Gaogou Formation
Geological formation in China
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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.
| Gaogou Formation | |
|---|---|
| Stratigraphic range: Cenomanian-Coniacian ~ | |
Zhang Fengchen at the Gaogou Formation | |
| Type | Geological formation |
| Sub-units | Upper Member, Lower Member |
| Underlies | Majiacun Formation |
| Overlies | Baiwan Formation |
| Lithology | |
| Primary | Conglomerate |
| Other | Mudstone |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 33.4°N 112.9°E |
| Approximate paleocoordinates | 32.7°N 104.7°E |
| Region | Henan Province |
| Country | China |
| Extent | Xixia Basin |
  Gaogou Formation (China)  Gaogou Formation (Henan) | |
Paleobiota of the Gaogou Formation
Color key
|
Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; |
Dinosaurs
| Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic Position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Baotianmansaurus | B. henanensis | Neixiang | "Partial vertebrae and scapula."[1] | A titanosauriform. | ||
| Beibeilong | B. sinensis | Heimaogou | "Embryonic skeleton with associated partial nest."[2] | A large caenagnathid. |  | |
Eggs
| Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic Position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dendroolithus | D. xichuanensis | Xichuan | "Eggshell fragments and collapsed eggs."[3] | Dendroolithid eggs laid by ornithopods, sauropod or theropods. | ||
| Indeterminate | Xixia | "Intact eggs and egg clutches."[3] | Dendroolithid eggs laid by ornithopods, sauropod or theropods. |  | ||
| Dictyoolithus | D. neixiangensis | Xixia | Not specified.[3] | Dictyoolithid eggs. | ||
| Faveoloolithus | Indeterminate | Nanxiang | "Single egg."[3] | Faveoloolithid egg. | ||
| Macroelongatoolithus | M. xixiaensis | Heimaogou | "Partial nest of 6-8 eggs, and eggshell fragments."[2] | Elongatoolithid eggs laid by Beibeilong. | .jpg) | |
| M. xixiaensis | Neixiang, Xixia | "Isolated eggs and complete egg clutches."[3] | Elongatoolithid eggs laid by caenagnathids. |  | ||
| Neixiangoolithus | N. yani | Neixiang | "Multiple egg clutches."[4] | Testudoolithid eggs laid by a turtle. | ||
| Paraspheroolithus | P. cf. irenensis | Xixia | "Complete egg clutches."[3] | Spheroolithid eggs. | ||
| Placoolithus | P. tumiaolingensis | Yunxian | "Several eggs and egg clutches."[5] | Dendroolithid eggs laid by ornithopods, sauropod or theropods. | ||
| Prismatoolithus | P. gebiensis | Neixiang, Xixia | "Several egg clutches."[3] | Prismatoolithid eggs laid by troodontids. |  | |
| Youngoolithus | Y. xiaguanensis | Xixia | "Clutch with 4 eggs."[3] | Youngoolithid eggs. | ||
Flora
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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."[7] | Invertebrate traces. | |
| B. capronus | Not specified. | Upper Member | "Horizontal to vertical, straight to slightly curved, lined, unbranched burrows."[7] | Invertebrate traces. | ||
| B. coronus | Not specified. | Upper Member | "Mostly horizontal to vertical, meniscate burrows."[7] | Invertebrate traces. | ||
| Gastruichnus | G. xixiaensis | Not specified. | Upper Member | "Large, high dipping, slightly curved and unbranched burrow."[7] | Traces made by molluscs. | |
| Palaeophycus | P. heberti | Not specified. | Upper Member | "Straight to curved, horizontal to vertical, unbranched and lined burrows."[7] | Invertebrate traces. | |
| P. megas | Not specified. | Upper Member | "Curved, horizontal to vertical, unbranched and lined burrows."[7] | Invertebrate traces. | ||
| Skolithos | S. linearis | Not specified. | "Cylindrical burrows."[7] | Invertebrate traces. | ||
| S. magnus | Not specified. | "Cylindrical to subcylindrical, vertical and slightly curved burrows."[7] | Invertebrate traces. | |||
Turtles
| Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic Position | Material | Notes | Images |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yuchelys | Y. nanyangensis | Neixiang | "Partial skeleton with carapace."[8] | A nanhsiungchelyid. | ||
