unit of the Selma Group and consists of the upper Bluffport Marl Member and a lower unnamed member. Dinosaur and mosasaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the Demopolis Chalk.Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Cretaceous, North America)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 574-588. .
Vertebrate paleofauna
Fish
Cartilaginous fish Cartilaginous fish of the Demopolis Chalk Formation Genus Species Presence Notes ImagesChimaeriformes indet.Alabama CretolamnaC. appendiculataAlabama An otodontidIschyrhizaI. mira Alabama A sclerorhynchid ScapanorhynchusS. texanusAlabama A mitsukurinid SerratolamnaS. serrata?Alabama A lamniform sharkSqualicoraxS. kaupiAlabamaAnacoracidsS. pristodontusS. sp.
Bony fish Bony fish of the Demopolis Chalk Formation Genus Species Presence Notes Images EnchodusE. feroxAlabamaEnchodontidsE. gladiolusE. petrosusProtosphyraenaP. sp.AlabamaA pachycormiformSaurodonS. sp.AlabamaAn ichthyodectiformStratodusS. sp.AlabamaAn aulopiform XiphactinusX. vetus An ichthyodectid
Reptiles
Dinosaurs Indeterminate hadrosaurid remains have been found in Tennessee. Possible indeterminate tyrannosaurid remains have been found in Alabama.
Dinosaurs of the Demopolis Chalk Formation Genus Species Presence Notes Images Appalachiosaurus A. montgomeriensis Geographically present in Alabama. A tyrannosauroid
Crocodylians Crocodylians of the Demopolis Chalk Formation Genus Species Presence Notes Images BorealosuchusB. sp.Alabama An eusuchian
Mosasaurs Mosasaurs of the Demopolis Chalk Genus Species Presence Notes ImagesClidastesC. propythonAlabamaA mosasaurineHalisaurusH. sp.AlabamaA halisaurine MosasaurusM. conodonAlabama A mosasaurineM. cf. missouriensis PlatecarpusP. cf. somenensisAlabama and Mississippi A plioplatecarpinePlioplatecarpusP. sp. nov. Mississippi A plioplatecarpineTylosaurusT. sp.Alabama and MississippiA tylosaurine
Turtles Turtles of the Demopolis Chalk Genus Species Presence Notes Images AsmodochelysA. parhamiGeographically present in Alabama and Mississippi. A marine ctenochelyid turtleChedighaiiC. barberiAlabamaA bothremydidCtenochelysC. cf. tennuitestaAlabamaA ctenochelyidPrionochelysP. matutina?AlabamaA ctenochelyidProtostegaP. gigasAlabamaA protostegid
See also
List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations List of fossil sites
References