The Tangbian Formation is a geological formation in Jiangxi Province, east China. While its absolute age is uncertain, it has been estimated to represent Late Cretaceous (Campanian age) sediments. Dinosaur bones and eggs are among the fossils recovered from the formation.
Geology and paleoenvironment
The Tangbian Formation is known from outcrops in the Xinjiang Basin of Jiangxi Province, southeastern China. It is part of the Late Cretaceous Guifeng Group, underlain by the Hekou Formation and overlain by the Lianhe Formation in that group. The formation has been interpreted as Campanian in age, although absolute dates have not been obtained. It comprises thick beds of fine-grained red-purple sandstone interbedded with mudstone, calcareous sandstone, and siltstone, and was deposited in an aeolian (wind-driven) setting representing a desert environment.
Fossil content The Tangbian Formation contains a rich record of dinosaur egg fossils and embryos. Most of the known egg clutches can be associated with oviraptorosaurs, although rarer egg fossils are known from hadrosaurs, troodontids, and possibly dromaeosaurids.
Dinosaurs Genus Species Region Material Notes ImagesHuanansaurusH. ganzhouensis A partial articulated skeleton preserved on a nest with eggsAn oviraptorid theropod dinosaurHuaxiazhoulongH. shouwenLongxi Village, Guangchang CountyPartial well-preserved skeletonAn ankylosaurid dinosaur
Ootaxa Genus Species Region Material Notes ImagesMinioolithusM. ganzhouensisMeilin Village, Ganxian DistrictClutch of six eggsClassified as belonging to the Ovaloolithidae, likely laid by a theropod dinosaurStromatoolithusS. pinglingensisGanxian and Nankang districtsEggshell fragmentsLikely laid by a hadrosaurid dinosaur
Other reptiles Genus Species Region Material Notes ImagesCaninosaurusC. ganzhouensisIncomplete skull and mandibleA polyglyphanodont lizard
References