Jurassic flora of the Oaxaca Mixteca: Paleobotanical heritage of Mexico

Abstract

The Jurassic is one of the most emblematic geological periods, which is generally associated with dinosaurs; however, the landscape was dominated by gymnosperms. The fossil record of Jurassic gymnosperms has been studied since the early 20th century in Mexico, and today the fossiliferous Jurassic outcrops of the Mixteca region are recognized as one of the best in Mexico, both for their abundance and the state of conservation of plant fossils. Based on the study of these plant fossils we have generated a new paleoclimatic proposal and updated the paleofloristic diversity. Generally, two localities of the Mixteca region have greater paleontological quality: Rosario Nuevo and Río Ñumí, the first of which preserves petrified trunks with lengths of up to eight meters; the second has the most complete paleofloristic species list of the region. All the research made on this region is based on the first paleobotanic study by George Reber Wieland in 1914. Today, more than a century away from this work, we recognize the paleobotanical heritage of the Mixteca, and its exceptional informational role for Mexican Paleontology.

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