Gaogou Formation
Introduction 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 is 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. 200px===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. 200px ''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''. 200px ''M. xixiaensis'' Neixiang, Xixia "Isolated eggs and complete egg clutches." Elongatoolithid eggs laid by caenagnathids. 200px ''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. 200px ''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. 200px 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