Paleobiota of the Chinle Formation
Introduction The Chinle Formation is an extensive geological unit in the southwestern United States, preserving a very diverse fauna of Late Triassic (primarily Norian-age) animals and plants. This is a list of fossilized organisms recovered from the formation.
Amniotes ===Archosauromorphs=======Crurotarsans========Other Archosauromorphs===='''Non-crurotarsan Archosauromorphs of the Chinle Formation''' Genus Species State Member Abundance Notes Images''Crosbysaurus''''C. harrisae''* Arizona * Utah  * Blue MesaAn archosauriform represented only by teeth. It is treated as indeterminate archosauriform remains by Irmis in 2005.It was originally thought to be an ornithischian dinosaur.''Crosbysaurus''''Doswellia''''Trilophosaurus''''Vancleavea''''Doswellia''cf. ''D. kaltenbachi''* Arizona* Blue MesaOsteoderms, vertebrae, rib and hip fragments.A doswelliid archosauriform.''Puercosuchus''''P. traverorum''* Arizona* Blue MesaTwo monodominant bonebeds.A carnivorous azendohsaurid archosauromorph.''Rugarhynchos''''R. sixmilensis''* New Mexico* Bluewater CreekSkull and postcranial fragments.A doswelliid archosauriform. Originally described as a species of ''Doswellia'', but subsequently transferred to a separate genus.''Syntomiprosopus''''S. sucherorum''* Arizona* Blue Mesaor* SonselaTwo to four individuals from a single quarry.A short-faced archosauriform, possibly an unusual early-diverging crocodylomorph. Appears convergent with some Late Cretaceous notosuchians.TanystropheidaeIndeterminate* New Mexico* Petrified ForestVertebraeModerately-sized tanystropheid vertebrae from the Hayden Quarry, likely representing a new taxon closely related to ''Langobardisaurus'' and ''Tanytrachelos''. ''Tanytrachelos''Indeterminate / ''T. ahynis''* New Mexico* Arizona* Petrified Forest* Mesa RedondoCervical rib, calcaneum, etc.A small tanystropheid represented by several hundred fossil specimens.''Tecovasaurus''''T. murryi''* Arizona* Mesa RedondoAn unknown amniote represented by scattered teeth formerly believed to be from an ornithischian dinosaur. Later discoveries of similar teeth in pseudosuchians meant that these could no longer be regarded as anything more specific than some kind of archosauriform.''Trilophosaurus''''T. buettneri''* Arizona* Blue Mesa''T. dornorum''* Arizona* Sonsela''T. jacobsi''* Arizona* Blue Mesa* Mesa Redondo''T. phasmalophos''* Arizona* Sonsela''Vancleavea''''V. campi''* Arizona* New Mexico* "Siltstone"* Petrified Forest* Sonsela* Blue MesaA strange aquatic carnivorous archosauriform, represented by both articulated skeletons and scattered elements like osteoderms and vertebrae. ===Other amniotes==='''Miscellaneous amniotes of the Chinle Formation''' Genus Species State Member Abundance Notes Images''Acallosuchus''''A. rectori''* Arizona* Blue MesaKnown only from a partial skull.A strange neodiapsid whose bones were heavily ornamented "with subtriangular knobs... running the length of the bones." Even these ornamentations were ornamented "with additional grooves." It is too bizarre to be currently classified as anything more than a probable diapsid.''Drepanosaurus''''Placerias''''Ancistronychus''''A. paradoxus''* Arizona* SonselaManual unguals (hand claws).A drepanosaur related to ''Drepanosaurus''.''Avicranium''''A. renestoi''* New Mexico* 'Siltstone'Skull and neck vertebrae.A drepanosaur with a toothless skull and a flexible neck owing to the heterocoelous (saddle-shaped) articular surfaces of the vertebral centrae. The neural spines are anteroposteriorly short and strongly anterodorsally inclined. These features closely resemble those of ''Drepanosaurus''.''Colognathus''''C. obscurus''* Arizona* Blue MesaKnown only from a jaw fragment and some isolated teeth.Originally believed to be a fish, ''Colognathus'' was a strange amniote with distinctive fluted teeth.''Dolabrosaurus''''D. aquatilis''* New Mexico* Petrified ForestArticulated vertebral and limb material.A drepanosaur.''Drepanosaurus''''D. unguicaudatus''* New Mexico* Petrified ForestA drepanosaur.''Kataigidodon''''K. venetus''* Arizona* Blue MesaPartial dentaries.A non-mammalian eucynodont.''Kraterokheirodon''''K. colberti''* Arizona* Petrified Forest* Blue Mesa or Mesa RedondoKnown only from two teeth.A possible cynodont. Although they share some similarities with cynodont teeth, the teeth of ''Kraterokheirodon'' are very distinctive and can't be confidently referred to a known amniote group. ''Palacrodon''Indeterminate * Arizona* Blue MesaJaw fragments.A diapsid reptile of uncertain phylogenetic placement with unusual broadened teeth. More complete fossils of this genus from the Fremouw Formation of Antarctica suggest that it was an arboreal saurian.''Placerias''''P. hesternus''* Arizona* Blue Mesa* Mesa RedondoKnown from several hundred remains, but very rare outside of the highly concentrated ''Placerias'' Quarry.A placeriine stahleckeriid dicynodont.''Skybalonyx''''S. skapter''* Arizona* Blue MesaManual unguals (hand claws).A drepanosaur which likely had a burrowing lifestyle.''Uatchitodon''''U. schneideri''* Arizona* Mesa RedondoKnown in Chinle from only a single tooth. The presence of venom channels is consistent with other known ''Uatchitodon'' specimens, although the Chinle specimen's channels are unique in being "completely enclosed under the surface of the crown. "A reptile of unknown affinities, probably a carnivorous archosauromorph with venomous capabilities.''Whitakersaurus''''W. bermani''* New Mexico* "Siltstone"A rhynchocephalian found at Ghost Ranch.Indeterminate procolophonidIndeterminate * Utah
Amphibians '''Amphibians of the Chinle Formation''' Genus Species State Member Abundance Notes Images''Apachesaurus''''A. gregorii''* Arizona* Owl Rock* Petrified Forest* Blue MesaCommon in the Owl Rock and Petrified forest members. Blue Mesa remains are fragmentary.A metoposaurid temnospondyl which is a junior synonym of ''Anaschisma''''Anaschisma''''Funcusvermis''''Anaschisma''''A. browni''* Arizona* Owl Rock* Petrified Forest* Sonsela* Blue Mesa* Mesa Redondo''A. browni'' is "possibly the most common tetrapod fossil in the lower Chinle", although its presence in the upper Chinle is "unclear".A metoposaurid temnospondyl. ''Koskinonodon'' was erected for the species "''Buettneria''" ''perfecta'' when it was discovered that the latter genus was preoccupied. Gee et al., 2017 then synonymised it with ''Anaschisma''.''Chinlestegophis''''C. jenkinsi''* ColoradoA temnospondyl in the group Stereospondyli, related to ''Rileymillerus'' from the Dockum Group of Texas. Possibly a stem-caecilian according to one analysis, though others have disputed this finding''Funcusvermis''''F. gilmorei''* Arizona* Blue MesaNumerous jaw fragments, as well as a referred maxillopalatine, vertebra, and femurA stem-caecilianSalientia indet.Indeterminate* Arizona* Sonsela Member* Blue Mesa MemberFive bones: four ilia and a partial maxilla.A stem-group frog. Might be more closely related to crown-group frogs (anurans) than to Early Triassic taxa ''Triadobatrachus'' and ''Czatkobatrachus''.
Cartilaginous fish '''Chondrichthyans of the Chinle Formation''' Genus Species State Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images''Acrodus''Indeterminate* Arizona* Petrified Forest* Sonsela* Mesa RedondoOnly a single tooth is known.A hybodontiform shark.''Xenacanthus''''Lonchidion''''L. humblei''* Arizona* Blue Mesa* Mesa RedondoA hybodontiform shark. ''Lonchidion'' remains are common throughout the Carnian microvertebrate sites of the American southwest.''Palaeoxyris''''P. humblei''* Arizona* Blue MesaSeveral specimensAn egg capsule of a freshwater hybodont shark. ''Phoebodus''Indeterminate* Arizona* Mesa RedondoOnly a single specimen has been recovered from the formation.''Reticulodus''''R. synergus''* Arizona* Owl Rock* Petrified Forest* SonselaThe crown of its tooth bears a "reticulating ornamentation on its occlusal surface." ''Reticulodus'' remains are common throughout the Norian microvertebrate sites of the American southwest.''Xenacanthus''''X. moorei''* Arizona* Blue Mesa* Mesa RedondoCommon in the lower Chinle Formation's microvertebrate localities.A xenacanthiform shark.
Lobe-finned fish ===Coelacanths==='''Actinistians (coelacanths) of the Chinle Formation''' Genus Species State Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images''Chinlea''Indeterminate* Arizona* Owl Rock* Blue MesaAn actinisitan (coelacanth). ''Chinlea''===Lungfish==='''Dipnoans (lungfish) of the Chinle Formation''' Genus Species State Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes''Arganodus''''A. dorotheae''Indeterminate* Arizona* Petrified Forest* Sonsela* Blue Mesa* Mesa Redondo''Arganodus'' toothplates are the most common fossil in the formation from a non-tetrapod. They are evenly distributed across strata, although some individual localities have very high concentrations.Most Chinlean ''Arganodus'' fossils are isolated tooth plates.''Ceratodus''''C. dorotheae''Named by Case in 1921, in the 1980s it was referred to ''Arganodus''.
Ray-finned fish '''Actinopterygians (ray-finned fish) of the Chinle Formation''' Genus Species State Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images''Australosomus''Indeterminate* Arizona* Mesa RedondoKnown only from two vertebrae.''Australosomus''''Saurichthys''''Cionichthys''''C. dunklei''* Colorado* UtahA member of Redfieldiiformes.''Hemicalypterus''''H. weiri''* Utah* Church Rock MemberA member of Dapediiformes.''Lasalichthys''''L. hillsi''* UtahA member of Redfieldiiformes.Indeterminate* Arizona* Petrified Forest* Blue Mesa* Mesa RedondoRepresented by isolated scales.''Lophionotus''''L. sanjuanensis''* Utah* Church Rock MemberA member of Semionotiformes.''L. chinleana''* Utah* Church Rock MemberA member of Semionotiformes. ''Saurichthys''Indeterminate* Arizona* Upper Blue Mesa MemberA member of Saurichthyiformes.''Synorichthys''''S. stewarti''* Colorado* UtahA member of Redfieldiiformes.''Tanaocrossus''''T. kalliokoskii''* ColoradoAn enigmatic actinopterygian.''Turseodus''''T. dolorensis''* ColoradoA member of Palaeonisciformes.Indeterminate* Arizona* Owl Rock* Petrified Forest* Sonsela* Blue MesaCommon.Isolated scales from Chinle microvertebrate sites commonly have ''Turseodus''-like ridges, however that feature is not unique to ''Turseodus'' and in 2005 Irmis advised researchers to regard them as indeterminate palaeoniscid remains.
Plants The Chinle Formation has a diverse flora of plant megafossils, though they are concentrated in only a few sites with suitable conditions. One of the most diverse floral communities is found near Fort Wingate, New Mexico. Paleobotanists have traditionally placed the Fort Wingate plant beds into the Monitor Butte Member, though more recently they are placed within the Bluewater Creek Formation, a subunit of the Chinle Formation first defined in 1989.Some Fort Wingate plant fossils belong to the "Lake Ciniza beds", a localized patch of grey mudstone corresponding to an ancient lake.Another productive areas for plant fossils is Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. Though petrified wood could be found through the entire stratigraphy of the park, most other plant fossils are exclusive to greenish mudstone layers adjacent to the Newspaper Rock sandstone bed in the Blue Mesa Member (formerly known as the "Lower Petrified Forest").Conifers are the most common and diverse plants, including petrified wood and leafy branches from massive trees (''Araucarioxylon'', ''Pagiophyllum'') as well as smaller shrubby forms (''Pelourdea''). Cycad and bennettitalean leaves and other remains make up a significant portion of the flora (''Zamites'', ''Nilssoniopteris'', ''Williamsonia'', etc.). Ferns (''Cladophlebis'', ''Phlebopteris'', ''Clathropteris'', ''Cynepteris,'' etc.) are abundant, with a range of growth habits including low shrubs, tree ferns, and palm-like fronds comparable to their modern relatives. Sphenophytes (horsetails: ''Neocalamites'', ''Equistetites'', ''Schizoneura'', etc.) have low diversity but high abundance, and the largest ''Neocalamites'' fossils in the Chinle Formation could reach up to 6 meters (20 feet) in height. "Seed ferns" (''Chilbinia'', ''Marcouia''?) ginkgophytes (''Baiera''), and small lycopods (''Chinlea'', ''Selaginella'') were present but uncommon. The flora is rounded out by unusual low-growing gymnosperms such as ''Sanmiguelia'' (an angiosperm-like shrub), ''Dechellyia'', and ''Dinophyton'' (possible relatives of Gnetales).The floral composition of the Chinle Formation (and other parts of Late Triassic North America) seem to shift with changes in climate over time. The lowest parts of the Chinle, such as the Shinarump Conglomerate, are dominated by the bennettitalean ''Eoginkgoites'' alongside the first occurrence of other persistent plants such as ''Phlebopteris'', ''Equisetites'', and most common conifer species. Subsequent subunits (such as the Blue Mesa Member, Monitor Butte Member, and Bluewater Creek Formation) are much more diverse, with a wide array of humidity-adapted plants making up the typical Chinle flora. This second floral zone is characterized by ''Dinophyton'', a common but enigmatic shrubby gymnosperm. Plant fossils are rare in the upper part of the Chinle Formation, which was presumably much drier than the lower part. In these later layers, by far the most common plant fossils belong to ''Sanmiguelia'' (an endemic of southwestern North America) alongside conifers and horsetails.===Gymnosperms==='''Gymnosperms of the Chinle Formation''' Genus Species State Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images''Araucariorhiza''''A. joae''* Arizona* "Petrified Forest" ''sensu lato''UncommonRoots of conifers similar to modern Araucariaceae. Possibly from the same plant as ''Araucarioxylon arizonicum''.''Araucarioxylon''''A. arizonicum,''''A.'' sp. * Arizona* Utah  * New Mexico  * "Siltstone"* Petrified Forest* Sonsela* Blue Mesa* Bluewater Creek (formerly Monitor Butte)* Agua Zarca SandstoneAbundantPetrified trunks of large conifers possibly related to modern Araucariaceae. State fossil of Arizona. ''Araucarioxylon arizonicum''''Araucarites''''A. rudicula''* Arizona* New Mexico* Blue Mesa* Monitor ButteVery rareLarge female conifer cones similar to those of araucariacean conifers.''Aricycas''''A. paulae''* Arizona* Blue Mesa ( = "Lower Petrified Forest")Moderately commonPinnate cycad leaves''Baiera''''B. arizonica''* Arizona* New Mexico* Blue Mesa (= "Lower Petrified Forest")* Bluewater Creek ( = "lower red member", formerly Monitor Butte)UncommonGinkgophyte leaves''Brachyphyllum''''B.'' sp'',''''B. hegewaldia''* Arizona* New Mexico* Utah* Blue Mesa ( = "Lower Petrified Forest")* Agua Zarca Sandstone* Shinarump* Temple MountainUncommonConifer leaves and shoots''Carpolithus''''C. chinleana''* Arizona* Blue Mesa (= "Lower Petrified Forest")RareSeeds of uncertain affinities''Cephalotaxopsis''''C''. sp. * ArizonaConifer foliage''Charmorgia''''C. dijolli''* Arizona* "Petrified Forest" ''sensu lato''RareShort cycad stems''Chilbinia''''C. lichii''* Arizona* ShinarumpRareAn archaic seed fern with seeds and leaves more similar to Carboniferous-Permian seed ferns than to Triassic forms.''Creberanthus''''C. bealeii''* Arizona* Blue MesaVery rarePollen-bearing cones similar to those of some extinct "pteridosperms" (seed ferns). Associated with ''Alisporites opii'', a common palynomorph.''Dadoxylon''''D. chaneyi''* Arizona* "Petrified Forest" ''sensu lato''Very rarePossible cordaitalean conifer wood.''Dechellyia''''D. gormanii''* Arizona* New Mexico* Bluewater Creek (formerly Monitor Butte)* Monitor ButteUncommonAn enigmatic gymnosperm with narrow pinnate leaves, "clasping" leaf-like sporophylls, and winged seeds. Some leaves are affected by galls, similar to those formed by eriophyid mites in modern plants.''Dinophyton''''D. spinosus''* Arizona* New Mexico* Blue Mesa (= "Lower Petrified Forest")''''* Monitor Butte* Bluewater Creek ("Ciniza Lake beds", formerly Monitor Butte)CommonAn unusual gymnosperm combining needle-covered shoots with seed-bearing structures having the form of "pinwheel"-like clusters of tubular needles. Possibly related to Gnetales.''Elatocladus''''E. puercoensis''* Arizona* Blue MesaUncommonLeaf-bearing conifer shoots''Eoginkgoites''''E''. sp.,''E. davidsonii''* Arizona* Utah* ShinarumpCommon within its small stratigraphic rangeA bennettitalean with palm-shaped fronds similar to some ginkgo species.''Ginkgoites''''G''. sp. * Arizona* Blue MesaRareA ginkgophyte''Lindleycladus''''L. arizonicus''* Arizona* Blue MesaUncommonConifer shoots bearing ''Podozamites'' leaves. Formerly known as ''Podozamites arizonicus''.''Lyssoxylon''''L. grigsbyi''* Arizona* New Mexico* "Petrified Forest" ''sensu lato''* Bluewater Creek (formerly Monitor Butte)RareCycad trunks''Marcouia''''M. neuropteroides''* Arizona* New Mexico* Blue Mesa (= "Lower Petrified Forest")* Bluewater Creek (formerly Monitor Butte)* Monitor ButteUncommonFern-like gymnosperm leaves of uncertain affinities. Some leaves are affected by feeding traces including crescent-shaped marginal incisions and oval-shaped holes. These were probably produced by beetles or orthopterans (grasshoppers and kin).''Masculostrobus''''M. clathratus''* Arizona* Monitor ButteLocally commonA pollen-bearing cone associated with lattice-shaped ''Equisetosporites chinleana'' pollen.''Nilssoniopteris''''N. ciniza''* Arizona* New Mexico* Utah* "Petrified Forest" ''sensu lato''* Bluewater Creek ("Ciniza Lake beds", formerly Monitor Butte)* ShinarumpUncommonLarge smooth-edged bennettitalean leaves, some of which were originally identified as ''Macrotaeniopteris magnifola''.''Otozamites''''O. macombii''* New Mexico* Agua Zarca SandstoneUncommonBennettitalean leaves''Pagiophyllum''''P''. sp.,''P. duttonia,''''P. navajoensis,''''P. readiana,''''P. zuniana,''''P. simpsonii''* Arizona* Colorado* New Mexico* "Middle Dolores"* "Petrified Forest" ''sensu lato''* Sonsela* Bluewater Creek ("Ciniza Lake beds", formerly Monitor Butte)* Agua Zarca SandstoneLocally very commonConifer leaves''Palissya''''P.'' sp''.,''''P. diffusa,''''P. sphenolepis''* New Mexico* Utah* Monitor Butte* Agua Zarca Sandstone* ShinarumpUncommonConifer leaves and shoots''Pelourdea''''P. poleoensis''* Utah* Colorado* New Mexico* "Siltstone"* "Middle Dolores"* Poleo* Bluewater Creek ("Ciniza Lake beds", formerly Monitor Butte)* ShinarumpCommonA shrubby conifer with strap-like leaves arranged around a single narrow stem.''Podozamites''''P.'' sp''.,''''P. emmonsi,''''P. lanceolatus''* Arizona* Utah* Blue Mesa (= "Lower Petrified Forest")* Shinarump* Temple MountainUncommonConifer leafs and shoots''Pramelreuthia''''P. dubielli,'' ''P. yazzi''* Arizona* New Mexico* Utah* Blue Mesa* Monitor ButteRareGymnosperm microsporophylls (pollen-bearing organs)''Pterophyllum''''P''. sp.,''P. braunianum''* Arizona* Utah* ShinarumpUncommonBennettitalean leaves''Samaropsis''''S.'' sp.,''S. puerca''* Arizona* Blue Mesa (= "Lower Petrified Forest")UncommonSeeds of uncertain affinities''Sanmiguelia''''S. lewisii''* Arizona* Utah* Colorado* Rock Point* Owl Rock* "Middle Dolores"* Petrified Forest* Sonsela* Blue MesaCommonAn unusual palm-like shrub, controversially suggested to be a relative or predecessor of angiosperms (flowering plants).''Schilderia''''S. adamanica''* Arizona* Petrified ForestRarePetrified stems of a conifer or gnetalean''Williamsonia''''W. nizhonii''* New Mexico* Bluewater Creek ( = "lower red member", formerly Monitor Butte)RareA bennettitalean "flower" (female cone)''Woodworthia''''W. arizonica''* Arizona* Petrified ForestUncommonStems and petrified wood of a conifer related to ''A. arizonicum''.''Zamites''''Z. sp.,'' ''Z. occidentalis,''''Z. powellii''* Arizona* Utah* New Mexico* Church Rock? * Owl Rock? * Blue Mesa (= "Lower Petrified Forest")* Sonsela* Bluewater Creek ("Ciniza Lake beds", formerly Monitor Butte)* Monitor Butte* Agua Zarca* ShinarumpVery commonBennettitalean leaves. Some leaves exhibit feeding traces, including sharp diagonal marginal traces and slot-like non-marginal traces. These traces were probably left by beetles. ''Zamites powellii'' was formerly known as ''Otozamites powellii''.===Ferns==='''Ferns of the Chinle Formation''' Genus Species State Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images''Apachea''''A. arizonica''* Arizona* "Petrified Forest"RareDipteridacean fern leaves, possibly damaged specimens of ''Clathropteris walkeri.''''Cladophlebis''''C. daughertyi,'' ''C. subfalcata,''''C. yazzia,''''C''. sp. * Arizona* New Mexico* Utah* Blue Mesa (= "Lower Petrified Forest")* Bluewater Creek (= "lower red member", formerly Monitor Butte)* Monitor Butte* ShinarumpVery commonLarge sterile fern leaves of uncertain affinities''Clathropteris''''C. walkeri''* Arizona* New Mexico* Blue Mesa (= "Lower Petrified Forest")* Bluewater Creek (= "lower red member", formerly Monitor Butte)CommonDipteridacean fern leaves''Cynepteris''''C.'' sp., ''C. lasiophora''* Utah* Arizona* New Mexico* Church Rock? * Owl Rock? * Blue Mesa (= "Lower Petrified Forest")* Bluewater Creek (= "lower red member", formerly Monitor Butte)* Monitor ButteCommonBipinnate fern leaves previously identified as ''Lonchopteris''. Some leaves are affected by crescent-shaped marginal feeding traces, probably from beetles or orthopterans (grasshoppers and kin).''Itopsidema''''I. vancleavi''* Arizona* SonselaUncommonStems of large osmundacean tree ferns. Some stems show evidence of being bored by oribatid mites.''Phlebopteris''''P. smithii,'' ''P. utensis''* Arizona* New Mexico* Utah* Blue Mesa (= "Lower Petrified Forest")* Bluewater Creek ( = "lower red member" / "Ciniza Lake beds", formerly Monitor Butte)* ShinarumpCommonMatoniacean fern leaves with a palmate structure''Sphenopteris''''S. arizonica''* Arizona* Blue Mesa (= "Lower Petrified Forest")UncommonSterile fern leaves of uncertain affinities. Some show evidence for marginal damage by insect feeding traces.''Todites''''T. fragilis''* Arizona* New Mexico* Blue Mesa (= "Lower Petrified Forest")* Bluewater Creek (="lower red member", formerly Monitor Butte)UncommonOsmundacean fern leaves''Wingatea''''W. plumosa''* Arizona* New Mexico* Blue Mesa (= "Lower Petrified Forest")* Bluewater Creek (="lower red member", formerly Monitor Butte)RareGleicheniacean fern leaves previously named as a species of ''Coniopteris''.===Other plants==='''Other plants of the Chinle Formation''' Genus Species State Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images''Chinlea''''C.'' sp''.,'' ''C. campii''* Arizona* "Petrified Forest" ''sensu lato''UncommonSmall lycopod stems similar to shrubby forms such as ''Pleuromeia''.''Equisetites''''E.'' sp.,''E. bradyi''* Arizona* Utah* New Mexico* Blue Mesa (= "Lower Petrified Forest")* Bluewater Creek ("Ciniza Lake beds", formerly Monitor Butte)* ShinarumpCommonA horsetail indistinguishable from modern ''Equisetum''.''Equisetocalis''''E. muirii''* Arizona* Blue MesaConcentrated in a narrow stratigraphic range (the Newspaper Rock sandstone bed)Small three-dimensional horsetail stems preserved in pyrite nodules.''Isoetites''''I. circularis''* Arizona* "Petrified Forest" ''sensu lato''RareQuillwort shoots''Lycostrobus''''L. chinleana''* Arizona* Blue Mesa (= "Lower Petrified Forest")RareHorsetail cones sometimes placed in the genus ''Equicalostrobus''''Neocalamites''''N''. sp.,''N. virginiensis''* Arizona* Utah* Colorado* New Mexico* "Siltstone"* Church Rock? * Owl Rock? * "Petrified Forest" ''sensu lato''* Bluewater Creek ( = "lower red member" / "Ciniza Lake beds", formerly Monitor Butte)CommonStems and leaves of a giant sphenophyte (horsetail)''Schizoneura''''S. harrisii''* New Mexico* Bluewater Creek (formerly Monitor Butte)UncommonStems and leaves of a large sphenophyte (horsetail) more typical of Southern Hemisphere plant assemblages.''Selaginella''''S. anasazia''* Arizona* Monitor ButteUncommonA low-growing lycopsid similar to modern broad-leaved species of ''Selaginella'', such as ''S. kraussiana''
Arthropods '''Arthropods of the Chinle Formation''' Genus Species State Stratigraphic position Abundance Notes Images''Enoplocytia''''E. porteri''* Arizona* Sonsela?Single well-preserved fossilAn erymid crayfish''Paleoscolytus''''P. divergus''* Arizona* SonselaA species of bark beetle, evidenced by trace fossils of tracks made on ''A. arizonicum'' specimens.
References
Bibliography * Irmis, R. B. 2005.The vertebrate fauna of the Upper Triassic Chinle Formation in northern Arizona. p. 63-88.in S.J. Nesbitt, W.G. Parker, and R.B. Irmis (eds.) 2005.Guidebook to the Triassic formations of the Colorado Plateau in northern Arizona: Geology, Paleontology, and History. Mesa Southwest Museum Bulletin 9. * Mueller, B. D. and Parker, W. G. 2006.A new species of Trilophosaurus (Diapsida: Archosauromorpha) from the Sonsela Member (Chinle Formation) of Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. In W. G. Parker, S. R. Ash & R. B. Irmis (eds. ), A Century of Research at Petrified Forest National Park, 1906-2006: Geology and Paleontology. Museum of Northern Arizona Bulletin 62:119-125* * Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds. ): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. 861 pp. .