The Ziliujing Formation (Or Ziliujing Group if the Zhenzhuchong Formation is considered different) is a geological formation in China, It is Early Jurassic in age. It is part of the stratigraphy of the Sichuan Basin. The dinosaur Gongxianosaurus and indeterminate theropod material are known from the Dongyuemiao Member of the formation, as well as dinosaur footprints, Zizhongosaurus and indeterminate prosauropods from the Da'anzhai Member. The basal sauropod Sanpasaurus is known from the Maanshan Member. The basal ornithschian Archaeocursor is known from the formation. A possible unnamed stegosaur and the pliosauroid plesiosaur Sinopliosaurus are also known from this formation but they were found an indeterminate member. An unnamed teleosaurid known from a complete skull has also been found in the formation, pending a formal description. The deposition environment during the Da'anzhai Member in the lower Toarcian is thought to have been that of a giant freshwater lake encompassing the whole of the Sichuan basin, around 3 times larger than Lake Superior, coeval with the Toarcian Oceanic Anoxic Event around 183 Ma. The Sinemurian-Pliensbachian boundary event (192.9 Ma) has been recorded on the top of the Dongyuemiao Member, while lower parts of this member are of Earliest Sinemurian age (around 199 Ma). Finally, the Triassic–Jurassic extinction is widely recorded in the Zhenzhuchong Member.
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Paleofauna
Bivalves Genus Species Location Section Material Notes Images AcuneopsisA. luochengensis Luocheng, Jianwei Dongyuemiao Member Isolated ShellsA freshwater mussel, considered a member of the family Unionidae inside Unionida. Ecological indicator of shallow zone of the big fresh-water lake under a hot climate ApseudocardiniaA. hupehensisXiangxi, ZiguiDongyuemiao MemberIsolated ShellsA freshwater clam, member of the family Pseudocardiniidae inside Trigoniida.CuneopsisC. wanxianensisShizi wan, Weiyuan county Huangshiban, Weiyuan countyMaanshan MemberIsolated ShellsA freshwater mussel, member of the family Unionidae inside Unionida. EolamprotulaL. (Eolamprotula) cremeri Luocheng, Jianwei Dongyuemiao Member Isolated ShellsA freshwater mussel, member of the family Unionidae inside Unionida. LuochengellaL. luochengensisLuocheng, JianweiDongyuemiao MemberIsolated ShellsA freshwater mussel, member of the family Unionidae inside Unionida.ModiolusM. yunnanensis M. sichuanensisShizi wan, Weiyuan county Huangshiban, Weiyuan countyMaanshan MemberIsolated ShellsA freshwater mussel, member of the family Mytilidae inside Mytiloida.PalaeunioU. (Palaeunio) sichuanensis Dakang, ZhongbaDongyuemiao MemberIsolated ShellsA freshwater mussel, member of the family Unionidae inside Unionida.PalaeomargaritiferaM. (Palaeomargaritifera) qianweiensisShizi wan, Weiyuan county Huangshiban, Weiyuan countyMaanshan MemberIsolated ShellsA freshwater mussel, member of the family Margaritiferidae inside Unionida. PseudocardiniaP. inflata P. ventricosa P. elliptica P. aff. yangziensis P. hupehensis P. angulata P. kweichouensis P. carinata Shizi wan, Weiyuan county Huangshiban, Weiyuan county Maanshan Member Isolated ShellsA freshwater clam, member of the family Pseudocardiniidae inside Trigoniida. PsilunioP. thailandicus P. giganteusShizi wan, Weiyuan county Huangshiban, Weiyuan countyMaanshan MemberIsolated ShellsA freshwater mussel, member of the family Unionidae inside Unionida.
Gastropods Genus Species Location Section Material Notes ImagesLioplacodesL. orientalis Yuzhou BiotaDongyuemiao memberShellsA freshwater snail, member of the family Viviparidae
Phyllopods Genus Species Location Section Material Notes ImagesEuestheriaE. taniiformis E. changtanensis E. elegans E. elongata E. khinganensis E. orientalis E. shandanensis E. shandongensis Houchiatsun, sichuan province Potzewan, sichuan province Shizi wan, Weiyuan county Huangshiban, Weiyuan county Luocheng, Jianwei Dakang, Zhongba Xiangxi, ZiguiDongyuemiao member Maanshan member Daanzhai memberValvesA clam shrimp ("conchostracan"), member of the family Lioestheriinae.IliestheriaI. nilkaensis I. xinjiangensis Houchiatsun, sichuan province Potzewan, sichuan province Shizi wan, Weiyuan county Huangshiban, Weiyuan county Luocheng, Jianwei Dakang, Zhongba Xiangxi, ZiguiDongyuemiao member Maanshan member Daanzhai memberValvesA clam shrimp ("conchostracan"), member of the family Triglyptidae.LioestheriaL. shimamurai Houchiatsun, sichuan province Potzewan, sichuan province Shizi wan, Weiyuan county Huangshiban, Weiyuan county Luocheng, Jianwei Dakang, Zhongba Xiangxi, ZiguiDongyuemiao member Maanshan member Daanzhai memberValvesA clam shrimp ("conchostracan"), member of the family Lioestheriinae.LoxomegaglyptaL. dafangensis Houchiatsun, sichuan province Potzewan, sichuan province Shizi wan, Weiyuan county Huangshiban, Weiyuan county Luocheng, Jianwei Dakang, Zhongba Xiangxi, ZiguiDongyuemiao member Maanshan member Daanzhai memberValvesA clam shrimp ("conchostracan"), member of the family Triglyptidae.LoxomicroglyptaL. laohugouensis L. liaoxiensis L. kirgizica Houchiatsun, sichuan province Potzewan, sichuan province Shizi wan, Weiyuan county Huangshiban, Weiyuan county Luocheng, Jianwei Dakang, Zhongba Xiangxi, ZiguiDongyuemiao member Maanshan member Daanzhai memberValvesA clam shrimp ("conchostracan"), member of the family Triglyptidae.OvjuriumO. cf.ubsanuri O. yixianensis Houchiatsun, sichuan province Potzewan, sichuan province Shizi wan, Weiyuan county Huangshiban, Weiyuan county Luocheng, Jianwei Dakang, Zhongba Xiangxi, ZiguiDongyuemiao member Maanshan member Daanzhai memberValvesA clam shrimp ("conchostracan"), member of the family Ovjuridae.PalaeolimnadiaP. baitianbaensis P. acuta P. baoxingensis P. chuanbeiensis P. dachaidanensis P. diannanensis P. dundugobica P. exiensis P. grandis P. guangyuanensis P. intermedia P. hubeiensis P. kangnaiensis P. lingguanensis P. longmenshanensis P. longyinensis P. parva P. menglaensis P. pengxianensis P. rhombica P. semicircularis P. sichuanensis P. subcircularis P. subtriangularis P. venusta P. xiaomeigouensis P. yangziensis Houchiatsun, sichuan province Potzewan, sichuan province Shizi wan, Weiyuan county Huangshiban, Weiyuan county Luocheng, Jianwei Dakang, Zhongba Xiangxi, ZiguiDongyuemiao member Maanshan member Daanzhai memberValvesA clam shrimp ("conchostracan"), member of the family Limnadiidae. The species Palaeolimnadia baitianbaensis represent the main member of its own fauna section, that comprises other 52 species of PhyllopodsPseudolimnadiaP. reticulata P. weixinensis Houchiatsun, sichuan province Potzewan, sichuan province Shizi wan, Weiyuan county Huangshiban, Weiyuan county Luocheng, Jianwei Dakang, Zhongba Xiangxi, ZiguiDongyuemiao member Maanshan member Daanzhai memberValvesA clam shrimp ("conchostracan"), member of the family Limnadiidae. PseudestheriaP. cf. subovata P. tanii Houchiatsun, sichuan province Potzewan, sichuan province Shizi wan, Weiyuan county Huangshiban, Weiyuan county Luocheng, Jianwei Dakang, Zhongba Xiangxi, ZiguiDongyuemiao member Maanshan member Daanzhai memberValvesA clam shrimp ("conchostracan"), member of the family Lioestheriinae.
Insects TypeLocationSectionMaterialMade ByImagesHole Feeding Qilixia section, XuanhanZhenzhuchong MemberCircular to ellipsoidal holes punched through leaf tissueUnknownMargin Feeding Qilixia section, XuanhanZhenzhuchong MemberArc-shaped or irregular excisions along leaf margins and apicesUnknownSurface Feeding Qilixia section, XuanhanZhenzhuchong MemberStrip-like abrasions or abraded lamina surfaces between parallel veinsUnknownPiercing and Sucking Qilixia section, XuanhanZhenzhuchong MemberConcave or convex punctures into the leaf tissue, often with a central depressionUnknownOviposition Qilixia section, XuanhanZhenzhuchong MemberOval to lenticular scars, often oriented parallel to venation or stem axis, with callus tissueUnknownGalling Qilixia section, XuanhanZhenzhuchong MemberRounded to ellipsoid galls on leaf surfaces, rachises or between veinsUnknown
Fish Genus Species Location Section Material Notes ImagesCeratodontiformes indet.Indeteminate Yuzhou BiotaDongyuemiao memberPartial and semicomplete specimens: SSGT TXH132, SSGT THS2716.Incertade SedisCeratodusC. szechuanensis Houchiatsun, sichuan province Weiyuan, SzechuanMaanshan MemberIsolated tooth platesA Lungfish of the family Ceratodontidae.Ginglymodi indet.Indeteminate Yuzhou BiotaDongyuemiao memberSeveral complete specimens: SSGT JK062, SSGT L01-HY892, SSGT JK004Incertade SedisHybodontiformes indet.Indeteminate Yuzhou BiotaDongyuemiao member Dorsal fin-spine, SSGT L01-HY224 Tooth, SSGT TX01 Coprolites SSGT CQ-YF02, SSGT CQ-YF04, SSGT L01-HY1011, SSGT L01-HY283Incertade SedisLepidotesL. chunkingensis L. luchowensis L. minor Houchiatsun, sichuan province Potzewan, sichuan provinceMaanshan MemberComplete Specimens Isolated Scales Isolated TeethA member of the family Lepidotidae.Ptycholepiformes indet.Indeteminate Yuzhou BiotaDongyuemiao memberComplete specimen, SSGT JK029Incertade SedisSinoceratodus S. fortunus Yuzhou Biota Dongyuemiao Member SSGT L01-HY-661, SSGT L01-HY-855, THS2715A Lungfish of the group Ceratodontoidei. Teleostei indet.Indeteminate Yuzhou BiotaDongyuemiao memberComplete specimens, SSGT L01-HY269-2, SSGT L01-HY749, SSGT JXL1062Incertade Sedis
Plesiosaurs Genus Species Location Section Material Notes ImagesBishanopliosaurusB. youngi Bishan county, sichuan province Yuzhou Biota Dongyuemiao MemberIVPP V 5869, an incomplete postcranial skeleton of a young individual Referred SSGT T035, SSGT C078, SSGT JHSY60A plesiosaur, considered a member of the family Rhomaleosauridae. An unusual freshwater plesiosaur linked to the large Sichuan Lake system developed locally. SinopliosaurusS. weiyuanensis Houchiatsun, sichuan province Potzewan, sichuan province Maanshan Member IVPP V.140, isolated remains IVPP V.229, V.157, several isolated remainsA plesiosaur, considered a member of the family Pliosauridae. Likely an invalid genus of freshwater pliosaur
Testudinata Genus Species Location Section Material Notes Images Chelonipus cf.C. isp. Yaocun tracksite Maanshan Member Footprints Potentially the largest turtle tracks currently known from China and an example of one of the earliest known globally Testudinata indet.Indeterminate Houchiatsun, sichuan province Weiyuan, Szechuan Dongyuemiao Member Maanshan Member Fragments of ShellsTurtle remains of uncertain affinity. The only major turtle remains recovered in this unit. This along some undescribed shell fragments from the Lower Jurassic of Sichuan appear to represent the first documented occurrence of the fossil Testudines in China
Crocodylomorphs Genus Species Location Section Material Notes ImagesTeleosaurinae indet.Indeterminate Daxian, Szechuan Dongyuemiao Member IVPP V 10098, a complete skullA teleosaur, considered a member of the family Teleosaurinae. An unusual freshwater teleosauroid, previously referred Peipehsuchus teleorhinus. Teleosaurus?T.? sp. Tatsu, Chongqing Dongyuemiao Member Single scuteA teleosaur, considered a member of the family Teleosaurinae.
Dinosaurs Ornithischians Genus Species Location Section Material Notes AnomoepusA. isp. Wucha Village Yuanbaoqing tracksite, Guizhou Province Maanshan Member FootprintsOrnithischian footprintsArchaeocursor A. asiaticus Chongqing Central ParkDongyuemiao MemberNearly complete left femur, SSGT L01-HY999An early ornithischianOrnithopoda indet.Indeterminate Hulukou, HuangshibanMaanshan MemberIsolated RemainsIncertade SedisThyreophora? indet.Stegosauria? Indet. "Gen. indet. imperfectus" Changshanling, Potzewan Kuantsaishan, Houchiatsun Maanshan MemberIVPP V.219, four fragments of spines