The Tuchengzi Formation (formerly known as Tucheng Conglomerate, from ) is a geological formation in China whose strata span the Tithonian (Late Jurassic) to Berriasian (Early Cretaceous) ages.Liu Y.-Q. Kuang H.-W., Jiang X.-J., Peng N., Xu H. & Sun H.-Y. (2012). "Timing of the earliest known feathered dinosaurs and transitional pterosaurs older than the Jehol Biota." Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology (advance online publication). Dinosaur fossils, particularly footprints, have been found from the formation.Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Jurassic, Asia)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 550–552. .
Fossil content
The Tuchengzi Formation was deposited during a time of transition between the Daohugou Biota and the Jehol biota. The Tuchengzi represents a poorer, more arid climate that appears to have caused much of the Daohugou fauna to become extinct. They would later be replaced by the Jehol biota when conditions became more favorable to a diversity of terrestrial animal life.
Reptiles Indeterminate sauropod remains formerly attributed to the Mamenchisauridae and Brachiosauridae have been found in Liaoning, China. Theropod tracks, including those made by avialans, have been found in Liaoning, China.
Genus Species County Member Abundance Notes ImageOrientognathus O. chaoyangensisChaoyang, Liaoning. "An incomplete skeleton (41HIII-0418)".A rhamphorhynchid pterosaur.ChaoyangsaurusC. youngiLiaoning."Partial skull with mandible, cervicals, humerus, and scapula.""Table 22.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 480.A basal ceratopsian. Grallator Grallator isp. Hebei Footprints belonging to the Grallator form taxon, made by an unknown small theropod. Menglongipus M. sinensis Hebei Footprints belonging to the Menglongipus sinensis form taxon, made by an unknown small (~65 cm long) deinonychosaur
Crustaceans Genus Species County Member Abundance Notes ImageJurapingquaniaC. sp.LiaoningA Clam shrimp
Plants Genus Species County MemberAbundance Notes Images BrachyoxylonB. yanqingense Yanqing District, Beijing.Fossil wood. XenoxylonX. latiporosumYanqing District, Beijing.Fossil wood.X. peidenseYanqing District, Beijing.Fossil wood.
See also List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
References