McKay Formation facts for kids

Quick facts for kids McKay Formation Stratigraphic range: Tortonian-Zanclean (Hemphillian) ~10.3–4.9Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Type	Formation
Lithology
Primary	Tuffaceous sandstone
Location
Coordinates	45°30′N 118°48′W / 45.5°N 118.8°W / 45.5; -118.8
Approximate paleocoordinates	45°24′N 116°06′W / 45.4°N 116.1°W / 45.4; -116.1
Region	Umatilla County, Oregon
Country	United States
Type section
Named for	McKay Reservoir

The McKay Formation is a special place in Oregon where scientists find really old animal remains, called fossils. It's like a giant time capsule made of rock! This formation helps us learn about life on Earth millions of years ago.

The fossils found here date back to a time called the Neogene Period. Specifically, they are from the Tortonian to Zanclean stages, which means they are about 10.3 to 4.9 million years old. That's a very long time ago!

Epicyon was a large, ancient dog-like animal.

Eucyon davisi is an early ancestor of modern dogs.

Platygonus was a type of ancient peccary, similar to a wild pig.

Machairodus was a large saber-toothed cat.

Restoration of Teleoceras, an ancient rhinoceros.

Discovering Ancient Life: Fossils of McKay Formation

The McKay Formation is famous for its amazing collection of fossils. These fossils tell us what kinds of animals lived in Oregon millions of years ago. Scientists have found many different types of creatures here, from tiny rodents to huge ancient rhinos and saber-toothed cats!

Ancient Mammals

Many different kinds of mammals have been found in the McKay Formation. They give us clues about the ancient environment.

Rodents and Small Mammals

• Rodents: Imagine a world with many types of mice, squirrels, and even ancient beavers!
  • Scientists found fossils of animals like Antecalomys cf. valensis, Basirepomys pliocenicus, and Copemys esmeraldensis.
  • There were also early squirrels such as Parapaenemarmota oregonensis and Spermophilus mckayensis.
  • Ancient beavers, including Dipoides smithi, also lived here.
• Rabbits and Pikas:
  • Fossils of ancient rabbits, like Hypolagus oregonensis, have been discovered.
  • Small, rabbit-like animals called pikas, specifically Ochotona spanglei, also roamed this area.
• Moles:
  • Even tiny moles left their mark! Scientists found fossils of Gaillardia thomsoni and Scapanus cf. proceridens.

Large Mammals

• Rhinoceroses:
  • One of the most interesting finds is Teleoceras hicksi. This was a type of ancient rhinoceros that looked a bit like a modern hippo. It spent a lot of time in the water.
• Horses:
  • Early horse relatives, known as Hipparionini, also lived in this ancient landscape.
• Carnivores (Meat-Eaters):
  • The McKay Formation was home to powerful predators.
  • Epicyon saevus and Eucyon davisi were types of ancient dogs. Eucyon is thought to be an early ancestor of modern dogs.
  • Large cats like Lynx longignathus and the mighty Machairodus sp., a type of saber-toothed cat, hunted here.
  • There were also ancient weasels and badgers, such as Plesiogulo marshalli and Pliotaxidea nevadensis.
• Mastodons:
  • Evidence suggests that large, elephant-like animals called mastodons might have lived here too.
• Hoofed Animals:
  • Platygonus brachirostris was an ancient peccary, similar to a wild pig.
  • There were also ancient camel relatives roaming the area.

Ancient Birds

Besides mammals, the McKay Formation has also given us clues about ancient birds.

• Shorebirds:
  • A type of ancient sandpiper, Bartramia umatilla, was found here.
• Quails:
  • Fossils of an ancient quail, Callipepla shotwelli, tell us about ground-dwelling birds.
• Ducks:
  • An ancient duck, Nettion bunkeri, also lived in the wetlands of this region.

These fossils help scientists piece together what the environment and animal life were like in Oregon millions of years ago. It's like solving a giant puzzle from Earth's past!