Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 18, 2026

Mackunda Formation

The Mackunda Formation is a geological formation in Queensland, Australia whose strata date back to the Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation. It consists primarily of interbedded and cross bedded greensand, with variably calcareous shale, with local ferricrete.

Last revised
Jul 18, 2026
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Mackunda Formation
Stratigraphic range: Cenomanian
~
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofRolling Downs Group
UnderliesWinton Formation
OverliesAllaru Formation
ThicknessUp to 275 m (902 ft)
Lithology
PrimarySandstone, siltstone, shale, marl
Location
Coordinates22°44′03″S 142°08′30″E / 22.73417°S 142.14167°E / -22.73417; 142.14167
Approximate paleocoordinates52°54′S 132°00′E / 52.9°S 132.0°E / -52.9; 132.0
RegionQueensland
CountryAustralia
ExtentEromanga Basin
Mackunda Formation (Australia)

The Mackunda Formation is a geological formation in Queensland, Australia whose strata date back to the Cenomanian stage of the Late Cretaceous. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.2 It consists primarily of interbedded and cross bedded greensand, with variably calcareous shale, with local ferricrete.3

Fossil content

Color key
Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon
Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Dinosaurs

Ornithischians

Ornithischians of the Mackunda Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Image
Iguanodontidae Indet.4 Indeterminate Queensland, Australia.4 Cenomanian
Muttaburrasaurus2 M. langdoni Queensland, Australia.2 Cenomanian "Skull and postcrania, fragmentary skeleton."5 A giant elasmarian ornithopod
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Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs of the Mackunda Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Image
Ctenochasmatoidea Indet.6 Indeterminate Queensland, Australia.6 Cenomanian
See also

See also

References

References

  1. Herne, M. C.; Bevitt, J. J.; Milan, L.; Hocknull, S. A.; Tait, A. M.; Allen, C. M.; Rozefelds, A. C.; Molnar, R. E.; Weisbecker, V.; Bell, P. R. (2026). "Cranial anatomy, palaeoneurology, palaeobiology and stratigraphic age of the large-bodied ornithopod, Muttaburrasaurus langdoni Bartholomai and Molnar, 1981, from the mid-Cretaceous of Australia". PeerJ. 14 e20794. doi:10.7717/peerj.20794.
  2. Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Early Cretaceous, Australasia)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 573-574. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  3. "Mackunda Formation". Australian Stratigraphic Units Database, Geoscience Australia. Retrieved 2019-10-06.
  4. Bartholomai, A. (1966). "Fossil footprints in Queensland". Australian Natural History. 15 (5): 147–150.
  5. "Table 19.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 416.
  6. Fletcher, T. L.; Salisbury, S. W. (2010). "New pterosaur fossils from the Early Cretaceous (Albian) of Queensland, Australia". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 30 (6): 1747–1759. Bibcode:2010JVPal..30.1747F. doi:10.1080/02724634.2010.521929. S2CID 128479527.