Bayan Mandahu Formation Explained

Bayan Mandahu Formation
Type:Geological formation
Age:Campanian,
Period:Campanian
Prilithology:Sandstone
Namedfor:Bayan Mandahu, Urad Rear Banner, Inner Mongolia
Region:Inner Mongolia
Country: China
Coordinates:41.75N 106.75E
Unitof:Gobi Desert

The Bayan Mandahu Formation (also known as Wulansuhai Formation or Wuliangsuhai Formation) is a geological unit of "redbeds" located near the village of Bayan Mandahu in Inner Mongolia, China, in the Gobi Desert. It dates from the late Cretaceous Period. Laid down in the Campanian, it is dated somewhat uncertainly to between 75 and 71 mya (million years ago).[1]

Description

The paleoenvironment it preserves was semi-arid and characterized by alluvial (stream-deposited) and eolian (wind-deposited) sediments. The formation is known for its vertebrate fossils, most of which are preserved in unstructured sandstone, indicating burial by wind-blown sandstorms.[2]

Paleofauna of the Bayan Mandahu Formation

The fauna of the Bayan Mandahu is very similar in composition to the nearby Djadochta Formation, and the two may have been deposited at roughly the same time. These two formations share many of the same genera, but differ in the makeup of species. For example, the most common mammal in the Djadochta is Kryptobaatar dashzevegi, while in the Bayan Mandahu, it is the closely related Kryptobaatar mandahuensis. Similarly, the dinosaur fauna of the Djadochta includes Protoceratops andrewsi and Velociraptor mongoliensis, while the Bayan Mandahu contains Protoceratops hellenikorhinus and Velociraptor osmolskae.[1]

Lizards

An amphisbaenian species is known from the formation.[2] An iguanian species is known from the formation.[2]

Lizards of the Bayan Mandahu Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialNotesImages
AdamisaurusA. magnidentatusAn agamid.
BainguisA diploglossan.
TelmasaurusA monitor lizard.

Turtles

Turtles of the Bayan Mandahu Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialNotesImages
BasilemysA softshell turtle.
"Zangerlia""Z." neimongolensisBayan Mandahu"Partial to complete skeletons of multiple individuals."[3] A nanhsiungchelyid.

Mammals

A taeniolabidoidea multituberculate is known from the formation.[2]

Mammals of the Bayan Mandahu Formation
GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialNotesImages
Guibaatar[4] G. castellanusA djadochtatheriid multituberculate.
KennalestesK. gobiensisA placental. Also present in the Djadochta Formation.
KryptobaatarK. mandahuensisA multituberculate.

Dinosaurs

Alvarezsaurs

Genus Species Location Material Notes Images
Alvarezsauridae indet.IndeterminateBayan MandahuAn articulated series of partial anterior cervical vertebrae, an anterior cervical vertebra, isolated fragmentary anterior caudal vertebrae, a partial scapula, and pedal phalanges.[5] An unnamed parvicursorine alvarezsaurid.
LinhenykusL. monodactylusWuliangsuhai Cervical vertebrae, dorsal vertebrae, sacral vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, a scapulocoracoid, a sternum, much of the forelimbs, a partial pelvis, nearly complete hindlimbs, and some unidentified fragments.[6] A monodactyl parvicursorine alvarezsaurid.

Ankylosaurs

Genus Species Location Material Notes Images
PinacosaurusP. grangeriBayan Mandahu[Four] juvenile specimens consisting of skulls, manidibles, cervical half-rings and almost complete skeletons, and an incomplete subadult skull.[7] A basal ankylosaurine ankylosaurid also known from the Djadochta Formation.
P. mephistocephalusBayan MandahuA nearly complete articulated skeleton, with in situ cervical dermal armour and tail-club, that lies in a natural with limb bones doubled under the body.[8] A basal ankylosaurine ankylosaurid.

Ceratopsians

Genus Species Location Material Notes Images
GenusSpeciesLocationMaterialNotesImages
BagaceratopsB. rozhdestvenskyiBayan MandahuA partial skull.[9] A protoceratopsid also known from the Barun Goyot Formation and possibly the Djadochta Formation.
MagnirostrisM. dodsoniBayan MandahuA partial skull.A protoceratopsid now considered synonym of Bagaceratops.
ProtoceratopsP. hellenikorhinusBayan MandahuSkulls and sparse body remains from multiple individuals.[10] [11] A protoceratopsid.
Udanoceratops?IndeterminateBayan Mandahu"Nearly 1 meter long skull."A giant leptoceratopsid. Reported remains probably represent Protoceratops hellenikorhinus.[12]

Dromaeosaurs

Genus Species Location Material Notes Images
LinheraptorL. exquisitus[13] WuliangsuhaiA skull, cervical vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, a scapula, a humerus, a radius, metacarpals, manual phalanxes, sternal plate, a pubis, a femur, a tibiotarsus, metatarsals, and pedal phalanxes.A possible velociraptorine dromaeosaurid.
VelociraptorV. osmolskae[14] Bayan MandahuA paired maxillae and left lacrimal.A velociraptorine dromaeosaurid.

Oviraptorosaurs

Genus Species Location Material Notes Images
MachairasaurusM. leptonychusBayan MandahuA nearly complete articulated right forearm and manus, pedal phalanges, manual phalanges, caudal vertebrae, dorsal ribs, chevrons, and fragments of metatarsals III and IV.A heyuanniine oviraptorid.
Oviraptoridae indet.IndeterminateBayan Mandahu"Partial individual sitting atop an egg clutch."[16] An oviraptorid that represent the second nesting oviraptorid. Sometimes referred to Machairasaurus.[17]
WulatelongW. gobiensis[18] WuliangsuhaiA partial skull, dorsal vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, partial scapulocoracoids, a partial sternum, a partial humerus, an incomplete manus, a nearly complete pelvic girdle, and the right hindlimb.A basal oviraptorid oviraptorosaur.

Troodontids

Genus Species Location Material Notes Images
Linhevenator[19] L. taniWuliangsuhaiA skull and mandible, anterior dorsal vertebrae, middle dorsal vertebrae, a scapula, a humerus, incomplete ischia, a femur, nearly complete pes, and other fragmentary bones.A troodontid with short forearms.
PapiliovenatorP. neimengguensisBayan MandahuAn almost complete skull, cervical vertebrae, anterior dorsal vertebrae, partial scapulae, partial coracoid, fragmentary pelvic girdle, partial humeri, ulna, radius, partial manus, femur, tibia, fibula, pes, and a pedal phalanx II-3.[20] A troodontid that is part of a clade that includes all other Late Cretaceous troodontids except Almas.
PhilovenatorP. curriei[21] WuliangsuhaiA nearly complete femur, a partial tibia, a partial fibula, astragalus-calcaneum complex, distal tarsals, metatarsals, and pedal phalanges.A troodontid.

Tyrannosaurs

See also

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. Godefroit . Pascal . Currie, Philip J. . Li Hong . Shang Chang Yong . Dong Zhi-ming . 2008 . A new species of Velociraptor (Dinosauria: Dromaeosauridae) from the Upper Cretaceous of northern China . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology . 28 . 2 . 432–438 . 10.1671/0272-4634(2008)28[432:ANSOVD]2.0.CO;2.
  2. Jerzykiewicz. T.. Currie. P. J.. Eberth. D. A.. Johnston. P. A.. Koster. E. H.. Zheng. J.-J.. 1993. Djadokhta Formation correlative strata in Chinese Inner Mongolia: an overview of the stratigraphy, sedimentary geology, and paleontology and comparisons with the type locality in the pre-Altai Gobi. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. 30. 10. 2180−2195. 1993CaJES..30.2180J. 10.1139/e93-190.
  3. Brinkman. D. B.. Tong. H.-Y.. Li. H.. Sun. Y.. Zhang. J.-S.. Godefroit. P.. Zhang. Z.-M.. 2015. New exceptionally well-preserved specimens of "Zangerlia" neimongolensis from Bayan Mandahu, Inner Mongolia, and their taxonomic significance. Comptes Rendus Palevol. 14. 6–7. 577−587. 10.1016/j.crpv.2014.12.005. free. 2015CRPal..14..577B .
  4. John R. Wible . Sarah L. Shelley . Shundong Bi . 2019 . New Genus and Species of Djadochtatheriid Multituberculate (Allotheria, Mammalia) from the Upper Cretaceous Bayan Mandahu Formation of Inner Mongolia . Annals of Carnegie Museum . 85 . 4 . 285–327 . 10.2992/007.085.0401 . 210840006 .
  5. Pittman. M.. Xu. X.. Stiegler. J. B.. 2015. The taxonomy of a new parvicursorine alvarezsauroid specimen IVPP V20341 (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous Wulansuhai Formation of Bayan Mandahu, Inner Mongolia, China. PeerJ. 3. e986. 10.7717/peerj.986. free. 4465946. 26082871.
  6. Xu . Xing . Sullivan, Corwin . Pittman, Michael . Choiniere, Jonah N. . Hone, David W.E. . Upchurch, Paul . Tan, Qingwei . Xiao, Dong . Lin, Tan . Han Fenglu . 2011 . A monodactyl nonavian dinosaur and the complex evolution of the alvarezsauroid hand . Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America . 108 . 6 . 2338–2342 . 10.1073/pnas.1011052108 . 21262806 . 3038769. 2011PNAS..108.2338X . free .
  7. Burns. Michael. Arbour. Victoria. Sissons. Robin. Currie. Philip. Juvenile specimens of Pinacosaurus grangeri Gilmore, 1933 (Ornithischia: Ankylosauria) from the Late Cretaceous of China, with comments on the specific taxonomy of Pinacosaurus. Cretaceous Research. 2011. 32. 2011. 174–186. 10.1016/j.cretres.2010.11.007. 2011CrRes..32..174B .
  8. Godefroit. P.. Pereda-Suberbiola. X.. Li. H.. Dong. Z. M.. 1999. A new species of the ankylosaurid dinosaur Pinacosaurus from the Late Cretaceous of Inner Mongolia (P.R. China). Bulletin de l'Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Sciences de la Terre. 69. supp. B. 17–36.
  9. Czepiński. Ł.. 2019. Ontogeny and variation of a protoceratopsid dinosaur Bagaceratops rozhdestvenskyi from the Late Cretaceous of the Gobi Desert. Historical Biology. 32. 10. 1394–1421. 10.1080/08912963.2019.1593404. 132780322. 2021-03-03. 2021-07-08. https://web.archive.org/web/20210708144840/http://dinosaurmailinglist.cmnh.org/2019Apr/pdfzmfpMk1aO4.pdf. dead.
  10. Chen X, Tan K, Lu L, Ji S . Occurrence of Protoceratops hellenikorhinus (Ceratopsia: Protoceratopsidae) in Alxa region, western Inner Mongolia, China . 2022 . Acta Geologica Sinica . 96 . 11 . 3722–3732 . 10.19762/j.cnki.dizhixuebao.2022302 .
  11. Lambert. O.. Godefroit. P.. Li. H.. Shang. C.-Y.. Dong. Z.. 2001. A new Species of Protoceratops (Dinosauria, Neoceratopsia) from the Late Cretaceous of Inner Mongolia (P. R. China). Bulletin de l'Institut Royal des Sciences Naturelles de Belgique, Sciences de la Terre. 71. 5−28.
  12. Czepiński. Ł.. 2020. New protoceratopsid specimens improve the age correlation of the Upper Cretaceous Gobi Desert strata. Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 65. 3. 481−497. 10.4202/app.00701.2019. free.
  13. Xu. Xing. Choiniere. Jonah N.. Pittman. Michael. Tan. Qingwei. Xiao. Dong. Li. Zhiquan. Tan. Lin. Clark. James M.. Norell. Mark A.. Hone. David W. E.. Sullivan. Corwin. 2010-03-19. A new dromaeosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous Wulansuhai Formation of Inner Mongolia, China. Zootaxa. en. 2403. 1. 1–9. 10.11646/zootaxa.2403.1.1. 1175-5334. 10722/154755. 15665202. free.
  14. Godefroit . Pascal . Currie . Philip J. . Li . Hong . Shang . Chang Yong . Dong . Zhi-ming . 2008 . A new species of Velociraptor (Dinosauria: Dromaeosauridae) from the Upper Cretaceous of northern China . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology . 28 . 2 . 432–438 . 10.1671/0272-4634(2008)28[432:ANSOVD]2.0.CO;2.
  15. Nicholas R. Longrich . Philip J. Currie . Dong Zhi-Ming . 2010 . A new oviraptorid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of Bayan Mandahu, Inner Mongolia . Palaeontology . 53 . 5 . 945–960 . 10.1111/j.1475-4983.2010.00968.x. free . 2010Palgy..53..945L .
  16. Dong. Z.. Currie. P. J.. 1996. On the discovery of an oviraptorid skeleton on a nest of eggs at Bayan Mandahu, Inner Mongolia, People's Republic of China. Canadian Journal of Earth Sciences. 33. 4. 631−636. 1996CaJES..33..631D. 10.1139/e96-046.
  17. Fanti. F.. Currie. P. J.. Badamgarav. D.. Lalueza-Fox. C.. 2012. New specimens of Nemegtomaia from the Baruungoyot and Nemegt Formations (Late Cretaceous) of Mongolia. PLOS ONE. 7. 2. e31330. 2012PLoSO...731330F. 10.1371/journal.pone.0031330. free. 3275628. 22347465.
  18. Xu Xing. Tan Qing-Wei. Wang Shuo. Corwin Sullivan. David W. E. Hone. Han Feng-Lu. Ma Qing-Yu. Tan Lin. Xiao Dong. amp . 2013 . A new oviraptorid from the Upper Cretaceous of Nei Mongol, China, and its stratigraphic implications . Vertebrata PalAsiatica . 51 . 2 . 85–101 .
  19. Xu. Xing. Tan. Qingwei. Sullivan. Corwin. Han. Fenglu. Xiao. Dong. 2011-09-07. A Short-Armed Troodontid Dinosaur from the Upper Cretaceous of Inner Mongolia and Its Implications for Troodontid Evolution. PLOS ONE. 6. 9. e22916. 10.1371/journal.pone.0022916. 1932-6203. 3168428. 21915256. 2011PLoSO...622916X. free.
  20. Pei . R. . Qin . Yuying . Wen . Aishu . Zhao . Q. . Wang . Z. . Liu . Z. . Guo . W. . Liu . P. . Ye . W. . Wang . L. . Yin . Z. . Dai . R. . Xu. X. . 2021 . A New Troodontid from the Upper Cretaceous Gobi Basin of Inner Mongolia, China . Cretaceous Research . 130 . Article 105052 . 10.1016/j.cretres.2021.105052. 244186762 .
  21. Xu Xing . Zhao Ji . Corwin Sullivan . Tan Qing-Wei . Martin Sander . Ma Qing-Yu . 2012 . The taxonomy of the troodontid IVPP V 10597 reconsidered . Vertebrata PalAsiatica . 50 . 2 . 140–150 .

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