The Allenby formation is a sedimentary rock formation in British Columbia which was deposited during the Ypresian stage of the Early Eocene. It consists of conglomerates, sandstones with interbedded shales and coal. The shales contain an abundance of insect, fish and plant fossils known from 1877 and onward, while the Princeton Chert was first indented in the 1950's and is known from anatomically preserved plants.
There are several notable fossil producing localities in the Princeton & Tulameen basins. Historical collection sites included Nine Mile Creek, Vermilian Bluffs, and Whipsaw Creek, while modern sites include One Mile Creek, Pleasant Valley, Thomas Ranch, and the Princeton Chert.
The Allenby is estimated to have an overall extent of approximately 300 km2 (120 sq mi), though actual outcroppings of the formation make up less than 1% of the formation, while other exploratory contact is via boreholes and mines. The half-graben which contains the formation is separated into two major depositional basins, the Princeton basin around Princeton, British Columbia and the Tulameen basin centered approximately 17 km (11 mi) west. The grabens extensional faults at the eastern side of the basin place the hanging wall Allenby strata in contact with much older foot wall strata of the Nicola Formation which dates to the Upper Triassic.
The Allenby Formation is the southern-most of the Eocene Okanagan Highlands lakes in British Columbia, and second most southern site after the Klondike Mountain Formation of Republic, Washington and northern Ferry County. In British Columbia, the formation is coeval to the Tranquille Formation, known from the McAbee Fossil Beds and Falkland site, the Coldwater Beds, known from the Quilchena site, and Driftwood Canyon Provincial Park. The highlands, including the Allenby Formation, have been described as one of the "Great Canadian Lagerstatten" based on the diversity, quality and unique nature of the biotas that are preserved. The highlands temperate biome preserved across a large transect of lakes recorded many of the earliest appearances of modern genera, while also documenting the last stands of ancient lines.
The warm temperate uplands floras of the Allenby Formation and the highlands, associated with downfaulted lacustrine basins and active volcanism are noted to have no exact modern equivalents, due to the more seasonally equitable conditions of the Early Eocene. However, the formation has been compared to the upland ecological islands in the Virunga Mountains within the Albertine Rift of the African rift valley.
The earliest work in the region was on exploratory expeditions in 1877 and 1878, with fossils collected in the areas of Nine-Mile Creek, Vermilian Bluffs on the Similkameen River, and Whipsaw Creek. While reporting on additional plant fossils collected from British Columbia, Penhallow (1906) noted the likely coeval status of the Princeton basins with many of the sites now considered the Okanagan Highlands. Modern collecting has centered on the areas around One Mile Creek, Pleasant Valley, and Thomas Ranch.
The age estimates for the Allenby Formation have varied a number of times since the first explorations happened in the 1870s. Shaw (1952) dated the formation as Oligocene, an age followed by Arnold (1955). Half a decade later, the older age of 48 ± 2 million years old was first suggested, with a younger age being suggested at 46.2 ± 1.9 million years old in 2000 and an older date of 52.08 ± 0.12 million years ago obtained from uranium-lead dating of zircons from Vermilion Bluffs shale in 2005.
The Allenby is composed of cyclical sedimentation events that were deposited along the course of a river-system in conjunction with depositional areas from nearby lakes and wetlands. Coeval volcanic eruptive events are recorded as interbeds of tephras and lavas, while the riverine course is marked with depositional areas of conglomerates and sandstones. The quieter environments are noted for finer layers of shales and coalified layers.
The coal seams throughout the formation are typically sub-bituminous.
Notable in conjunction with the coal seams are sections of chert which formed during silica rich periods. The rapid cyclical changes from coal to chert and back are not noted in any other fossil locality in the world. An estimated 49 coal-chert cycles are known, though the exact conditions for this process are not well understood. Silica rich volcanic episodes in the region during deposition would have been needed for formation of the cherts, while slowly moving waters and gently subsiding terrains would be needed for the peats and fens to accumulate. Rates of organic deposition in swamps have been estimated at approximately 0.5-1 mm (0.020-0.039 in) in modern temperate climates, this suggests the time needed for each 10-20 cm (3.9-7.9 in) chert layer would be at least 100 years or more, with the full sequence of cycles taking place over no more than 15,000 years.
Palynological analysis of samples from the Thomas ranch site by Dillhoff et al (2013) resulted in the identification of 32 pollen and spore types that were assignable to family or genus level, with a total number of distinct pollen and spore types, including unassignable morphotypes, number over 70. The predominant pollens of the site are conifers, which make up between 85%-97% of the total pollens, while the angiosperm pollens are dominated by members of Betulaceae.
Several pteridophyte families and genera are represented as spore fossils alone, without corresponding megafossil records, including Lycopodiaceae, Osmundaceae, and Schizaeaceae. Similarly, at least three additional conifer genera are only present as pollen fossils and up to 12 angiosperms are present in the pollen record. Sometimes considered a Biostratgraphic index fossil, the angiosperm palynospecies Pistillipollenites macgregorii has been recovered from several sites in the Allenby Formation, while the palynospecies Erdtmanipollis pachysandroides is rare, having only been reported from the formation twice.
Aquifoliaceae
Ilex
Unidentified
Pollen
A holly palynomorph
Arecaceae
Sabal
Cf. †Sabal granopollenites
Pollen
A palm palynomorph
Buxaceae
†Erdtmanipollis
†Erdtmanipollis pachysandroides
Pollen
A box family palynomorph
Betulaceae
Alnus
Unidentified
Pollen & macrofossils
An alder palynomorph
Betulaceae
Betula
Unidentified
Pollen & macrofossils
A birch palynomorph
Betulaceae
Carpinus
Unidentified
Pollen
A hornbeam palynomorph
Betulaceae
Corylus
unidentified
Pollen
A hazelnut palynomorph
Cupressaceae
Cunninghamia
unidentified
Pollen
A Cunninghamia like palynomorph
Cupressaceae
Sequoiapollenites
Unidentified
Pollen & macrofossils
A redwood palynomorph
Cupressaceae
Taxodiaceaepollenites
Unidentified
Pollen & macrofossils
A Taxodioideae subfamily palynomorph
Elaeagnaceae
Cf. Elaeagnus
Unidentified
Pollen
An elaeagnaceous palynomorph, similar to oleaster
Ericaceae
unidentified
Unidentified
Pollen
An ericaceous palynomorph of uncertain affinity
Fagaceae
Castanea
Unidentified
Pollen
A chestnut palynomorph
Fagaceae
†Eotrigonobalanus
Unidentified
Pollen
A fagaceous palynomorph
Fagaceae
Fagus
"Fagus Pollen type 3"
Pollen
A beech palynomorph
Fagaceae
Fagus
"Fagus Pollen type 2"
Pollen
A beech palynomorph
Fagaceae
†Paraquercus
†Paraquercus eocaena
Pollen
A fagaceous palynomorph
Fagaceae
Quercus
"Quercus Pollen type 1"
Pollen
An oak palynomorph, similar to Quercus Group Lobatae pollen
Fagaceae
Quercus
"Quercus Pollen type 2"
Pollen
An oak palynomorph, ancestral type with Quercus Group Ilex morphology
Fagaceae
†Trigonobalanopsis
Unidentified
Pollen
A fagaceous palynomorph
Fagaceae
Unidentified
Unidentified
Pollen
A Fagoideceous palynomorph
Fagaceae
Cf. Quercus
Unidentified
Pollen
A fagaceous palynomorph, similar to oak
Ginkgoaceae
†Cycadopites
†Cycadopites follicularis
Pollen & macrofossils
A Gingko palynomorph
Hamamelidaceae
Liquidambar
Unidentified
Pollen
A sweet gum palynomorph
Juglandaceae
Carya
Unidentified
Pollen
A hickory palynomorph
Juglandaceae
Pterocarya
Unidentified
Pollen
A hickory palynomorph
Lycopodiaceae
Lycopodium
Unidentified
Pollen
A lycopod palynomorph
Malvaceae
Tilia
Unidentified
Pollen
A linden palynomorph
Osmundaceae
Osmundasporites
Unidentified
Pollen
An osmundaceous fern palynomorph
Pinaceae
Abies
Unidentified
Pollen & macrofossils
A fir palynomorph
Pinaceae
†Alisporites
Unidentified
Pollen
A pine family palynomorph
Pinaceae
Picea
Unidentified
Pollen
A Picea palynomorph
Pinaceae
Pinus
Unidentified
Pollen & macrofossils
A Pinus palynomorph
Pinaceae
†Pityosporites
Unidentified
Pollen
A pine family palynomorph
Pinaceae
Pseudolarix
Unidentified
Pollen & macrofossils
A Pseudolarix palynomorph
Pinaceae
Tsuga
Unidentified
Pollen
A Tsuga palynomorph
Pinaceae
Cf. Larix
Unidentified
Pollen
A Laricoidae palynomorph, similar to larch
Pinaceae
Cf. Pseudotsuga
Unidentified
Pollen
A Laricoidae palynomorph, similar to pseudotsuga
Platanaceae
Platanus
Unidentified
Pollen
A Platanus palynomorph
Potamogetonaceae
Potamogeton
Unidentified
Pollen
A Potamogeton palynomorph
Rosaceae
Unidentified
Unidentified
Pollen & macrofossils
Rose famnily palynomorphs
Salicaceae
Salix
Unidentified
Pollen
A willow palynomorph
Salviniaceae
Azolla
Unidentified
Pollen & macrofossils
A duck weed palynomorph
Sapindaceae
Acer
Unidentified
Pollen & macrofossils
A maple palynomorph
Sapindaceae
Aesculus
Unidentified
Pollen & macrofossils
A horse chestnut palynomorph
Sapotaceae
Unidentified
Unidentified
Pollen
A sapotaceous palynomorph
Taxaceae
Taxus
Unidentified
Pollen
A yew palynomorph
Ulmaceae
Ulmus
Unidentified
Pollen & macrofossils
An elm palynomorph
incertae sedis
†Pistillipollenites
†Pistillipollenites macgregorii
Pollen
A palynomorph of uncertain affinity, possibly a Gentianaceae or Euphorbiaceae species
A group of six mosses were described from the Allenby Formation by Kuc (1972, 1974) representing the genera Ditrichites, Hypnites and Plagiopodopsis, with two species placed in the morphogenus Muscites. Dillhoff et al (2013) identified twelve distinct gymnosperm taxa spanning the families Cupressaceae, Ginkgoaceae, and Pinaceae. While being the minority component of the Thomas Ranch flora by total fossil numbers, angiosperms have a higher diversity, with 45 distinct morphotypes represented as foliage, reproductive structures, or both. Seventeen of the morphotypes are identifiable to genus or species, with members of the family Betulaceae being most prominent. At least common one leaf type is suggested to possibly represent an extinct plant order, but has not been described. Only two pteridophyte species have been described from the compression flora, Azolla primaeva by Penhallow (1890) and Equisetum similkamense by Dawson (1878).
The following fossil conifers, pteridophytes, ginkgophytes and bryophytes have been described from the Allenby Formation:
Amblystegiaceae
Hypnites
†Hypnites jovet-astiae
(Kuc) Miller
An amblystegiaceous mossFirst described as Palaeohypnum jovet-asti, moved to Hypnites jovet-astiae in 1980
Amblystegiaceae
Hypnites
†Hypnites steerei
(Kuc) Miller
An amblystegiaceous mossFirst described as Palaeohypnum steerei, moved to Hypnites steerei in 1980
Bartramiaceae
†Plagiopodopsis
†Plagiopodopsis eocenicus
(Kuc) Miller
A bartramiaceous mossFirst described as Muscites eocenicus, moved to Plagiopodopsis eocenicus in 1980
?Ditrichaceae
†Ditrichites
†Ditrichites fylesi
Kuc
A Ditrichaceous moss
incertae sedis
†Muscites
†Muscites maycocki
Kuc
A moss of uncertain placement
incertae sedis
†Muscites
†Muscites ritchiei
Kuc
A moss of uncertain placement
Equisetaceae
Equisetum
†Equisetum similkamense
Dawson
A scouring rush
Salviniaceae
Azolla
†Azolla primaeva
(Penhallow) Arnold
A mosquito fernFirst described as Azollophyllum primaevum
Ginkgoaceae
Ginkgo
Ginkgo biloba
Linnaeus
A ginkgo
Ginkgoaceae
Ginkgo
†Ginkgo dissecta
Mustoe, 2002
A ginkgo with highly dissected leaves
Cupressaceae
Chamaecyparis
†Chamaecyparis linguaefolia
(Lesquereux) MacGinitie
A false cypress
Cupressaceae
Metasequoia
†Metasequoia occidentalis
(Newberry) Chaney
A dawn redwood
First identified as "Sequoia" brevifolia, "S." heeri. "S." langsdorfii (in part), "S." nordenskioldi, & Taxodium distichum miocenum (in part)
Cupressaceae
Sequoia
†Sequoia affinis
Lesquereux
A redwood
Cupressaceae
Taxodium
†Taxodium dubium
(Sternberg) Heer
A bald cypress
First identified as "Sequoia" angustifolia, "S." langsdorfii (in part), & Taxodium distichum miocenum (in part)
Pinaceae
Abies
†Abies milleri
Shorn & Wehr, 1986
Oldest true fir described
Pinaceae
Picea
Undescribed
Miller
A spruceNot described to species
Pinaceae
Pinus
†Pinus latahensis
Berry
A 5-needle pine
Pinaceae
Pinus
†Pinus monticolensis
Berry
A pinaceous winged seed
Pinaceae
Pinus
†Pinus trunculus
Dawson, 1890
A 3-needle pine
Pinaceae
Pinus
†Pinus tulameenensis
Penhallow
A 5-needle pine
Pinaceae
Pseudolarix
Pseudolarix amabilis
(J.Nelson) Rehder
A golden larch
Originally identified as Pseudolarix americana, then as Pseudolarix arnoldii
Pinaceae
Pseudolarix
†Pseudolarix wehrii
Gooch
A golden larch
Anacardiaceae
Rhus
†Rhus malloryi
Wolfe & Wehr
A sumac
Amaryllidaceae
†Paleoallium
†Paleoallium billgenseli
Pigg, Bryan, & DeVore
An onion relative
Araceae
Orontium
†Orontium wolfei
Bogner, Johnson, Kvacek & Upchurch
A golden-club
Betulaceae
Alnus
†Alnus parvifolia
(Berry) Wolfe & Wehr
An Alder
Betulaceae
Betula
†Betula leopoldae
Wolfe & Wehr
A birch
Betulaceae
†Palaeocarpinus
†Palaeocarpinus stonebergae
Pigg, Manchester, & Wehr
A coryloid genus
Cercidiphyllaceae
Cercidiphyllum
†Cercidiphyllum obtritum
(Dawson) Wolfe & Wehr
A katsura
Fagaceae
†Fagopsis
†Fagopsis undulata
(Knowlton) Wolfe & Wehr
A beech
Fagaceae
Fagus
Undescribed
Grossulariaceae
Ribes
Undescribed
A gooseberry speciesNot described
Hamamelidaceae
Fothergilla
†Fothergilla malloryi
Radtke, Pigg & Wehr
A winter-hazel species
Juglandaceae
Pterocarya
Undescribed
A wingnutNot described to species
Lauraceae
Lindera
Undescribed
A laural speciesNot described to species
Lauraceae
Sassafras
†Sassafras hesperia
Berry
A laural species
Malvaceae
Florissantia
Undescribed
An extinct sterculioid flowerNot described to species
Myricaceae
Comptonia
†Comptonia columbiana
Dawson
A sweet fern
Nyssaceae
†Tsukada
†Tsukada davidiifolia
Wolfe & Wehr
A dove-tree relative
Platanaceae
Macginicarpa
Undescribed
Manchester
A sycamore morphospecies
Platanaceae
†Macginitiea
†Macginitiea gracilis
(Lesquereux) Wolfe & Wehr
A sycamore
Rosaceae
Amelanchier
Unidentified
A service berry Not described
Rosaceae
Neviusia
†Neviusia dunthornei
DeVore, Moore, Pigg, & Wehr
A snow wreath
Rosaceae
†Stonebergia
†Stonebergia columbiana
Wolfe & Wehr
A Sorbarieae genus
Sapindaceae
Acer
†Acer princetonense
Wolfe & Tanai
A maple
Sapindaceae
Acer
†Acer rousei
Wolfe & Tanai
A maple
Sapindaceae
Acer
†Acer stockeyae
Wolfe & Tanai
A maple
Sapindaceae
Acer
†Acer stewarti
Wolfe & Tanai
A maple
Sapindaceae
Acer
†Acer stonebergae
Wolfe & Tanai
A maple
Sapindaceae
Acer
†Acer toradense
Wolfe & Tanai
A maple
Sapindaceae
Acer
†Acer wehri
Wolfe & Tanai
A maple
Sapindaceae
Dipteronia
†Dipteronia brownii
McClain and Manchester
A Dipteronia species
Trochodendraceae
Tetracentron
†Tetracentron hopkinsii
Pigg et al
A Tetracentron relative
Trochodendraceae
Zizyphoides
Undescribed
A trochodendraceous speciesNot described
Ulmus
Ulmus
†Ulmus okanaganensis
Denk & Dillhoff
An elm
Urticaceae
Cf. Urticeae
Undescribed
A nettle not described to genusFirst identified as Rubus
Incertae sedis
†Chaneya
†Chaneya tenuis
(Lesquereux) Wang & Manchester
A sapindalean flower of uncertain affiliations
Hydrobiidae
†Micropyrgus
†Micropyrgus camselli
L.S. Russell, 1957
A hydrobiid mud snail
Lymnaeidae
Stagnicola
†Stagnicola tulameenensis
L.S. Russell, 1957
A lymnaeine pond snail
Physidae
Aplexa
†Aplexa ricei
L.S. Russell, 1957
An aplexine bladder snail
Physidae
Physa
†Physa saxarubrensis
L.S. Russell, 1957
A physine bladder snail
Planorbidae
Ferrissia
†Ferrissia arionoides
L.S. Russell, 1957
An ancylinine ramshorn snail
Planorbidae
Gyraulus?
Indeterminate
L.S. Russell, 1957
A possible planorbinine ramshorn snail Not described to species
Sphaeriidae
Sphaerium?
Indeterminate
L.S. Russell, 1957
A possible sphaeriine fingernail clam Not described to species
Cantharidae
Unidentified
Unidentified
A soldier beetle not identified to genus or species
Carabidae?
Unidentified
Unidentified
A caraboid superfamily beetleDisplays traits similar to both Cicindelidae and Carabidae not identified to genus or species
Chrysomelidae
†Cryptocephalites
†Cryptocephalites punctatus
Scudder, 1895
A leaf beetle
Chrysomelidae
Galerucella
†Galerucella picea
Scudder, 1879
A leaf beetle
Elateridae
Cryptohypnus?
†Cryptohypnus? terrestris
Scudder, 1879
A click beetle
Elateridae
Elaterites
Undescribed
Scudder, 1895
A click beetle Not described to species
Elateridae
Limonius
†Limonius impunctus
Scudder, 1895
A wireworm click beetle
Tenebrionidae
Tenebrio
†Tenebrio primigenius
Scudder, 1879
A darkling beetle
Trogidae
Trox
†Trox oustaleti
Scudder, 1879
A hide beetle
Bibionidae
Penthetria
†Penthetria? fryi
Rice, 1959
A marchfly
Bibionidae
Penthetria
†Penthetria whipsawensis
Rice, 1959
A marchfly
Bibionidae
Plecia
†Plecia avus
(Handlirsch, 1910)
A marchflyFirst described as Penthetria avus (1910), moved to Plecia avus (1959)
Bibionidae
Plecia
†Plecia canadensis
(Handlirsh, 1910)
A marchfly First described as Penthetria canadensis (1910), moved to Plecia canadensis (1959)
Bibionidae
Plecia
†Plecia curtula
(Handlirsch, 1910)
A marchfly First described as Penthetria curtula (1910), moved to Plecia curtula (1959) Senior synonym of Penthetria avunculus (1959)
Bibionidae
Plecia
†Plecia dilatata
(Handlirsch, 1910)
A marchfly First described as Penthetria dilatata (1910), moved to Plecia dilatata (1959)
Bibionidae
Plecia
†Plecia elatior
(Handlirsch, 1910)
A marchfly First described as Penthetria elatior (1910), moved to Plecia elatior (1959)
Bibionidae
Plecia
†Plecia minutula
Rice, 1959
A marchfly
Bibionidae
Plecia
†Plecia nana
(Handlirsh, 1910)
A marchfly First described as Penthetria nana (1910), moved to Plecia nana (1959)
Bibionidae
Plecia
†Plecia pictipennis
(Handlirsh, 1910)
A marchfly First described as Penthetria pictipennis (1910), moved to Plecia pictipennis (1959)
Penthetria lambei (1910), Penthetria ovalis (1910), & Penthetria separanda (1910) considered junior synonyms (1959)
Bibionidae
Plecia
†Plecia pulchra
(Handlirsch, 1910)
A marchfly First described as Penthetria pulchra (1910), moved to Plecia pulchra (1959)
Bibionidae
Plecia
†Plecia pulla
(Handlirsh, 1910)
A marchfly First described as Penthetria pulla (1910), moved to Plecia pulla (1959)Penthetria brevipes (1910) considered a junior synonym (1959)
Bibionidae
Plecia
†Plecia reducta
(Handlirsh, 1910)
A marchfly First described as Penthetria reducta (1910), moved to Plecia reducta (1959)
Bibionidae
Plecia
†Plecia similkameena
(Scudder, 1879)
A marchfly First described as Penthetria similkameena (1879), moved to Plecia similkameena (1959)
Bibionidae
Plecia
†Plecia transitoria
(Handlirsh, 1910)
A marchfly First described as Penthetria transitoria (1910), moved to Plecia transitoria (1959)Penthetria falcatula (1910) & Penthetria fragmentum (1910) considered junior synonyms (1959)
Bibionidae
Plecia
†Plecia tulameenensis
Rice, 1959
A marchfly
Dolichopodidae
†Microphor
†Microphor defunctus
(Handlirsch, 1910)
A long-legged flyFirst described as Microphorus defunctus (1910), moved to Microphor defunctus (1994)
Ptychopteridae
†Etoptychoptera
†Etoptychoptera tertiaria
Handlirsh, 1909
A phantom cranefly
Tipulidae
Tipula
†Tipula tulameena
(Handlirsh, 1910)
A cranefly
Aphrophoridae
Aphrophora
†Aphrophora angusta
Handlirsch, 1910
A spittlebug
Aphrophoridae
†Palaeoptysma
†Palaeoptysma venosa
Scudder, 1895
A spittlebug
Aphrophoridae
Palaphrodes
Undescribed
Scudder, 1895
A spittlebug Not described to species
Aphrophoridae
†Ptysmaphora
†Ptysmaphora fletcheri
Scudder, 1895
A spittlebug
Cercopidae
Cercopis
†Cercopis grandescens
Scudder, 1895
A froghopper
Cercopidae
Cercopis
†Cercopis selwyni
Scudder, 1879
A froghopper
Cercopidae
†Cercopites
†Cercopites torpescens
Scudder, 1895
A froghopper
Cercopidae
†Dawsonites
†Dawsonites veter
Scudder, 1895
A froghopper
Cercopidae
Palecphora
Undescribed
Scudder, 1895
A froghopper Not described to species
Cercopidae
†Stenecphora
†Stenecphora punctulata
Scudder, 1895
A froghopper
Cercopidae
†Stenolocris
†Stenolocris venosa
Scudder, 1895
A froghopper
Cicadellidae
Coelidia
†Coelidia columbiana
Scudder, 1879
A leafhopper
Fulgoridae
†Enchophora
Undescribed
Scudder, 1895
A fulgorid plant hopper Not described to species
Gerridae
†Telmatrechus
†Telmatrechus stali
(Scudder, 1879)
A gerrine water striderFirst described as Hygrotrechus stali (1879),
moved to Telmatrechus stali (1895)
incertae sedis
†Planophlebia
†Planophlebia gigantea
Scudder, 1879
A hemipteran of uncertain placement
Archibald, Mathewes, & Aase (2023) reported a Titanomyrma species ant queen from the Vermillion Bluffs site, and noted the range extension for Formiciinae into the highlands, as the subfamily was previously considered a strictly thermophilic ant group. Due to complications arising from preservational distortion during diagenesis, they were unable to determine the correct size of the queen in life. If the distortion was lateral, then compression to bilateral symmetry yielded an adult length of approximately 3.3 cm (1.3 in), placing it the same range as Formicium berryi and F. brodiei, known only from wings, and sugg4ested as possible males. Conversely stretching the fossil to bilateral symmetry results in a larger 5 cm (2.0 in) length estimate, placing it as comparable to queens of T. lubei and T. simillima.
Braconidae
Bracon
Undescribed
A braconid wasp Not described to species
Formicidae
†Titanomyrma
Indeterminate
A formiciine titan ant Unplaced to species.
Ichneumonidae
Xorides
†Xorides lambei
(Handlirsch, 1910)
A xoridine ichneumon parasitic wasp First named Xylonomus lambei (1910)
Tenthredinidae
Eriocampa
†Eriocampa tulameenensis
Rice, 1968
A tenthredinid sawfly
†Dinopanorpidae
†Dinokanaga
†Dinokanaga wilsoni
Archibald, 2005
A dinopanorpid scorpion fly
Eomeropidae
†Eomerope
†Eomerope simpkinsae
Archibald & Rasnitsyn, 2018
An eomeropid scorpionfly
Ithonidae
†Ricaniella
†Ricaniella antiquata
(Scudder, 1895)
A Polystoechotid-group giant lacewing First described as Ricania antiquata (1895), moved to Ricaniella antiquata (1897)
Cf. †Dysagrionidae
†Allenbya
†Allenbya holmesae
Archibald & Cannings, 2022
A possible Dysagrionidae odonate. Not to be confused with the Princeton Chert waterlily Allenbya
Raphidiidae
†Megaraphidia
†Megaraphidia hopkinsi
Archibald & Makarkin, 2021
A Raphidiid snakefly
Amiidae
Cf. Amia
†"Amia" hesperia
Wilson, 1982
A bowfin
Aves incertae sedis
Unidentified
Unidentified
Mayr et al, 2019
Indeterminate feathers and a skeleton
Catostomidae
†Wilsonium
†Wilsonium brevipinne.
(Cope, 1893)
A catostomid suckerOriginally described as Amyzon brevipinneMoved to Wilsonium in 2021
†Esthonychidae
†Trogosus
†Trogosus latidens
(Marsh, 1874)
A tillodont species
Hiodontidae
Hiodon
†Hiodon rosei
(Hussakof, 1916)
A mooneyeFirst described as "Lucious" rosei (1916), moved to Eohiodon rosei in 1966,moved to Hiodon rosei in 2008
†Libotoniidae
†Libotonius
†Libotonius blakeburnensis
Wilson, 1977
A percopsiform fish
Salmonidae
†Eosalmo
†Cf. Eosalmo driftwoodensis
Wilson, 1977
An ancestral salmon
Trionychidae
Cf. Apalone
Undescribed
A soft shelled turtleNot described to species
The Princeton chert biota is unique in the Allenby formation due to the silicification of the chert, which has resulted in cellular and anatomical preservation of the organisms. As of 2016 over 30 different plant taxa had been described from chert fossils along with a number of fungal species.
Ascomycota
†Cryptodidymosphaerites
†Cryptodidymosphaerites princetonensis
Currah, Stockey, LePage
An ascomycetan fugus on the host palm Uhlia allenbyensis
Ascomycota
†Monodictysporites
†Monodictysporites princetonensis
Klymiuk
An ascomycotan fungus hosted on Dennstaedtiopsis aerenchymata
Ascomycota
†Palaeoserenomyces
†Palaeoserenomyces allenbyensis
Currah, Stockey, LePage
An ascomycetan fugus on the host palm Uhlia allenbyensis
Athyriaceae
†Dickwhitea
†Dickwhitea allenbyensis
Karafit et al
An athyriaceous fern
Athyriaceae
†Makotopteris
†Makotopteris princetonensis
Stockey, Nishida, & Rothwell
An athyriaceous fern
Blechnaceae
†Trawetsia
†Trawetsia princetonensis
Smith et al
A blechnacious fern
Dennstaedtiaceae
†Dennstaedtiopsis
†Dennstaedtiopsis aerenchymata
Cevallos-Ferriz, Stockey, & Pigg
A dennstaedtioid fern
Osmundaceae
Osmunda
Undescribed
An osmundaceous fernNot described
Cupressaceae
Metasequoia
†Metasequoia milleri
Bassinger
A dawn redwood
Pinaceae
Pinus
†Pinus allisonii
Stockey
A 2-needled Pine foliage
Pinaceae
Pinus
†Pinus andersonii
Stockey
A 3-needled Pine foliage
Pinaceae
Pinus
†Pinus arnoldii
Miller
A basal Pine Cones belonging to the 5 needle Pinus similkameenensis foliage
Pinaceae
Pinus
†Pinus princetonensis
Stockey
A pinaceous cone
Pinaceae
Pinus
†Pinus similkameenensis
Miller
A basal Pine 5-needled foliage belonging to the Pinus arnoldii cones
Alismataceae
†Heleophyton
†Heleophyton helobieoides
Erwin & Stockey
An aquatic or emergent water-plantain
Aponogetonaceae
Aponogeton
†Aponogeton longispinosum
Grimsson, Zetter, & Halbritter
A Cape-pondweed pollen
Araceae
†Keratosperma
†Keratosperma allenbyensis
Cevallos-Ferriz & Stockey
An arum family member
Arecaceae
†Uhlia
†Uhlia allenbyensis
Erwin & Stockey
A Coryphoid palm
Grossulariaceae
Ribes
Undescribed
Cevallos-Ferriz
A current fruitNot described
Lythraceae
Decodon
†Decodon allenbyensis
Cevallos-Ferriz & Stockey
A swamp loosestrife
Magnoliaceae
†Liriodendroxylon
†Liriodendroxylon princetonensis
Cevallos-Ferriz & Stockey
A Liriodendron-like wood.
Myrtaceae
†Paleomyrtinaea
†Paleomyrtinaea princetonensis
Pigg, Stockey & Maxwell
A Myrtaceous fruit
Nymphaeaceae
†Allenbya
†Allenbya collinsonae
Cevallos-Ferriz & Stockey
A water lily relative
Nyssaceae
Diplopanax
†Diplopanax eydei
Stockey, LePage, & Pigg
A tuplo relative.
Rosaceae
†Paleorosa
†Paleorosa similkameenensis
Bassinger
A rose family flower
Rosaceae
Prunus
†Prunus allenbyensis
Cevallos-Ferriz & Stockey
A prunoid wood.
Rosaceae
Prunus
"Species 1"
Cevallos-Ferriz & Stockey
A prunoid seed.Not described
Rosaceae
Prunus
"Species 2"
Cevallos-Ferriz & Stockey
A prunoid seed.Not described
Rosaceae
Prunus
"Species 3"
Cevallos-Ferriz & Stockey
A prunoid seed.Not described
Sapindaceae
†Wehrwolfea
†Wehrwolfea striata
Erwin & Stockey
A possible dodonaecous soapberry family flower
Saururaceae
Saururus
†Saururus tuckerae
Smith & Stockey
A lizard's-tail species
Vitaceae
Ampelocissus
†"Ampelocissus" similkameenensis
Cevallos-Ferriz & Stockey
A grape family fruit of uncertain generic placement
Vitaceae
incertae sedis
"Type 1"
Cevallos-Ferriz & Stockey
A grape family fruit of uncertain generic placementNot described
Vitaceae
incertae sedis
"Type 2"
Cevallos-Ferriz & Stockey
A grape family fruit of uncertain generic placementNot described
Cf. Iridaceae
†Pararisteapollis
†Pararisteapollis stockeyi
Zetter & Hesse
A possible iridaceous pollen morphotype
Incertae sedis
†Eorhiza
†Eorhiza arnoldii
Robison & Person
A semi-aquatic dicot of uncertain affinity.
Incertae sedis
†Ethela
†Ethela sargentiana
Erwin & Stockey
A cyperaceous or juncaceous monocot
Incertae sedis
†Princetonia
†Princetonia allenbyensis
Stockey
A possibly aquatic magnoliopsid flower of uncertain affiliation.
Incertae sedis
†Soleredera
†Soleredera rhizomorpha
Erwin & Stockey
A lilialean genus of uncertain placement