The Gaogou Formation is a fossiliferous geological formation located in the Xixia Basin of China. The formation dates back to the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Coniacian) and fossilized eggs of dinosaurs and turtles are commonly reported from the formation. Dinosaur taxa are also reported from the unit.
Paleobiota of the Gaogou Formation
Dinosaurs Genus Species Location Stratigraphic Position Material Notes Images Baotianmansaurus B. henanensis Neixiang "Partial vertebrae and scapula." A titanosauriform. Beibeilong B. sinensis Heimaogou "Embryonic skeleton with associated partial nest." A large caenagnathid.
Eggs Genus Species Location Stratigraphic Position Material Notes Images Dendroolithus D. xichuanensis Xichuan "Eggshell fragments and collapsed eggs." Dendroolithid eggs laid by ornithopods, sauropod or theropods. Indeterminate Xixia "Intact eggs and egg clutches." Dendroolithid eggs laid by ornithopods, sauropod or theropods. Dictyoolithus D. neixiangensis Xixia Not specified. Dictyoolithid eggs. Faveoloolithus Indeterminate Nanxiang "Single egg." Faveoloolithid egg. Macroelongatoolithus M. xixiaensis Heimaogou "Partial nest of 6-8 eggs, and eggshell fragments." Elongatoolithid eggs laid by Beibeilong. M. xixiaensis Neixiang, Xixia "Isolated eggs and complete egg clutches." Elongatoolithid eggs laid by caenagnathids. Neixiangoolithus N. yani Neixiang "Multiple egg clutches." Testudoolithid eggs laid by a turtle. Paraspheroolithus P. cf. irenensis Xixia "Complete egg clutches." Spheroolithid eggs. Placoolithus P. tumiaolingensis Yunxian "Several eggs and egg clutches." Dendroolithid eggs laid by ornithopods, sauropod or theropods. Prismatoolithus P. gebiensis Neixiang, Xixia "Several egg clutches." Prismatoolithid eggs laid by troodontids. Youngoolithus Y. xiaguanensis Xixia "Clutch with 4 eggs." Youngoolithid eggs.
Flora Genus Species Location Stratigraphic Position Material Notes Images Araucariaceae indet. Indeterminate Xixia "Amber pieces." A conifer. Plantae indet. Indeterminate Not specified. Upper Member "Rhizoliths." Root traces.
Invertebrates Genus Species Location Stratigraphic Position Material Notes Images Beaconites B. antarcticus Not specified. Upper Member "Horizontal-overtical, straight to slightly curved, single, lined, meniscate burrows." Invertebrate traces. B. capronus Not specified. Upper Member "Horizontal to vertical, straight to slightly curved, lined, unbranched burrows." Invertebrate traces. B. coronus Not specified. Upper Member "Mostly horizontal to vertical, meniscate burrows." Invertebrate traces. Gastruichnus G. xixiaensis Not specified. Upper Member "Large, high dipping, slightly curved and unbranched burrow." Traces made by molluscs. Palaeophycus P. heberti Not specified. Upper Member "Straight to curved, horizontal to vertical, unbranched and lined burrows." Invertebrate traces. P. megas Not specified. Upper Member "Curved, horizontal to vertical, unbranched and lined burrows." Invertebrate traces. Skolithos S. linearis Not specified. "Cylindrical burrows." Invertebrate traces. S. magnus Not specified. "Cylindrical to subcylindrical, vertical and slightly curved burrows." Invertebrate traces.
Turtles Genus Species Location Stratigraphic Position Material Notes Images Yuchelys Y. nanyangensis Neixiang "Partial skeleton with carapace." A nanhsiungchelyid.
See also
List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations List of stratigraphic units with dinosaur trace fossils Dinosaur eggs Cenomanian-Turonian extinction event
References