Earth:Gaogou Formation

From HandWiki
Gaogou Formation
Stratigraphic range: Cenomanian-Coniacian
~96–88 Ma
Zhang Fengchen at Baby Louie locality.png
Zhang Fengchen at the Gaogou Formation
TypeGeological formation
Sub-unitsUpper Member, Lower Member
UnderliesMajiacun Formation
OverliesBaiwan Formation
Lithology
PrimaryConglomerate
OtherMudstone
Location
Coordinates [ ⚑ ] : 33°24′N 112°54′E / 33.4°N 112.9°E / 33.4; 112.9
Paleocoordinates [ ⚑ ] 32°42′N 104°42′E / 32.7°N 104.7°E / 32.7; 104.7
RegionHenan Province
Country China
ExtentXixia Basin
Gaogou Formation is located in China
Gaogou Formation
Gaogou Formation
Gaogou Formation
Gaogou Formation
Gaogou Formation (China)
Gaogou Formation is located in Henan
Gaogou Formation
Gaogou Formation
Gaogou Formation
Gaogou Formation
Gaogou Formation (Henan)

The Gaogou Formation is a fossiliferous geological formation located in the Xixia Basin of China . The formation dates back to the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Coniacian) and fossilized eggs of dinosaurs and turtles are commonly reported from the formation. Dinosaur taxa is also reported from the unit.

Paleobiota of the Gaogou Formation

Dinosaurs

Genus Species Location Stratigraphic Position Material Notes Images
Baotianmansaurus B. henanensis Neixiang "Partial vertebrae and scapula."[1] A titanosauriform.
Beibeilong B. sinensis Heimaogou "Embryonic skeleton with associated partial nest."[2] A large caenagnathid. Reconstruction of Beibeilong embryo in ovo.jpg

Eggs

Genus Species Location Stratigraphic Position Material Notes Images
Dendroolithus D. xichuanensis Xichuan "Eggshell fragments and collapsed eggs."[3] Dendroolithid eggs laid by ornithopods, sauropod or theropods.
Indeterminate Xixia "Intact eggs and egg clutches."[3] Dendroolithid eggs laid by ornithopods, sauropod or theropods. Dinosaur Egg Museum, Xixia Dinosaur Park- Dinosaur Egg Nest, Dendroolithus sp. 04.jpg
Dictyoolithus D. neixiangensis Xixia Not specified.[3] Dictyoolithid eggs.
Faveoloolithus Indeterminate Nanxiang "Single egg."[3] Faveoloolithid egg.
Macroelongatoolithus M. xixiaensis Heimaogou "Partial nest of 6-8 eggs, and eggshell fragments."[2] Elongatoolithid eggs laid by Beibeilong. Photograph of eggs and skeleton of Beibeilong sinensis (HGM 41HIII1219).jpg
M. xixiaensis Neixiang, Xixia "Isolated eggs and complete egg clutches."[3] Elongatoolithid eggs laid by caenagnathids. Dinosaur Egg Museum, Xixia Dinosaur Park- Dinosaur Egg Nest 03.jpg
Neixiangoolithus N. yani Neixiang "Multiple egg clutches."[4] Testudoolithid eggs laid by a turtle.
Paraspheroolithus P. cf. irenensis Xixia "Complete egg clutches."[3] Spheroolithid eggs.
Placoolithus P. tumiaolingensis Yunxian "Several eggs and egg clutches."[5] Dendroolithid eggs laid by ornithopods, sauropod or theropods.
Prismatoolithus P. gebiensis Neixiang, Xixia "Several egg clutches."[3] Prismatoolithid eggs laid by troodontids. Xixia Dinosaur Park- Prismatoolithus gebiensis eggs.jpg
Youngoolithus Y. xiaguanensis Xixia "Clutch with 4 eggs."[3] Youngoolithid eggs.

Flora

Genus Species Location Stratigraphic Position Material Notes Images
Araucariaceae indet. Indeterminate Xixia "Amber pieces."[6] A conifer. Gaogou Formation amber (Xixia County).png
Plantae indet. Indeterminate Not specified. Upper Member "Rhizoliths."[7] Root traces.

Invertebrates

Genus Species Location Stratigraphic Position Material Notes Images
Beaconites B. antarcticus Not specified. Upper Member "Horizontal-overtical, straight to slightly curved, single, lined, meniscate burrows."[7] Invertebrate traces.
B. capronus Not specified. Upper Member "Horizontal to vertical, straight to slightly curved, lined, unbranched burrows."[7] Invertebrate traces.
B. coronus Not specified. Upper Member "Mostly horizontal to vertical, meniscate burrows."[7] Invertebrate traces.
Gastruichnus G. xixiaensis Not specified. Upper Member "Large, high dipping, slightly curved and unbranched burrow."[7] Traces made by molluscs.
Palaeophycus P. heberti Not specified. Upper Member "Straight to curved, horizontal to vertical, unbranched and lined burrows."[7] Invertebrate traces.
P. megas Not specified. Upper Member "Curved, horizontal to vertical, unbranched and lined burrows."[7] Invertebrate traces.
Skolithos S. linearis Not specified. "Cylindrical burrows."[7] Invertebrate traces.
S. magnus Not specified. "Cylindrical to subcylindrical, vertical and slightly curved burrows."[7] Invertebrate traces.

Turtles

Genus Species Location Stratigraphic Position Material Notes Images
Yuchelys Y. nanyangensis Neixiang "Partial skeleton with carapace."[8] A nanhsiungchelyid.

See also

  • List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
  • List of stratigraphic units with dinosaur trace fossils
  • Dinosaur eggs
  • Cenomanian-Turonian extinction event

References

  1. Zhang, X.; Lü, J.; Xu, L.; Li, J.; Yang, L.; Hu, W.; Jia, S.; Ji, Q. et al. (2009). "A New Sauropod Dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous Gaogou Formation of Nanyang, Henan Province". Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition) 83 (2): 212. doi:10.1111/j.1755-6724.2009.00032.x. 
  2. 2.0 2.1 Pu, H.; Zelenitsky, D. K.; Lü, J.; Currie, P. J.; Carpenter, K.; Xu, L.; Koppelhus, E. B.; Jia, S. et al. (2017). "Perinate and eggs of a giant caenagnathid dinosaur from the Late Cretaceous of central China". Nature Communications 8 (14952): 14952. doi:10.1038/ncomms14952. PMID 28486442. 
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 3.6 3.7 Liang, X.; Wen, S.; Yang, D.; Zhou, S.; Wu, S. (2009). "Dinosaur eggs and dinosaur egg-bearing deposits (Upper Cretaceous) of Henan Province, China: Occurrences, palaeoenvironments, taphonomy and preservation". Progress in Natural Science 19 (11): 1587−1601. doi:10.1016/j.pnsc.2009.06.012. 
  4. Xu, L.; Xie, J.; Zhang, S.; Choi, S.; Kim, N.-H.; Gao, D.; Jin, X.; Jia, S. et al. (2022). "Fossil turtle eggs from the Upper Cretaceous Gaogou Formation, Xiaguan-Gaoqiu Basin, Neixiang County, Henan Province, China: Interpretation of the transformation from aragonite to calcite in fossil turtle eggshell". Cretaceous Research 134: 105166. doi:10.1016/j.cretres.2022.105166. 
  5. Zhang, S.; Yang, T.-R.; Li, Z.; Hu, Y. (2018). "New dinosaur egg material from Yunxian, Hubei Province, China resolves the classification of dendroolithid eggs". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 63 (4): 671−678. doi:10.4202/app.00523.2018. https://www.app.pan.pl/archive/published/app63/app005232018.pdf. 
  6. Shi, G.; Dutta, S.; Paul, S.; Wang, B.; Jacques, F. M. B. (2014). "Terpenoid Compositions and Botanical Origins of Late Cretaceous and Miocene Amber from China". PLOS ONE 9 (10): e111303. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0111303. PMID 25354364. 
  7. 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 7.8 Wang, C.-Z.; Wang, J.; Hu, B.; Lu, X.-H. (2016). "Trace fossils and sedimentary environments of the upper cretaceous in the Xixia Basin, Southwestern Henan Province, China". Geodinamica Acta 28 (1–2): 53−70. doi:10.1080/09853111.2015.1065307. 
  8. Tong, H.; Xu, L.; Buffetaut, E.; Zhang, X.; Jia, S. (2012). "A new nanhsiungchelyid turtle from the Late Cretaceous of Neixiang, Henan Province, China". Annales de Paléontologie 98 (4): 303–314. doi:10.1016/j.annpal.2012.08.001.