Title of article :
A Window onto the Eocene (Cenozoic): The Paleontological Record of the Sobrarbe-Pirineos UNESCO Global Geopark (Huesca, Aragon, Spain)
Author/Authors :
Ignacio Canudo, José Grupo Aragosaurus-IUCA - Facultad de Ciencias - Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain , Badiola, Ainara Departamento de Geología - Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea - Barrio Sarriena, Spain , Belmonte, Anchel Sobrarbe-Pirineos UNESCO Global Geopark - Avenida Ordesa 79, Huesca, Spain , Cardiel, Jesús Museo Paleontológico de Lamata, Huesca, Spain , Cuenca-Bescós, Gloria Grupo Aragosaurus-IUCA - Facultad de Ciencias - Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain , Berenguer, Ester Díaz Grupo Aragosaurus-IUCA - Facultad de Ciencias - Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain , Ferratges, Fernando Ari Grupo Aragosaurus-IUCA - Facultad de Ciencias - Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain , Moreno-Azanza, Miguel Geobiotec - Department of Earth Sciences - NOVA School oof Sciences and Tecnology - NOVA University of Lisbon, Caparica, Portugal , Pérez-García, Adan Grupo de Biología Evolutiva - Facultad de Ciencias, UNED Madrid, Spain , Pérez- Pueyo, Manuel Grupo Aragosaurus-IUCA - Facultad de Ciencias - Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain , Silva, Roi Institut de Recerca Geomodels - Universitat de Barcelona. Spain , Zamora, Samuel Grupo Aragosaurus-IUCA - Facultad de Ciencias - Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain
Abstract :
The Sobrarbe-Pirineos UNESCO Global Geopark, located in the Central Pyrenees,
is a region of remarkable geodiversity that includes extensive Eocene fossil-bearing
sites and constitutes an important archive of paleobiodiversity. The Sobrarbe-Pirineos
Geopark hosts outcrops of Eocene formations bearing an unusual abundance
and diversity of fossils from marine and continental sedimentary environments,
making the Sobrarbe-Pirineos Geopark a perfect window for learning about tropical
ecosystems of the Eocene of southern Europe. These environments were in part
tectonically controlled and offer a unique opportunity to understand how faunas
changed in an active area. Here, we outline the main groups of fossils from the
Sobrarbe-Pirineos Geopark, including popular examples such as the “Crocodile of
Ordesa-Vio” and the sirenian Sobrarbesiren. The Geopark has been a major tool in
the geoconservation of Eocene fossils.
Keywords :
Paleogene , fossils , Pyrenees , Geoheritage
