Jiufotang Formation

The Jiufotang Formation (Chinese: 九佛堂组, pinyin: jiǔfótáng zǔ) is an Early Cretaceous geological formation in Chaoyang, Liaoning which has yielded fossils of feathered dinosaurs, primitive birds, pterosaurs, and other organisms (see Jehol Biota). It is a member of the Jehol group. The exact age of the Jiufotang has been debated for years, with estimates ranging from the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous. He et al. (2004) used argon - isotope radiometry to confirm biostratigraphic age estimates. They confirmed an Early Cretaceous, Aptian age for the Jiufotang Formation, 120.3 +/-0.7 million years ago. Fossils of Microraptor and Jeholornis are from the Jiufotang.PhilydrosaurusPhilydrosaurus proseilusIkechosaurusIkechosaurus pijiagouensisSimoedosauridLiaoxisaurusLiaoxisaurus chaoyangensisSimoedosauridJinanichthysJinanichthys longicephalusLycopteraLycoptera davidiAn osteoglossiform.PeipiaosteusPeipiaosteus paniA fish related to Sturgeons.ProtosephurusProtosephurus liuiA Paddlefish.SinamiaSinamia zdanskyiA Bowfin.LiaoconodonLiaoconodon huiNearly complete skeletonA eutriconodontUnnamed mammalUnnamedPartial remains including a foot and fragments of the skullA mammal similar to Eomaia and Sinodelphys from the Yixian Formation. Found as stomach contents of Microraptor zhaoianus.ChuanqilongC. chaoyangensisAn ankylosaurine.PsittacosaurusPsittacosaurus meileyingensisMeileyingzi Bed' individuals, complete skulls.'A ceratopsian.Psittacosaurus mongoliensisShangheshou and Meileyingzi BedsChaoyangopterusC. zhangiEoazhdarchoE. liaoxiensisA chaoyangopterid.G. venatorA pteranodontoid.'Huaxiapterus''H.' benxiensisIn need of new generic name.'H.' corollatusA tapejarid, in need of new generic name, probably the same genus as 'H.' benxiensis.I. avatarA pteranodontoid.JidapterusJ. edentusLiaoningopterusL. guiA pteranodontoid.LiaoxipterusL. brachyognathusLinlongopterusL. jennyaeA pteranodontoid.NemicolopterusN. crypticusA tapejaromorph. Previously and still occasionally thought to be a Tapejarid. Most likely a juvenile, hence small size.NurhachiusN. ignaciobritoiShenzhoupterusS. chaoyangensisA chaoyangopterid.SinopterusS. dongiA tapejarid.S. jiiPreviously known as Huxiapterus jii.VesperopterylusV. lamadongensisAn anurognathid.AlethoalaornisAlethoalaornis agitornisAn enantiornitheanBoluochiaBoluochia zhengi'Partial skull partial postcranium.'A longipterygidCathayornisCathayornis aberransisAn entantiornithineCathayornis caudatusNomen dubiumCathayornis yandica'Partial skeleton.'An enantiornitheanCuspirostrisornisCuspirostrisornis houiA possible avisauridDapingfangornisDapingfangornis sentisorhinusAn enantiornitheanEocathayornisEocathayornis walkeri'Partial skeleton.'An enantiornitheanGracilornisGracilornis jiufotangensisAn enantiornitheanHuoshanornisHuoshanornis hujiAn enantiornitheanLargirostrornisLargirostrornis sexdentorisAn enantiornitheanLongchengornisLongchengornis sanyanensisAn enantiornitheanLongipteryxLongipteryx chaoyangensisA longipterygidRapaxavisRapaxavis paniA longipterygidShangyangShangyang gracilesAn enantiornitheanSinornisSinornis santensis'Partial skull many nearly complete postcranial skeletons.'An enantiornitheanXiangornisXiangornis shenmiAn enantiornitheanAberratiodontusAberratiodontus wuiJunior synonym of Yanornis martiniChaoyangiaChaoyangia beishanensis'Partial skeleton.'An ornithuranJianchangornisJianchangornis microdontaJianchangAn ornithuranParahongshanornisParahongshanornis chaoyangensisA HongshanornithidSchizoouraSchizooura liiJianchangAn ornithuran with long, forked tail feathersSonglingornisSonglingornis linghensisAn ornithuran.YanornisYanornis martiniAn ornithuran.YixianornisYixianornis grabauiAn ornithuran.ConfuciusornisConfuciusornis sanctusA primitive short-tailed bird (pygostylian). Also present in the Yixian FormationConfuciusornis jianchangensisLiaoningDalianraptorDalianraptor cuheA basal avialanJeholornisJeholornis primaA basal avialan, also present in the Yixian FormationJeholornis palmapenisA basal avialanMicroraptorMicroraptor guiShangheshou BedExtremely commonCould be synonym of Microraptor zhaoianusMicroraptor zhaoianusShangheshou Bed'At least partial semiarticulated postcrania and several skulls.' Feathered integument is also preserved.OmnivoropteryxOmnivoropteryx sinousaorumAn omnivoropterygiformSapeornisSapeornis angustis'Nearly complete skeleton without skull.'An omnivoropterygiform, a primitive short-tailed birdSapeornis chaoyangensisShenshiornisShenshiornis primitaAn omnivoropterygiformSimilicaudipteryxSimilicaudipteryx yixianensisAn oviraptorosaurSinotyrannusSinotyrannus kazuoensisA tyrannosauroidZhongjianornisZhongjianornis yangiA primitive short-tailed bird The Jiufotang Formation (Chinese: 九佛堂组, pinyin: jiǔfótáng zǔ) is an Early Cretaceous geological formation in Chaoyang, Liaoning which has yielded fossils of feathered dinosaurs, primitive birds, pterosaurs, and other organisms (see Jehol Biota). It is a member of the Jehol group. The exact age of the Jiufotang has been debated for years, with estimates ranging from the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous. He et al. (2004) used argon - isotope radiometry to confirm biostratigraphic age estimates. They confirmed an Early Cretaceous, Aptian age for the Jiufotang Formation, 120.3 +/-0.7 million years ago. Fossils of Microraptor and Jeholornis are from the Jiufotang.