Paleobiota of the Cañadón Asfalto Formation

The members are typically composed of fluvial-lacustrine deposits consisting of sandstones and shales, with a limestone carbonate evaporitic sequence also being present in the lower of the two.

Given the stratigraphic uncertainty, it may come from the Cañadón Calcáreo Formation Metacypris[9][6] Isolated Valves A freshwater (Lacustrine) member of Loxoconchidae (Ostracodan).

These species are characteristic of the Middle Jurassic of northern China and where used to correlate the age of the beds Pseudestherites[9] Isolated Valves A freshwater (Lacustrine) member of Antronestheriidae (Spinicaudatan).

Maybe related to the genus Oreochima, coming from layers coeval, coregional, and of identical deposition of the Mawson Formation of Antarctica Notobatrachus[20][21] Las Chacritas Member An early frog of the family Notobatrachidae.

Condorchelys[20][23][24] Las Chacritas Member A stem turtle (Mesochelydian) outside both extant groups, closely related with Kayentachelys aprix of North America and Indochelys spatulata of India.

In 2020 a new fossil locality was found, named Cañadón de las Huellas due to the large number of sauropod, and probably theropod, footprints on one of the canyon walls.

Possible relationships with Atlasaurus Volkheimeria[45] V. chubutensis Cerro Cóndor South Las Chacritas Member "Partial skeleton consisting of presacral and sacral vertebrae, pelvis, [and] hindlimb."

Allotheria[54] Indeterminate Queso Rallado Las Chacritas Member Isolated Teeth An Allotherian whose affinities hasn't been tested Argentoconodon[55] A. fariasorum Queso Rallado Las Chacritas Member MPEF-PV2362, fragmentary left maxilla, MPEF-PV2363 partial skeleton, MPEFPV2364 isolated complete right upper last molariform A volaticotherian (Alticonodontinae), closely related to the Asian genus Volaticotherium, having similar postcraneal appearance, indicating possible gliding capabilities, yet better material is needed to prove it.

[55] Asfaltomylos[20][56] A. patagonicus Queso Rallado Las Chacritas Member MPEF PV 1671, complete lower maxilla An Australosphenidan, related to Henosferus in Henosferidae.

Condorodon[54] C. spanios Queso Rallado Las Chacritas Member MPEF-PV 2365, isolated complete lower left molariform An "amphilestid" triconodont, related with the late jurassic African Tendagurodon.

[58] According to a palynological study the dominant pollen was produced by the conifer families Cheirolepidiaceae (Classopollis) and Araucariaceae (mainly Araucariacites and Callialasporites), suggesting that warm-temperate and relatively humid conditions under highly seasonal climate prevailed during the depositional times of the unit.

This genus is the main indicator, due to its abundance, of the presence of a shallow lake with probably saline conditions, reaching in some samples about 96 to 70%.

Stereisporites[59] Spores Upland and Riverside Can withstand long periods of drought; seasonal climate Affinities with the family Sphagnaceae in the Sphagnopsida.

Ischyosporites[59] Spores Upland, Lowland Riverside Warm to temperate, relatively wet Affinities with the family Lygodiaceae and Schizaeaceae in the Polypodiopsida.

Verrucosisporites[62] Spores Upland Can withstand long periods of drought; seasonal climate Affinities with the family Osmundaceae in the Polypodiopsida.

Alisporites[59][62][9] Pollen Riverside Warm, can withstand long periods of drought; seasonal climate Affinities with the families Peltaspermaceae, Corystospermaceae or Umkomasiaceae in the Peltaspermales.

Pollen-bearing organs Lowland and Riverside Warm, can withstand long periods of drought; seasonal climate Plants of the group Peltaspermaceae.

Archangelskya[62][63][64] A. furcata Isolated Pinnae Lowland and Riverside Warm, can withstand long periods of drought; seasonal climate Plants of the group Pteridospermata Lepidopteris[66][67] L. scassoi Isolated Pinnae Lowland and Riverside Warm, can withstand long periods of drought; seasonal climate Plants of the group Peltaspermaceae.

Ovuliferous Cones Lowland and Riverside Warm, can withstand long periods of drought; seasonal climate Plants of the group Peltaspermaceae.

Zamites[64][66] Leaflets Lowland and Riverside Warm to temperate, can withstand long periods of drought; seasonal climate Affinities with Bennettitales inside Cycadeoidopsida.

Phoenicopsis[13][64] Pollen Organs Lowland and Riverside Warm to temperate, can withstand long periods of drought; seasonal climate Plants of the group Leptostrobales (Czekanowskiales).

Agathoxylon[68] Fossil Wood Upland, Lowland and Riverside ?Warm to temperate, relatively wet Affinities with the family Araucariaceae in the Pinales.

Along with the also Argentinian species A. minuta, this specimens represent the oldest fossil taxa that can be confidently assigned to Cupressaceae sensu lato Brachyoxylon[64][70] B. currumilii Fossil Wood Upland, Lowland and Riverside ?Warm to temperate, relatively wet Plants of the family Araucariaceae or Cheirolepidiaceae Brachyphyllum[62][63][64][66] Branched shoots & Ovuliferous cones Upland, Lowland and Riverside ?Warm to temperate, relatively wet Plants of the family Araucariaceae or Cheirolepidiaceae Callialasporites[59][62][9] Pollen Upland, Lowland and Riverside ?Warm to temperate, relatively wet Affinities with the family Araucariaceae in the Pinales.

[71] Classopollis[59][62][9] Pollen Lowland and Coastal lake Warm to temperate, can withstand long periods of drought; seasonal climate Affinities with the Hirmeriellaceae in the Pinopsida.

[59] Elatoclaudus[62][63][64] Branched shoots Upland and Lowland Warm to temperate, can withstand long periods of drought; seasonal climate Plants of the family Cupressaceae Exesipollenites[62] Pollen Lowland and Coastal lake Warm to temperate, can withstand long periods of drought; seasonal climate Affinities with the Hirmeriellaceae in the Pinopsida.

Kaokoxylon[68] Fossil Wood Upland, Lowland and Riverside ?Warm to temperate, relatively wet Affinities with the family Araucariaceae in the Pinales.

Pollen from Podocarpaceous conifers similar to the low arbustive Microcachrys Pagiophyllum[62][63][64][66] Branched shoots Lowland and Coastal lake Warm to temperate, can withstand long periods of drought; seasonal climate Plants of the family Araucariaceae or Cheirolepidiaceae Pelourdea[13][64] Pollen Organs Lowland and Coastal lake Warm to temperate, can withstand long periods of drought; seasonal climate Incertae sedis inside Coniferales, suggested as a member of its own family, the "Pelourdeaceae".

Podocarpoxylon[68] Fossil Wood Upland, Lowland and Riverside ?Warm to temperate, relatively wet Affinities with the family Podocarpaceae in the Pinopsida.

Protocupressinoxylon[68] Fossil Wood Upland, Lowland and Riverside ?Warm to temperate, relatively wet Affinities with the family Hirmeriellaceae in the Pinopsida.

Prototaxoxylon[68] Fossil Wood Upland, Lowland and Riverside ?Warm to temperate, relatively wet Affinities with the family Taxaceae in the Pinopsida.