Artist's rendition of the Shaximiao Formation
The Shaximiao Formation is a geological rock formation in China containing rocks from the Mid to Late Jurassic. It is located near the small township of Dashanpu, which the site was first named after.
Geology[]
The Shaximiao Formation consists of both the Upper and Lower formations, though both are usually referred to as simply the Shaximiao Formation. The formation mostly consists of mudstones, with some siltstone and sandstone mixed in as well.
Discoveries[]
Mostly sauropods have been recovered from this formation, though theropods and stegosaurs have also been found. Many of the specimens found here are housed in the Zigong Dinosaur Museum. The formation was originally undiscovered until the 1970s, when a gasoline company accidentally found the partial skeleton of Gasosaurus. Later discoveries would bring about the findings of many better-known dinosaurs. Back in the Jurassic, the formation was a thickly forested area, with large bodies of water providing natural species with plenty of resources.
Species[]
Dinosaurs[]
- Agilisaurus - a small ornithischian
- Bashanosaurus- a Stegosaur
- Bashunosaurus- a sauropod originally thought to be synonymous with Datousaurus
- Chienkosaurus- a theropod
- Dashanpusaurus- sauropod
- Datousaurus- sauropod
- Gasosaurus - small theropod; first found from Shaximiao Formation
- Gigantspinosaurus - stegosaur with large shoulder spikes
- Huayangosaurus - stegosaur
- Kaijiangosaurus - possible megalosaur
- Mamenchisaurus - sauropod with the longest neck-to-body ratio
- Omeisaurus - large sauropod, many species known
- Shunosaurus - smaller sauropod with a small club at the end of its tail
- Sinraptor - metriacanthosaurid
- Szechuanosaurus - large theropod, tooth taxon; possibly Yangchuanosaurus
- Tuojiangosaurus - stegosaur
- Xiaosaurus - ornithopod
- Xuanhanosaurus - metriacanthosaur, known from a fragmentary skeleton
- Yandusaurus - basal neornithischian
- Yangchuanosaurus - large predator, two species known
Pterosaurs[]
- Angustinaripterus - rhamphorhynchoid pterosaur with an elongated snout
Other Archosaurs[]
- Sunosuchus - large goniopholid crocodylomorph
Sources[]
https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.942414/full