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.
Gaogou Formation | |
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Stratigraphic range: Cenomanian-Coniacian ~ | |
Type | Geological formation |
Sub-units | Upper Member, Lower Member |
Underlies | Majiacun Formation |
Overlies | Baiwan Formation |
Lithology | |
Primary | Conglomerate |
Other | Mudstone |
Location | |
Coordinates | 33°24′N 112°54′E / 33.4°N 112.9°E |
Approximate paleocoordinates | 32°42′N 104°42′E / 32.7°N 104.7°E |
Region | Henan Province |
Country | China |
Extent | Xixia Basin |
Gaogou Formation (China) Gaogou Formation (Henan) |
Color key
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Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; |
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. |
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. | |||
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. | ||
M. xixiaensis | Neixiang, Xixia | "Isolated eggs and complete egg clutches."[3] | Elongatoolithid eggs laid by caenagnathids. | |||
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. | ||
Youngoolithus | Y. xiaguanensis | Xixia | "Clutch with 4 eggs."[3] | Youngoolithid eggs. |
Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic Position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Araucariaceae indet. | Indeterminate | Xixia | "Amber pieces."[6] | A conifer. | ||
Plantae indet. | Indeterminate | Not specified. | Upper Member | "Rhizoliths."[7] | Root traces. |
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. |
Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic Position | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Yuchelys | Y. nanyangensis | Neixiang | "Partial skeleton with carapace."[8] | A nanhsiungchelyid. |