Qingtoushan Formation Explained

Qingtoushan Formation
Type:Geological formation
Age:Middle Permian,
Period:Roadian
Otherlithology:Mudstone
Namedby:Liu et al
Region:Gansu
Country: China
Underlies:Sunan Formation
Overlies:Yaogou Formation
Thickness:Over 300 metres
Extent:Qilian Mountains
Year Ts:2012

The Qingtoushan Formation is a Middle Permian-age geologic formation in the Qilian Mountains of Gansu, China. It is known for its diverse tetrapod fauna known as the Dashankou fauna, which likely dates to the Roadian, and includes some of the oldest known therapsids.[1] This formation was previously erroneously named as the Xidagou Formation, a name which applies to otherwise Triassic strata in the northern Qillian Mountains. The formation is over 300 metres thick, and primarily consists of purple-red coarse sandstones, with minor purple mudstone.[2]

Paleobiota

Synapsida

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
Biseridens[3] B. qilianicusA well-preserved skullAn anomodont
Sinophoneus[4] S. yumenensisA single skull (GMV 1601) An anteosaurid dinocephalian
StenocybusS. acidentatusA skull (IGCAGS V 361) and fragmentary jaw bonesJr. synonym of Sinophoneus yumenensis
RaranimusR. dashankouensisDashankou localityA partial skullA basal therapsid.

Sauropsida

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
BelebeyB. zhengiA bolosaurid parareptile
GansurhinusG. qingtoushanensisA captorhinid

Chronisuchia

GenusSpeciesLocationStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImages
PhratochronisP. qilianensisA Chroniosuchid
IngentidensI. corridoricusA Chroniosuchid

Temnospondyli

Notes and References

  1. Duhamel. A.. Benoit. J.. Rubidge. B. S.. Liu. J.. August 2021. A re-assessment of the oldest therapsid Raranimus confirms its status as a basal member of the clade and fills Olson's gap. The Science of Nature. en. 108. 4. 26. 10.1007/s00114-021-01736-y. 34115204 . 235403632 . 0028-1042.
  2. Liu J, Qinghua S, Keqin S, Lu L (2012) The horizon of Dashankou Fauna and the Permo-Triassic strata in northern Qilian area, China. Vertebr Palasiat 50(4):373–381 (In Chinese)
  3. Liu . J. . Rubidge . B. . Li . J. . 2009 . A new specimen of Biseridens qilianicus indicates its phylogenetic position as the most basal anomodont . Proceedings of the Royal Society B . 19640887 . 277 . 1679 . 2842672 . 285–292 . 10.1098/rspb.2009.0883.
  4. Kammerer . C.F. . 2011 . Systematics of the Anteosauria (Therapsida: Dinocephalia) . Journal of Systematic Palaeontology . 9 . 2 . 261–304 . 10.1080/14772019.2010.492645. 84799772 .