Type Geological formation | Country Portugal | |
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The Lourinhã Formation is a geological formation in western Portugal, named for the municipality of Lourinhã, from which a wide array of fossils comes. The formation is Late Jurassic in age (Kimmeridgian/Tithonian) and is notable for containing a fauna similar to that of the Morrison Formation in the United States and the Tendaguru beds in Tanzania.
Besides the fossil bones, Lourinhã Formation is well known for the fossil tracks and fossilized dinosaur eggs.
The Lourinhã Formation includes several lithostratigraphic units, such as Praia da Amoreira-Porto Novo Members and the Sobral Unit.
Dinosaurs of the Lourinhã Formation
In a 2003 study, an analysis of all Portuguese dinosaurs was published. The study created a cladogram showing the possible relations of all Portuguese dinosaurs, including those at the time known from the Lourinhã Formation.