Malhada Vermelha Formation
# Malhada Vermelha Formation

The Malhada Vermelha Formation is an Early Cretaceous (Valanginian to Hauterivian) geologic formation in Ceará, northeastern Brazil. The formation preserves reptile, fish and ichnofossils.

## Description

The formation is characterized by a cyclic sequence of siltstones that are intercalated with fine to medium sandstones with the presence of festoon cross-stratification and climbing ripples, deposited in an alluvial environment in a hot semiarid paleoclimate.

The formation crops out in two minibasins, the Lima Campos and eponymous Malhada Vermelha Basins. The 500 to 800 metres (1,600 to 2,600 ft) thick formation overlies the Quixoá Formation and is overlain by the Lima Campos Formation.

## Fossil content

The following fossils were reported from the formation:

* Fish
   * cf. Lepitodes sp.
   * Hybodontidae indet.
* Reptiles
   * Crocodylomorpha indet.
* Ichnofossils
   * Taenidium barretti
   * Carnosauria indet.
