Nanxiong Formation Explained

Nanxiong Formation
Type:Geological formation
Age:Maastrichtian
Period:Maastrichtian
Prilithology:Sandstone, siltstone, mudstone
Otherlithology:Limestone, conglomerate
Region:Guangdong Province
Coordinates:23.5°N 114.9°W
Paleocoordinates:23.8°N 110.5°W
Underlies:Shanghu Formation
Overlies:Jurassic granite basement, Changba Formation (Nanxiong Group)
Thickness:~300m (1,000feet)
Several kilometers (Nanxiong Group)
Extent:Nanxiong Basin

The Nanxiong Formation (also known as Yuanpu Formation) is a Late Cretaceous geologic formation in Guangdong Province. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.

Description

It consists of continental siliciclastic red beds, with fauna which similar to that of the Nemegt Formation. It has been dated to about 66.7 ± 0.3 million years ago.[1] It is the lowest unit of the Nanxiong Basin, a small graben created during Mesozoic rifting.[2] Buck et al. state that it overlies Jurassic granite basement, and is conformably overlain by the Shanghu Formation. Alternative stratigraphic schemes for the Nanxiong basin have been proposed,[3] one of which refers to the Nanxiong succession as the Nanxiong Group, and dividing it into the Yuanfu, Zhutian and Zhenshui formations, and overlying the Albian to Turonian Changba Formation.

Paleobiota of the Nanxiong Formation

Lizards
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Chianghsia[5] C. nankangensisA partial skull and lower jawsA monstersaurian lizard
Tianyusaurus[6] T. zhengiA skull, mandible, first eight cervical vertebrae and nearly complete pectoral girdlesA polyglyphanodontian lizard, also known from the Qiupa Formation
Turtles
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Jiangxichelys[7] J. ganzhouensisA complete shellA nanhsiungchelyid turtle
Nanhsiungchelys[8] N. wuchingensisA partial skeletonA nanhsiungchelyid turtle[9]
OolithesO. elongatus, O. nanhsiungensis, O. rugustus and O. spheroides.Egg and egg clutches. Some of these were probably laid by Nanhsiungchelys.Turtle and/or theropod eggs

Dinosaurs

Ornithischians

Hadrosaurs of the Nanxiong Formation
Genus Species Material Notes Images
MicrohadrosaurusM. nanshiungensisPartial lower jaw from a juvenile that was about 2.6 m longA nomen dubium hadrosaur taxon.[10]
Hadrosauropodus isp.IndeterminateThree-toed footprintsA hadrosaur
Sauropods of the Nanxiong Formation
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Gannansaurus[11] G. sinensisA single, nearly complete dorsal vertebra and a mid-caudal vertebraA sauropod closely related to Euhelopus
Jiangxititan[12] J. ganzhouensisThe three posteriormost cervical vertebrae with two cervical ribs, articulated with the first four dorsal vertebrae with three dorsal ribsA somphospondylan of controversial affinities; originally described as a derived lognkosaurian titanosaur, later analyses recovered a more basal, non-titanosaurian position more likely.[13]

Theropods

Oviraptorosaurs of the Nanxiong Formation
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Banji[14] B. longNearly complete skull and lower jawAn oviraptorid
Corythoraptor[15] C. jacobsiNearly complete skeleton including the skull and lower jawAn oviraptorid with a distinct cassowary-like crest
Elongatoolithidae indet.IndeterminateThree eggs with embryonic remains.[16] Oviraptorid eggs
Ganzhousaurus[17] G. nankangensisLower jaw, leg bone, hip bone and caudal vertebraeA transitional oviraptorid with both basal and derived traits
Huanansaurus[18] H. ganzhouensisNearly complete skull, lower jaws, neck vertebrae, a humerus, arm fragments, lower part of the right thighbone, the upper part of the right shinbone, and parts of the right footAn oviraptorid
Jiangxisaurus[19] J. ganzhouensisIncomplete skull, lower jaw, vertebrae, nearly complete pectoral girdle, the left forelimb, ribs, and a partially preserved pelvic girdleAn oviraptorid
MacroolithusIndeterminateFive egg clutches containing over 60 eggs.[20] Oviraptorid eggs
IndeterminateThree eggs with embryonic remains.[21] Oviraptorid eggs
M. yaotunensisTwo eggs with embryonic remains.[22] Oviraptorid eggs. Skeletal proportions resemble Heyuannia huangi
M. yaotunensisA nest of 24 eggs associated with an adult oviraptorid.Oviraptorid eggs
Nankangia[23] N. jiangxiensisA partial lower jaw, vertebrae, both scapulocoracoids, a nearly complete right humerus, pubic bones, and some dorsal ribsAn oviraptorid
Oviraptoridae indet.IndeterminateA female individual preserving the pelvic girdle, some caudals and two eggs inside the abdominal cavity.[24] A pregnant oviraptorid
IndeterminateA nesting adult over a nest of eggs, preserving cervical vertebrae, arms and the pelvic region.[25] An oviraptorid that represents the fifth nesting taxon
IndeterminateA female individual preserving a partial pelvic girdle, hindlimbs and some caudals with two eggs associated near the pelvic region.[26] A pregnant oviraptorid
Shixinggia[27] S. oblitaSparse postcranial remains lacking the skullAn oviraptorid
Tongtianlong[28] T. limosusAlmost complete skeleton, portions of the arms, right leg, and tail were destroyed by TNT blastsAn oviraptorid, the pose indicates that it may have died trying to free itself from mud
Therizinosaurs
Tyrannosaurs of the Nanxiong Formation
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Asiatyrannus[31] A. xuiA skull, partial legs, and fragmentary caudal vertebraeA small-bodied tyrannosaurine
Qianzhousaurus[32] Q. sinensisA skull, lower jaw, vertebrae, both scapulocoracoids, a left femur and a left tibiaA tyrannosaurid, could represent a third species of Alioramus[33]
Tyrannosauridae indet.IndeterminateTwo isolated teeth.A tyrannosaurid
IndeterminateLarge and well-preserved tooth.A tyrannosaurid
Other Theropods
Genus Species Material Notes Images
Theropoda indet.IndeterminateA maxillary tooth that differs from tyrannosaurid and carcharodontosaurid dentition.[34] A notably large theropod
IndeterminateIsolated dorsal vertebra.A theropod

See also

Notes and References

  1. Buck. B. J.. Hanson. A. D.. Hengst. R. A.. Shu-sheng. H.. 2004. "Tertiary Dinosaurs" in the Nanxiong Basin, Southern China, Are Reworked from the Cretaceous. The Journal of Geology. 112. 1. 111–118. 2004JG....112..111B. 10.1086/379695. 12866840.
  2. Book: Lucas. Spencer G.. https://books.google.com/books?id=yF4fCgAAQBAJ&q=nanxiong+formation&pg=PA14. Lower and Middle Cretaceous Terrestrial Ecosystems: Bulletin 14. Kirkland. James I.. Estep. John W.. 1998. New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science. 14. en. Vertebrate biostratigraphy and biochronology of the Cretaceous of China.
  3. Yan. Yi. Xia. Bin. Lin. Ge. Cui. Xuejun. Hu. Xiaoqiong. Yan. Pin. Zhang. Faqiang. April 2007. Geochemistry of the sedimentary rocks from the Nanxiong Basin, South China and implications for provenance, paleoenvironment and paleoclimate at the K/T boundary. https://web.archive.org/web/20200721225133/https://d1wqtxts1xzle7.cloudfront.net/33882154/1%E7%BB%88%E7%A8%BFSEDGEO3727.pdf?1402014267=&response-content-disposition=inline%3B+filename%3DGeochemistry_of_the_sedimentary_rocks_fr.pdf&Expires=1595373478&Signature=PUW2lmHY2SBo1vo~HuFe59lkzKQDnnPoz3XexKD6a-9Rh75RiJJ25FjkA-3cYLXhZvhzUMnC87Vh0lTNSZ1W6feAcnfuHBzxXn-NMepfjObNwkicoLrGl97~2BgSD9VwViLFJSJBHEJU9h0CU6wLOHgnRptoZ9a4-A4YeEycnmdSAr6-3~KQ8t~PjeRzXx5~zv86JCq0VawqusN36uKMZEmWr~G2b~K6H3wn91fuTk4sZFdpVexYnHDXF3fym8Hx0htV3gNJvkCJVXFypX65cKz0Yhplonas6B6S9BUbONEiP5FPC8bmYSyrmu4Ozy-Ao98CqwFh4Y090-ocdzu7FQ__&Key-Pair-Id=APKAJLOHF5GGSLRBV4ZA. dead. 2020-07-21. Sedimentary Geology. 197. 1–2. 127–140. 10.1016/j.sedgeo.2006.09.004. 2007SedG..197..127Y. 0037-0738.
  4. Chun Li . Xiao-chun Wu . Scott Rufolo . 2018 . A new crocodyloid (Eusuchia: Crocodylia) from the Upper Cretaceous of China . Cretaceous Research . 94. 25–39. 10.1016/j.cretres.2018.09.015 . 133661294 .
  5. Mo . J. Y. . Xu . X. . Evans . S. E. . 10.1080/14772019.2011.588254 . A large predatory lizard (Platynota, Squamata) from the Late Cretaceous of South China . Journal of Systematic Palaeontology . 10 . 2 . 333 . 2012 . 2012JSPal..10..333M . 85682211 .
  6. Jun-chang Lü . Shu-an Ji . Zhi-ming Dong . Xiao-chun Wu . 2008 . An Upper Cretaceous lizard with a lower temporal arcade . Naturwissenschaften . 95 . 7 . 663–669 . 10.1007/s00114-008-0364-1 . 2008NW.....95..663L . 18338150. 22544904 .
  7. Haiyan Tong . Jinyou Mo . 2010 . Jiangxichelys, a new nanhsiungchelyid turtle from the Late Cretaceous of Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province, China . Geological Magazine . 147 . 6 . 981–986 . 10.1017/S0016756810000671 . 14 January 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110711015906/http://www.foreignpolicybulletinmonitor.com/action/displayAbstract?fromPage=online&aid=7908884&fulltextType=RC&fileId=S0016756810000671 . 11 July 2011 . 2010GeoM..147..981T . 131484464 .
  8. H.-k. Yeh. 1966. A new Cretaceous turtle of Nanhsiung, northern Kwangtung. Vertebrata PalAsiatica
  9. Tong. H.. Li. L.. 2019. A revision of the holotype of Nanhsiungchelys wuchingensis, Ye, 1966 (Testudines: Cryptodira: Trionychoidae: Nanhsiungchelyidae). Cretaceous Research. 95. 151−163. 10.1016/j.cretres.2018.11.003. 2019CrRes..95..151T . 311034/9424. 133937906 .
  10. Xing. L.. Lockley. M. G.. Li. D.. Klein. H.. Ye. Y.. Scott Persons IV. W.. Ran. H.. 2017. Late Cretaceous ornithopod-dominated, theropod, and pterosaur track assemblages from the Nanxiong Basin, China: New discoveries, ichnotaxonomy, and paleoecology. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 466. 303−313. 2017PPP...466..303X. 10.1016/j.palaeo.2016.11.035.
  11. Junchang Lü . Laiping Yi . Hui Zhong . Xuefang Wei . 2013 . A New Somphospondylan Sauropod (Dinosauria, Titanosauriformes) from the Late Cretaceous of Ganzhou, Jiangxi Province of Southern China . Acta Geologica Sinica (English Edition) . 87 . 3 . 678–685 . 10.1111/1755-6724.12079. 2013AcGlS..87..678L . 140623061 .
  12. Mo . Jin-You . Fu . Qiong-Yao . Yu . Yi-Lun . Xu . Xing . 2023-09-21 . A New Titanosaurian Sauropod from the Upper Cretaceous of Jiangxi Province, Southern China . Historical Biology . en . 1–15 . 10.1080/08912963.2023.2259413 . 0891-2963. free .
  13. 10.1080/14772019.2023.2293038. 22. 1. Han. Fenglu. Yang. Ling. Lou. Fasheng. Sullivan. Corwin. Xu. Xing. Qiu. Wenjiang. Liu. Hanfeng. Yu. Juan. Wu. Rui. Ke. Yuzheng. Xu. Mengyuan. Hu. Jinfeng. A new titanosaurian sauropod, Gandititan cavocaudatus gen. et sp. nov., from the Late Cretaceous of southern China. Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 2024-01-17. 2024JSPal..2293038H.
  14. Xu . X. . Han . F.-L. . 2010 . A new oviraptorid dinosaur (Theropoda: Oviraptorosauria) from the Upper Cretaceous of China . Vertebrata PalAsiatica . 48 . 1. 11–18 .
  15. Lü . J. . Li, G. Kundrát, M. . Lee, Y. . Zhenyuan, S. . Yoshitsugu, K.. Caizhi, S. . Fangfang, T. . Hanfeng, L . 2017. High diversity of the Ganzhou Oviraptorid Fauna increased by a new "cassowary-like" crested species. 10.1038/s41598-017-05016-6. 28751667 . 5532250 . Scientific Reports. 7. 1 . 6393 . 2017NatSR...7.6393L .
  16. Wang. S.. Zhang. S.. Sullivan. C.. Xu. X.. 2016. Elongatoolithid eggs containing oviraptorid (Theropoda, Oviraptorosauria) embryos from the Upper Cretaceous of Southern China. BMC Evolutionary Biology. 16. 67. 67. 10.1186/s12862-016-0633-0. free. 4807547. 27012653. 2016BMCEE..16...67W .
  17. Wang . S. . Sun . C. . Sullivan . C. . Xu . X. . A new oviraptorid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Upper Cretaceous of southern China . 10.11646/zootaxa.3640.2.7 . Zootaxa . 3640 . 2 . 242–57 . 2013 . 26000415. 28527553 .
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  21. Yang. T.-R.. Engler. T.. Lallensack. J. N.. Samathi. A.. Makowska. M.. Schillinger. B.. 2019. Hatching Asynchrony in Oviraptorid Dinosaurs Sheds Light on Their Unique Nesting Biology. Integrative Organismal Biology. 1. 1. obz030. 10.1093/iob/obz030. 33791544. 7671163. free.
  22. Cheng. Y.-N.. Ji. Q.. Wu. X.-C.. Shan. H.-Y.. 2008. Oviraptorosaurian Eggs (Dinosauria) with Embryonic Skeletons Discovered for the First Time in China. Acta Geologica Sinica. 82. 6. 1089–1094. 10.1111/j.1755-6724.2008.tb00708.x. 2008AcGlS..82.1089Y . 140202077 .
  23. Lü . J. . Yi . L. . Zhong . H. . Wei . X. . Dodson. Peter. A New Oviraptorosaur (Dinosauria: Oviraptorosauria) from the Late Cretaceous of Southern China and Its Paleoecological Implications . 10.1371/journal.pone.0080557 . PLOS ONE . 8 . 11 . e80557 . 2013 . 24312233. 3842309 . 2013PLoSO...880557L. free .
  24. T.. Sato. Y.-N.. Cheng. X.-C.. Wu. D. K.. Zelenitsky. Y.-F.. Hsiao. 2005. A Pair of Shelled Eggs Inside A Female Dinosaur. Science. 308. 5720. 375. 10.1126/science.1110578. 15831749. 19470371.
  25. Bi. S.. Amiot. R.. Peyre de Fabrègues. C.. Pittman. M.. Lamanna. M. C.. Yu. Y.. Yu. C.. Yang. T.. Zhang. S.. Zhao. Q.. Xu. X.. 2020. An oviraptorid preserved atop an embryo-bearing egg clutch sheds light on the reproductive biology of non-avialan theropod dinosaurs. Science Bulletin. 66. 9. 947–954. 10.1016/j.scib.2020.12.018. 36654242 . free.
  26. Jin. X.. Varricchio. D. J.. Poust. A. W.. He. T.. 2020. An oviraptorosaur adult-egg association from the Cretaceous of Jiangxi Province, China. Science. 39. 6. e1739060. 10.1080/02724634.2019.1739060. 219447073.
  27. Lü. J. C.. Zhang. B. K.. 2005. A new oviraptorid (Theropoda: Oviraptorosauria) from the Upper Cretaceous of the Nanxiong Basin, Guangdong Province of southern China. Acta Palaeontologica Sinica. 44. 412−422.
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  29. Book: Dong. Z.. 1979. Mesozoic and Cenozoic Redbeds in Southern China. Cretaceous dinosaur fossils in southern China. Cretaceous dinosaurs of the Huanan (south China). Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology. Nanjing Institute of Paleontology. Science Press. Beijing. 342–350. zh. Translated paper
  30. L. E.. Zanno. 2010. A taxonomic and phylogenetic re-evaluation of Therizinosauria (Dinosauria: Maniraptora). Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 8. 4. 503–543. 10.1080/14772019.2010.488045. 2010JSPal...8..503Z . 53405097.
  31. Zheng . Wenjie . Jin . Xingsheng . Xie . Junfang . Du . Tianming . 2024-07-25 . The first deep-snouted tyrannosaur from Upper Cretaceous Ganzhou City of southeastern China . . en . 14 . 1 . 10.1038/s41598-024-66278-5 . 2045-2322. free . 11272791 .
  32. Lü . Junchang . Yi . Laiping . Brusatte . Stephen L. . Yang . Ling . Li . Hua . Chen . Liu . 2014 . A new clade of Asian Late Cretaceous long-snouted tyrannosaurids . Nature Communications . 5 . 3788 . 10.1038/ncomms4788 . 24807588 . free . 2014NatCo...5.3788L .
  33. Carr. Thomas D.. Varricchio. David J.. Sedlmayr. Jayc C.. Roberts. Eric M.. Moore. Jason R.. A new tyrannosaur with evidence for anagenesis and crocodile-like facial sensory system. Scientific Reports. 2017. 7. 44942. 10.1038/srep44942. 28358353. 5372470. 2017NatSR...744942C.
  34. Mo. J.-Y.. Xu. X.. 2015. Large theropod teeth from the Upper Cretaceous of Jiangxi, southern China. Vertebrata PalAsiatica. 53. 1. 63−72.

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