[1][2] The type area of the formation is situated in Garza County, Texas, southeast of Lubbock.

The Cooper Canyon Formation consist of reddish siltstone and mudstone with lenses of sandstone and conglomerate.

It increases to the south, and in some places exceeds 200 m. The formation contains diverse fossils, including vertebrate remains.

[2] The middle and lower parts of the Cooper Canyon are correlated to the Trujillo and Tecovas formations (respectively) further north in the Texas Panhandle.

[3][6] Rileymillerus R. cosgriffi[4] Skull and jaws, vertebral intercentra[4] An unusual small temnospondyl, known only by one specimen.

[4] Machaeroprosopus M. lottorum[7] Two skulls[7] A derived mystriosuchin phytosaur closely related to and intermediate with Redondasaurus.

[3] Squamosal[3] The lowest occurrence of Machaeoprosopus in the Dockum Group, defining the base of the Revueltian teilzone in the Cooper Canyon Formation.

Material from Post Quarry named as the new genus and species Scutarx deltatylus in 2016.

[4] Desmatosuchus D. smalli[13] Several skulls and partial skeletons, osteoderms[13] An armoured aetosaur with large shoulder spines.

Postosuchus P. kirkpatricki[4] Two skeletons and isolated remains[4] A large predatory rauisuchid, type specimen from the Post Quarry.

[16] Scutarx S. deltatylus[12] Osteoderms[18] A desmatosuchine aetosaur based on material formerly assigned to Calyptosuchus wellesi.

Numerous bones from ornithodirans have been discovered throughout the Cooper Canyon Formation but cannot be assigned to specific genera or clades.

[4] Indeterminate Partial hip[4] Previously referred to Coelophysis bauri by Lehman and Chatterjee (2005).

[4] Indeterminate Ilium and tibia[4] Previously referred to Coelophysis bauri by Lehman and Chatterjee (2005).

[19] Soumyasaurus S. aenigmaticus[20] Left dentary[20] A very small silesaurid dinosauriform, type specimen.

Three dentaries from the Boren Quarry were misinterpreted as the oldest saurischian dinosaurs in North America, but show affinity to malerisaurines.

[3] T. jacobsi is also common at the Kahle Quarry (NMMNH L-3775) should it belong to the middle Cooper Canyon Formation.

Additional limb bones from the Post and Kirkpatrick quarries may belong to Vancleavea or a related taxon.

Numerous fragmentary limb bones of various reptiles have been collected that cannot be reliably diagnosed to specific clades, though some show similarities to drepanosauromorphs.

[11] A. boreni Skull, mandibles, and postcrania[19][4] A placeriine dicynodont, related to the later Placerias.

[11] Libognathus[26] L. sheddi[26] Skull and dentaries[3][19] A procolophonid parareptile, one of the only known from Late Triassic North America.

[4] Protoavis P. texensis[4] At least two partial skeletons A problematic taxon purported to be an early avialan, may be a chimaera of different fossils.