Hunter Siltstone Formation

Hunter Siltstone Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late Devonian (Famennian) 372.1–358.8 Ma
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofBeargamil Subgroup, Hervey Group
UnderliesMandagery Sandstone
OverliesPeaks Sandstone
Lithology
PrimarySiltstone, shale
OtherSandstone
Location
LocationGrenfell, New South Wales
Coordinates33°54′0″S 148°09′0″E / 33.90000°S 148.15000°E / -33.90000; 148.15000
RegionNew South Wales
CountryAustralia
Hunter Siltstone Formation is located in Australia
Hunter Siltstone Formation
Hunter Siltstone Formation (Australia)
Hunter Siltstone Formation is located in New South Wales
Hunter Siltstone Formation
Hunter Siltstone Formation (New South Wales)

The Hunter Siltstone Formation is a geological unit of the Hervey Group, located near Grenfell, New South Wales, Australia. The formation dates back to the Famennian stage Late Devonian epoch, with the Grenfell fish fauna representing the youngest known Devonian non-marine assemblage of eastern Australia.

It records several sarcopterygians, such as the tristichopterid ‘cf. Eusthenodon sp. indet.’, formerly known as Eusthenodon gavini., and the rhipidistian Grenfellia meemannae. There are also antiarch placoderms like Bothriolepis and Remigolepis, and the lungfish Adelargo schultzei, among other species. It also records the only known occurrence of a sinolepid, Grenfellaspis branagani, from outside Asia.

Fossil content

Placoderms of the Hunter Siltstone
Genus Species Clade Images
Bothriolepis B. grenfellensis Antiarchi,

Bothriolepididae
Reconstruction of Bothriolepis africana.
Grenfellaspis G. branagani Antiarchi,

Sinolepidae
Groenlandaspis G. sp. Arthrodira,

Groenlandaspididae
A restoration of Groenlandaspis pennsylvanica.
Remigolepis R. redcliffensis Antiarchi,

Remigolepidae
Reconstruction of the related Remigolepis zhongweiensis.
Sarcopterygians of the Hunter Siltstone
Genus Species Clade Images
Adelargo A. schultzei Dipnoi incertae sedis
Grenfellacanthus G. zerinae Ischnacanthiformes,

Ischnacanthidae
Grenfellia G. meemannae Rhipidistia incertae sedis
Holoptychius H. sp. Porolepiformes,

Holoptychiidae
A restoration of Holoptychius sp.
Yambira Y. thomsoni Osteolepiformes,

Osteolepididae
cf. Eusthenodon

(formerly Eusthenodon gavini)

 sp. indet. Tetrapodomorpha,

Tristichopteridae
Reconstruction of Eusthenodon.
Holoptychiidae gen. sp. Holoptychiidae sp. Porolepiformes,

Holoptychiidae

References

  1. 1 2 3 Young, G. C. (1999). Preliminary report on the biostratigraphy of new placoderm discoveries in the Hervey Group (Upper Devonian) of central New South Wales. Records of the Western Australian Museum, Supp. No. 57, 139–150.
  2. 1 2 3 Ritchie, A.; Shitao, Wang; Young, Gavin C.; Guorui, Zhang (1992-12-05). "The Sinolepidae, a family of antiarchs (placoderm fishes) from the Devonian of South China and eastern Australia". Records of the Australian Museum. 44 (3). The Australian Museum: 319–370. doi:10.3853/j.0067-1975.44.1992.38. ISSN 0067-1975.
  3. 1 2 Downs, Jason P.; Osatchuck, Madison M.; Goodchild, Owen A.; Daeschler, Edward B. (2022-11-25). "Second species of Eusthenodon (Tristichopteridae, Sarcopterygii) from the Upper Devonian (Famennian) Catskill Formation of Pennsylvania, U.S.A., and a review of global Eusthenodon occurrence". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 42 (5). doi:10.1080/02724634.2023.2201627. ISSN 0272-4634.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Johanson, Zerina; Ritchie, Alexander (2008-04-22). "Rhipidistians (Sarcopterygii) from the Hunter Siltstone (Late Famennian) near Grenfell, NSW, Australia". Fossil Record. 3 (1): 111–136. doi:10.1002/mmng.20000030107.
  5. 1 2 3 Johanson, Zerina (1997). "New antiarchs (Placodermi) from the Hunter Siltstone (Famennian) near Grenfell, N.S.W." Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology. 21 (3): 191–217. doi:10.1080/03115519708619173. ISSN 0311-5518.
  6. 1 2 Johanson, Zerina; Ritchie, Alexander (2000-01-01). "A new Late Famennian lungfish from New South Wales, Australia, and its bearing on Australian-Asian terrane relations". Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology. 24 (2). Taylor & Francis: 99–118. doi:10.1080/03115510008619527. ISSN 0311-5518.
  7. ↑ Ritchie, Alexander (1975). "Groenlandaspis in Antarctica, Australia and Europe". Nature. 254 (5501): 569–573. doi:10.1038/254569a0. ISSN 0028-0836.
  8. ↑ Long, John A.; Burrow, Carole J.; Ritchie, Alex (2004-01-01). "A new Late Devonian acanthodian fish from the Hunter Formation near Grenfell, New South Wales". Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology. 28 (1). Taylor & Francis: 147–156. doi:10.1080/03115510408619279. ISSN 0311-5518.