YIXIAN FORMATION

The 'Yixian Formation' is a geological formation in Liaoning, People's Republic of China, that stems from the early Cretaceous period. It is known for its fossils. It was initially recognized during the time the Japanese Empire controlled a large chunk of Manchuria (Northern China) called "Jehol". During the occupation of Jehol, many Japanese scientists had noticed fossil remains of extinct fish and reptiles, possibly the champsosaurs. These initial fossil discoveries made by Japanese scientists vanished from history once World War II ended in 1945. By 1949, when administration of the area passed to the Communist Party and its leader Mao Tse-Tung, the fossils of Yixian were studied only by Chinese scientists. It was not until the 1990s when remarkable fossils of birds and dinosaurs were excavated. Since 1996, a number of dinosaur fossils that have revolutionized knowledge of these animals have been found at Yixian; among them are the first known non-avian theropods with feathers.

Contents

Fossil taxa

Dinosaurs (including birds)

Pterosaurs

Mammals

Other vertebrates

Insects and other arthropods

Plants

See also

References

Fossil taxa

Fossils found in the Yixian Formation include:

Dinosaurs (including birds)

'Theropods'

★ ''Sinosauropteryx'', the first dinosaur found here (compsognathid)

★ ''Huaxiagnathus'' (compsognathid)

★ ''Sinocalliopteryx'' (compsognathid)

★ ''Beipiaosaurus'' (therizinosaur)

★ ''Caudipteryx'' (oviraptorosaur)

★ ''Incisivosaurus'' (oviraptorosaur)

★ ''Protarchaeopteryx'' (oviraptorosaur)

★ ''Dilong'' (tyrannosauroid)

★ ''Mei'', a small dinosaur that has been fossilized in a sleeping position, with its head under a wing (deinonychosaur)

★ ''Microraptor'' (deinonychosaur)

★ ''Sinovenator'' (deinonychosaur)

★ ''Sinornithosaurus'' (deinonychosaur)

★ ''Scansoriopteryx''? (scansoriopterygid)

★ ''Shenzhousaurus'' (ornithomimosaur)

★ ''Shenzhouraptor'' AKA ''Jeholornis'' (avian: basal bird)

★ ''"Liaoxiornis"'' (avian? A ''nomen dubium'')

★ ''Sapeornis'' (avian: omnivoropterygiform)

★ ''Confuciusornis'' (avian: basal pygostylian)

★ ''Sinornis/Cathayornis'' (avian: enantiornithine)

★ ''Longipteryx'' (avian: enantiornithine?)

★ ''Liaoningornis'' (avian: liaoningornithiform)
'Cerapods'

★ ''Liaoceratops'' (ceratopsian)

★ ''Psittacosaurus'' (ceratopsian)

★ ''Jeholosaurus'' (ornithopod)

★ ''Jinzhousaurus'' (ornithopod)
'Thyreophorans'

★ ''Liaoningosaurus'' (ankylosaurian)

Pterosaurs

★ ''Sinopterus''

★ ''Haopterus''

★ ''Jeholopterus''

★ ''Eosipterus''

★ ''Beipiaopterus''

★ ''Boreopterus''

★ ''Feilongus''

Mammals

'Symmetrodonts'

★ ''Akidolestes''

★ ''Maotherium''

★ ''Zhangheotherium''
'Triconodonts'

★ ''Jeholodens''

★ ''Repenomamus'', which ate small dinosaurs

★ ''Yanoconodon''
'Multituberculates'

★ ''Sinobaatar''
'Metatheria' (marsupials)

★ ''Sinodelphys''
'Eutheria' (placental mammals)

★ ''Eomaia''

Other vertebrates

'Lepidosaurians'

★ ''Dalinghosaurus'', a lizard

★ ''Xianglong'', a gliding lizard

★ ''Yabeinosaurus'', a lizard related to geckos and skinks
'Choristoderans'

★ ''Hyphalosaurus''

★ ''Monjurosuchus''
'Turtles'

★ ''Manchurochelys''
'Amphibians'

★ ''Jeholotriton'', a gilled salamander

★ ''Callobatrachus'', a frog

★ ''Mesophryne'', a frog with no known living relatives
'Fish'

★ ''Peipiaosteus'', a fish related to sturgeons

★ ''Lycoptera'', herring-like fish

★ ''Sinamia''

★ ''Mesomyzon mengae'', a fossil lamprey

Insects and other arthropods

★ giant water strider bug

★ Jehol crayfish

★ Orb-weaving spider

★ Mayfly

★ Carrion-eating beetles

★ Cicada

★ Dragonfly

★ Cockroach

★ ''Palaepangonius'', an early pollinating fly

Plants

★ ''Archaefructus''

★ Horsetail

★ ''Ephedra''

★ Conifer trees

★ Ginkgo trees

★ ''Archaeamphora'', the earliest known carnivorous plant

See also

★ List of fossil sites ''(with link directory)''

References