Djadochta Formation
Geologic formation in Mongolia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Geologic formation in Mongolia From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Djadochta formation (sometimes transcribed and also known as Djadokhta, Djadokata, or Dzhadokhtskaya) is a highly fossiliferous geological formation in Central Asia, Gobi Desert, dating from the Late Cretaceous period, about 75 million to 71 million years ago. The type locality is the Bayn Dzak locality, famously known as the Flaming Cliffs. Reptile (including dinosaur) and mammal remains are among the fossils recovered from the formation.
Djadochta Formation | |
---|---|
Stratigraphic range: Campanian, ~ | |
Type | Geological formation |
Unit of | Shamo Group |
Sub-units | Bayn Dzak Member, Tugrugyin Member |
Underlies | Barun Goyot Formation |
Overlies | Alagteeg Formation |
Area | Nemegt Basin, Ulan Nur Basin |
Thickness | over 90 m (300 ft) |
Lithology | |
Primary | Sandstone |
Other | Mudstone |
Type section | |
Named for | Shabarakh Usu (Bayn Dzak) |
Named by | Berkey & Morris |
Location | Flaming Cliffs |
Year defined | 1927 |
Coordinates | 44°08′19″N 103°43′40″E |
Approximate paleocoordinates | 30.7°N 9.2°E |
Region | Ömnögov |
Country | Mongolia |
Thickness at type section | about 90 m (300 ft) |
The Djadochta formation was first documented and explored—though only a single locality—during paleontological expeditions of the American Museum of Natural History in 1922–1925, which were part of the Central Asiatic expeditions. The expeditions were led by Roy Chapman Andrews, in company of Walter Willis Granger as chief paleontologist and field team. The team did extensive exploration at the Bayn Dzak (formerly Shabarakh Usu) region, which they nicknamed flaming cliffs, given that at sunset the sediments of this locality had a characteristic reddish color. Notable finds included the first known fossils of Oviraptor, Protoceratops, Saurornithoides, and Velociraptor, the first confirmed dinosaur eggs (a partial nest of Oviraptor), as well as fossil mammals. Some of these were briefly described by Henry Fairfield Osborn during the ongoing years of the expeditions. In 1927 the formation was formally described and established by Berkey and Morris, with Bayn Dzak as the type locality.[1][2]
In 1963 the Mongolian paleontologist Demberelyin Dashzeveg reported the discovery of a new fossiliferous locality of the Djadochta Formation: Tugriken Shireh.[3] During the 1960s to 1970s, Polish-Mongolian and Russian-Mongolian paleontological expeditions collected new, partial to complete specimens of Protoceratops and Velociraptor at this locality, making these dinosaur species a common occurrence in Tugriken Shireh.[4] Some of the most notable excavations made at Tugriken Shireh include the Fighting Dinosaurs (Protoceratops and Velociraptor locked in combat),[5][6] and abundant articulated, in situ (in the original pose), and sometimes complete skeletons of Protoceratops.[7][8]
During the 1980s a joint Soviet-Mongolian paleontological expedition discovered several Mesozoic fossil-rich localities in the Gobi Desert of Mongolia. Among these sites, Udyn Sayr was discovered and examined by the expedition, regarding its age as Late Cretaceous. This new locality was predominantly rich in avimimid fossils, with a lesser abundance of mammal and other dinosaur fossils.[4]
In 1993 a collaborative expedition by the Mongolian Academy of Sciences and the American Museum of Natural History discovered a new fossil site within the Djadochta Formation, named Ukhaa Tolgod, which translates to "Brown Hills." This site has yielded a significant number of well-preserved fossils, including those of mammals, dinosaurs, lizards, and eggs. Most specimens are found in near-complete articulation, indicating excellent preservation conditions. Compared to other Mesozoic fossil sites, Ukhaa Tolgod stands out for its high fossil diversity.[9][10]
The modern-day Djadochta Formation is set in an arid habitat of sand dunes with little freshwater apart from oases and arroyos, in the Gobi Desert. The dominant lithology of the Djadochta Formation is represented by non-marine, cemented reddish-orange and pale orange to light gray, medium to fine-grained sands and sandstones, which include minor deposits of calcareous concretions and orange-brown silty clay. Less abundant sedimentation comprises conglomerates, siltstones, fluvial (water-deposited) sandstones, and mudstones. The entire thickness of the formation in the Ulan Nur Basin is at least 80 m (260 ft). Several aeolian processes (wind works) indicate the presence of large straight-crested dune-like structures, and smaller barchan (crescent-shaped) and parabolic (poorly U-shaped) dunes across the formation.[11][12][10] Reddish sandstones are observed in numerous localities.[12][10]
The Djadochta formation occurs in the Late Cretaceous period of the Campanian stage. Magnetostratigraphic datings from the Bayn Dzak and Tugriken Shireh localities suggest that the Djadochta Formation was deposited during a time of rapidly changing polarity at about 75 million to 71 million years ago.[12]
The Djadochta formation is separated into a lower Bayn Dzak Member and an upper Turgrugyin Member, which represent very similar depositional environments.[12] Further strata from the Bayn Dzak Member includes that of the Ukhaa Tolgod locality, and its overall age is regarded also within the Campanian.[10]
Based on the superposition of the members, the Tugrugyin Member overlies the Bayn Dzak Member making it somewhat younger, which indicates that the Bayn Dzak paleofauna lived somewhat earlier than that from Tugriken Shireh. However, it is not yet understood the precise temporal difference:[12] Localities within the Djadochta Formation are considered to represent a sequence of progressively younger sediments and thereby paleofaunas. Ukhaa Tolgod may be younger than both Bayn Dzak and Tugriken Shireh.[18] Based on their fossil record and strata, Udyn Sayr and Zamyn Khondt have been correlated with other Djadokhta localities, though fossils of Udyn Sayr may indicate that this locality is younger than Bayn Dzak and Tugriken Shireh.[19]
Examinations on the strata of the Alag Teg (also spelled Alag Teeg or Alag Teer) locality, once considered part of this formation, indicates that it belongs to a different geological formation: the Alagteeg Formation, which is slightly older than the overlying Djadochta Formation. Based on sediments and stratigraphic relationships, the lower part of the Bayn Dzak locality is correlated with the Alag Teg locality, making both sections part of the Alagteeg Formation. The upper or main part of the former locality is considered part of the Djadochta Formation itself, as it shares similar lithology and stratigraphic relationships with Tugriken Shireh.[14]
Formation | Time period | Member | Lithology | Thickness | Image |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Barun Goyot | Early Maastrichtian | Poorly cemented, fine and medium-grained red to reddish-brown sandstones. | ~110 m (360 ft) | ||
Djadochta | Campanian | ||||
Turgrugyin | Pale orange to light gray (sometimes yellowish-white) sands and sandstones. | 30 m (98 ft) | |||
Bayn Dzak | Reddish-orange, crossbedded, and structureless sandstones, with minor deposits of brown siltstones and mudstones. | 90 m (300 ft) | |||
Alagteeg | Early Campanian Santonian |
"lower Bayn Dzak" | Alternating reddish brown mudstone and horizontally laminated sandstone, with ripple cross laminations and rhizoliths. | ~15 m (49 ft) | |
Based on strata and rock facies (such as sandstones and caliche) of the formation and coeval units (Bayan Mandahu) it is currently agreed that sediments of the Djadochta Formation were deposited by wind activity in arid paleoenvironments comprising sand dunes with a warm semi-arid climate.[20][12][14] Fluvial sedimentation at the Ukhaa Tolgod locality indicates the presence of short-lived water bodies during the times of the formation, which also contributed to its deposition.[10]
A vast majority of articulated specimens from the Djadochta Formation are found in unstructured sandstones, indicating burial in situ by high-energy sand-bearing events. Some buried Protoceratops individuals are preserved in distinctive postures involving the body and head arched upwards, suggesting that the animals died in the process of trying to free themselves from the body of sand, where they eventually fossilized. As they were unable to escape burial, the sandy mass prevented carcasses from being scavenged by vertebrates. Most of these "buried" specimens are found with bite traces and large borings (tunnel-like holes made by small invertebrates) on bone joints areas and other surfaces, indicating that after death they were largely scavenged by invertebrates, such as skin beetles.[21][22][23]
It has been suggested that the repeated occurrence of these feeding traces at limb joints may reflect that the responsible scavengers focused on collagen at the joint cartilage of dried dinosaur carcasses as a source of nitrogen, which was very low in the arid Djadochta Formation environments.[24]
Examinations at the fossil preservation and sediments of Ukhaa Tolgod indicates that preserved animals were buried alive by catastrophic dune collapses. It is thought to have occurred when sand dunes became oversaturated with water resulting in their sudden downfall; heavy rainfall events likely acted as the triggering mechanism for this collapse.[9][25][10] Examples from the Ukhaa Tolgod preservation include Citipati (brooding adults entombed atop nests and eggs);[26][27] Khaan (a pair in close proximity likely killed by a single collapse event);[28] and Saichangurvel (individual buried alive by a muddy dune).[29]
Among fossils, Protoceratops is extremely common in Djadochta localities. Bayn Dzak is reported as one of the localities with the highest concentration of Protoceratops fossils and has been noted as the "Protoceratops fauna".[30] Adjacent to Bayn Dzak, at Tugriken Shireh, Protoceratops is also abundant.[15] Other common dinosaur components of the paleofauna include Pinacosaurus and Velociraptor.[11] Small vertebrates like lizards and mammals are rather abundant and diverse, with Adamisaurus and Kryptobaatar being the most abundant representatives.[29][31][30] The paleofauna of the Djadochta Formation is very similar in composition to the nearby and coeval-regarded Bayan Mandahu Formation of Inner Mongolia. The two formations share many of the same genera, but differ in species. For instance, the most common mammal in Djadochta is Kryptobaatar dashzevegi, while in Bayan Mandahu it is the closely related K. mandahuensis. Similarly, the dinosaur fauna of Djadochta includes Protoceratops andrewsi and Velociraptor mongoliensis, which Bayan Mandahu yields P. hellenikorhinus and V. osmolskae.[20][32]
Although fossil plants are extremely rare in the Djadochta Formation, the great abundancy of herbivorous Protoceratops at the arid-deposited Tugriken Shireh locality indicates that it had a moderate coverage of bushes or other low-growing plants.[15]
The relatively low paleobiodiversity and climate settings of the Djadochta suggest that these conditions contributed to stressed paleoenvironments. Most of the fossil occurrences in the formation are occupied by Protoceratops, and small to medium-sized ankylosaurs, oviraptorids, and dromaeosaurids make much of the overall paleofauna. Large-bodied animals are absent or extremely rare in the formation. Comparisons with the Nemegt Formation further reflects stressed paleoenvironments. In contrast to Djadochta, Nemegt has yielded an extensive diversity of large dinosaur taxa, such as Deinocheirus, Nemegtosaurus, Saurolophus, Tarbosaurus, or Therizinosaurus. Most of these taxa are herbivorous, which combined with the mesic (well-watered) settings of the Nemegt Formation allowed the development of giant herbivores, in contrast to the stressed Djadochta Formation. Another indicative of stressed paleoenvironments is the almost non-existent amount of fully aquatic animals. Turtles are rarely recovered, and most are terrestrial such as Zangerlia.[30] It is suggested that most of the fragmented hadrosaur, tyrannosaur and sauropod remains across the formation likely belong to non-endemic, passing by species.[30]
Color key
|
Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; |
Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Radicites | R. gobiensis | Bayn Dzak | "Twenty plant roots."[33] | A tracheophyte, likely conifer. | |
Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Artzosuchus | A. brachicephalus | Udyn Sayr | "Partial skull."[35] | A crocodylomorph. | |
Gobiosuchus | G. kielanae | Bayn Dzak | "Multiple specimens with partial skulls and skeletons."[36][37] | A gobisuchid. | |
G.? parvus | Udyn Sayr | "Partial skull and skeleton."[38][39] | A gobisuchid. | ||
Shamosuchus | S. djadochtaensis | Bayn Dzak, Ukhaa Tolgod | "Two skulls and partial skeleton."[40][41] | A paralligatorid. | |
Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Adamisaurus | A. magnidentatus | Bayn Dzak, Tugriken Shireh, Ukhaa Tolgod | "Skulls and skeletons from multiple specimens."[42][29] | A teiid. Also present in the Barun Goyot Formation and Bayan Mandahu Formation. | |
Aiolosaurus | A. oriens | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Incomplete skull and partial skeleton."[29] | A varanoid. | |
Carusia | C. intermedia | Bayn Dzak, Ukhaa Tolgod | "Skulls from multiple specimens."[29] | A carusiid. Also present in the Barun Goyot Formation and Bayan Mandahu Formation. | |
Cherminotus | C. longifrons | Tugriken Shireh, Ukhaa Tolgod | "Skulls and partial skeleton."[29] | A varanoid. Also present in the Barun Goyot Formation. | |
Ctenomastax | C. parva | Zos | "Incomplete skull."[29] | An iguanid. Also present in the Barun Goyot Formation. | |
Dzhadochtosaurus | D. giganteus | Tugriken Shireh | "Partially complete skull."[43] | A macrocephalosaur. | |
Eoxanta | E. lacertifrons | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Incomplete skull."[29] | A scincomorph. Also present in the Barun Goyot Formation. | |
Estesia | E. mongoliensis | Bayn Dzak, Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial skulls and teeth."[29] | A monstersaur. Also present in the Barun Goyot Formation. | |
Flaviagama | F. dzerzhinskii | Tugriken Shireh | "Skull and two vertebrae."[44] | A priscagamid. | |
Globaura | G. venusta | Bayn Dzak, Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial skulls."[29] | A scincomorph. Also present in the Barun Goyot Formation. | |
Gobiderma | G. pulchrum | Udyn Sayr, Ukhaa Tolgod | "Skulls and skin impressions."[29] | A monstersaur. Also present in the Barun Goyot Formation. | |
Gobinatus | G. arenosus | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial skull."[29] | A teiid. Also present in the Barun Goyot Formation. | |
Hymenosaurus | H. clarki | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial skull."[29] | A scincomorph. | |
Isodontosaurus | I. gracilis | Bayn Dzak, Tugriken Shireh, Ukhaa Tolgod, Zos | "Numerous skulls and a partial skeleton."[29] | An iguanian. Also present in the Bayan Mandahu Formation. | |
Macrocephalosaurus | Indeterminate | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial skull and skeleton."[29] | A teiid. Also present in the Barun Goyot Formation. | |
Mimeosaurus | M. crassus | Bayn Dzak, Ukhaa Tolgod, Zos Wash | "Partially complete skulls."[29] | An acrodont. Also present in the Bayan Mandahu Formation. | |
Myrmecodaptria | M. microphagosa | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Single skull."[29] | A gekkotan. | |
Ovoo | O. gurval | Little Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial skull."[45] | A varanid. | |
Parmeosaurus | P. scutatus | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Articulated skull and skeleton."[29] | A scincomorph. | |
Phrynosomimus | P. asper | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Two partial skulls."[29] | An acrodont. Also present in the Barun Goyot Formation. | |
Priscagama | P. gobiensis | Bayn Dzak, Ukhaa Tolgod | "Incomplete skulls."[29] | An priscagamid. Also present in the Barun Goyot Formation. | |
Saichangurvel | S. davidsoni | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Complete skull and skeleton in articulation."[46] | An iguanian. | |
Slavoia | S. darevskii | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Skulls and skeleton."[29] | A scincomorph. Also present in the Barun Goyot Formation. | |
Telmasaurus | T. grangeri | Bayn Dzak | "Partial skull and skeleton."[47][29] | A varanid. | |
Temujinia | T. ellisoni | Tugriken Shireh, Ukhaa Tolgod | "Several partial skulls."[29] | An iguanid. | |
Tchingisaurus | T. multivagus | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial skull."[29] | A teiid. | |
Unnamed scincomorph | Indeterminate | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial skull."[29] | A scincomorph. | |
Varanoidea indet. | Indeterminate | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial maxilla and vertebra."[29] | A varanoid. | |
Zapsosaurus | Z. sceliphros | Tugriken Shireh | "Two partial skulls."[29] | An iguanid. | |
Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Asiatherium | A. reshetovi | Udyn Sayr | "Articulated skull and skeleton."[48] | A metatherian. | |
Bulganbaatar | B. nemegtbaataroides | Bayn Dzak, Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial skull, and other remains."[49][9] | A multituberculate. | |
Catopsbaatar | C. catopsaloides | Ukhaa Tolgod | Not specified.[9] | A djadochtatheriid. Also present in the Barun Goyot Formation. | |
Chulsanbaatar | C. vulgaris | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Skull and partial skeleton."[9] | A multituberculate. Also present in the Barun Goyot Formation. | |
Deltatheridium | D. pretrituberculare | Bayn Dzak, Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial skull and skeleton remains."[50][51] | A tribosphenid. | |
Deltatheroides | D. cretacicus | Bayn Dzak | "Partial skull."[50] | A djadochtatheriid. | |
Djadochtatherium | D. matthewi | Bayn Dzak, Tugriken Shireh | "Partial skulls."[52][53] | A djadochtatheriid. | |
Hyotheridium | H. dobsoni | Bayn Dzak | "Partial skull."[50] | A therian. | |
Indeterminate | Ukhaa Tolgod | Not specified.[9] | A therian. | ||
Kamptobaatar | K. kuczynskii | Bayn Dzak, Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial skull, and other remains."[54][9] | A multituberculate. | |
Kennalestes | K. gobiensis | Bayn Dzak, Ukhaa Tolgod | "Nearly complete skull, and other remains."[55][9] | An eutherian. | |
Kryptobaatar | K. dashzevegi | Bayn Dzak, Tugriken Shireh, Ukhaa Tolgod | "Skulls and skeleton remains from several specimens."[54][31] | A djadochtatheriid. Gobibaatar and Tugrigbaatar are considered synonyms of this taxon.[56] | |
Maelestes | M. gobiensis | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial skull with skeleton."[57] | A cimolestid. | |
Mangasbaatar | M. udanii | Udyn Sayr | "Skulls and partial skeleton from two specimens."[58] | A djadochtatheriid. | |
Nemegtbaatar | N. gobiensis | Ukhaa Tolgod | Not specified.[9] | A multituberculate. Also present in the Barun Goyot Formation. | |
Sloanbaatar | S. mirabilis | Bayn Dzak, Ukhaa Tolgod | "Complete skull, and other remains."[54][9] | A multituberculate. | |
Tombaatar | T. sabuli | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial skull."[59] | A djadochtatheriid. | |
Ukhaatherium | U. nessovi | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial to nearly complete skeletons from several specimens."[60][61][62] | An eutherian. | |
Zalambdalestes | Z. lechei | Bayn Dzak, Tugriken Shireh | "Skulls and skeletons from several specimens."[50][63] | An eutherian. | |
Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Azhdarchidae indet. | Indeterminate | Tugriken Shireh | "Indeterminate bone inside the gut cavity of a Velociraptor."[64] | An azhdarchid. | |
Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Nanhsiungchelyidae indet. | Indeterminate | Abdrant Nuru | "Three shell fragments."[65] | A nanhsiungchelyid. | |
Indeterminate | Bayn Dzak | "Partial shells."[65] | A nanhsiungchelyid. | ||
Indeterminate | Udyn Sayr | "Two shell fragments."[65] | A nanhsiungchelyid. | ||
Zangerlia | Z. dzamynchondi | Zamyn Khondt | "Partial shell."[66] | A nanhsiungchelyid. | |
Z. ukhaachelys | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial skull and skeleton."[67] | A nanhsiungchelyid. | ||
Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Minotaurasaurus | M. ramachandrani | Ukhaa Tolgod | [Two] complete skulls, mandibles, and first cervical half-ring.[68][69] | An ankylosaurid previously thought to be a junior synonym of Tarchia, but is now considered to be a valid and distinct taxon. | |
Pinacosaurus | P. grangeri | Bayn Dzak, Ukhaa Tolgod | [Three] skulls, mandibles, predentary, cervical vertebrae, dorsal vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, ribs, scapula, coracoids, humerus, radius, ulna, ilium, femora, tibia, fibula, pelvis, manus, tail club handles, cervical half-rings, osteoderms, and a nearly complete skeleton lacking a skull.[70][71][72] | An ankylosaurid also known from the Alagteeg Formation and Bayan Mandahu Formation. | |
Ankylosauridae indet. | Indeterminate | Zamyn Khondt | Partially complete postcranial skeleton with in situ osteoderms.[73] | Previously referred to Saichania, but is now referred to as Ankylosauridae indet., or cf. Pinacosaurus.[73] |
Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bainoceratops | B. efremovi | Bayn Dzak | "Partial vertebrae."[74] | A protoceratopsid. May be synonymous with Protoceratops.[75] | |
Bagaceratops | Indeterminate | Udyn Sayr | "Skull with partial skeleton."[19] | A protoceratopsid. Indeterminate between Bagaceratops and Protoceratops.[19] | |
Protoceratops | P. andrewsi | Bayn Dzak, Tugriken Shireh, Udyn Sayr, Zamyn Khondt | "Multiple partial to complete specimens."[76][7][77][8][19] | A protoceratopsid. | |
P. hellenikorhinus | Bor Tolgoi, Udyn Sayr | "Partial cranial remains."[78] | A protoceratopsid. | ||
Protoceratopsidae indet. | Indeterminate | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Numerous skulls and remains."[79][80] | A protoceratopsid. | |
Udanoceratops | U. tschizhovi | Udyn Sayr | "Skull and fragmented skeleton elements."[81] | A giant leptoceratopsid. | |
Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hadrosauroidea indet. | Indeterminate | Tugriken Shireh | "Fragmented remains from juveniles."[82][83] | A hadrosauroid. | |
Plesiohadros | P. djadokhtaensis | Alag Teeg | "Skull and partial body elements."[83] | A hadrosauroid. Actually hails from the Alagteeg Formation.[84] | |
Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Goyocephale | G. lattimorei | Boro Khovil | "Partial skull and skeleton."[85] | A pachycephalosaurid. Locality sediments may belong to this formation.[85][86] | |
Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Alvarezsauridae indet. | Indeterminate | Tugriken Shireh | "Partial skull, braincase, and skeleton elements of two specimens."[88][89] | An alvarezsaurid also known as the Tugriken Shireh alvarezsaur. Uncertainly referred as Parvicursor sp.[89] | |
Kol | K. ghuva | Ukhaa Tolgod | "A well-preserved right foot."[90] | A large alvarezsaurid. Its classification has been criticized.[91] | |
Shuvuuia | S. deserti | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Multiple specimens with skull and skeletons."[92][93][94][90][95] | An alvarezsaurid. | |
Undescribed Alvarezsauridae | Indeterminate | Bayn Dzak | "Partial pelvic girdle and hindlimb."[96] | An alvarezsaurid. | |
Indeterminate | Gilvent Wash | Not given.[90] | An alvarezsaurid. | ||
Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Apsaravis | A. ukhaana | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial postcranial skeleton."[97] | A basal ornithurine bird. | |
Elsornis | E. keni | Tugriken Shireh | "Partial articulated skeleton lacking the skull."[98] | An enantiornithe. | |
Gobipteryx | G. minuta | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial skull."[99] | An enantiornithine. Also present in the Barun Goyot Formation. | |
Protoceratopsidovum' | P. fluxuosum | Bayn Dzak | "Partial eggs."[100] | Eggs probably laid by a bird.[101] | |
P. minimum | Baga Tariach, Tugriken Shireh | "Clutch of four eggs and one pole of egg."[100] | Eggs probably laid by a bird.[101] | ||
P. sincerum | Bayn Dzak, Tugriken Shireh | "Multiple eggs and shells."[100] | Eggs probably laid by a bird.[101] | ||
Styloolithus | S. sabathi | Bayn Dzak | "Partial to complete eggs."[101] | Eggs probably laid by a bird. | |
Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tsaagan | T. mangas | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Skull and partial skeleton."[102] | A dromaeosaurid | |
Velociraptor | V. mongoliensis | Bayn Dzak, Chimney Buttes, Gilvent Wash, Tugriken Shireh, Udyn Sayr, Ukhaa Tolgod | "Multiple partial to complete specimens."[103][104][105][106][107][108] | A dromaeosaurid. | |
Undescribed Dromaeosauridae | Indeterminate | Abdrant Nuru | "Claw."[109] | A dromaeosaurid. | |
Indeterminate | Zos Wash | "Frontal region."[102] | A dromaeosaurid. Differs from Tsaagan.[102] | ||
Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Halszkaraptor | H. escuilliei | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial skeleton with complete skull."[110] | A halszkaraptorine. | |
Mahakala | M. omnogovae | Tugriken Shireh | "Fragmented skull and skeleton."[111] | A halszkaraptorine. | |
Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aepyornithomimus | A. tugrikinensis | Tugriken Shireh | "Nearly complete foot."[112] | An ornithomimid. | |
Ornithomimosauria indet. | Indeterminate | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial braincase, jaw tips, ribs, and vertebral fragments".[113][114] | An ornithomimid. | |
Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Avimimus | A. portentonsus | Udyn Sayr | "Partial skull and skeleton."[115][116] | An avimimid. Its locality origin has been disputed and may hail from the Nemegt Formation.[117] | |
Citipati | C. osmolskae | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Multiple specimens with partial to nearly complete skeletons, an embryo, eggs and nesting individuals."[118][119][120][27] | An oviraptorid. | |
Elongatoolithus | E. frustrabilis | ||||
E. subtitectorius | |||||
Khaan | K. mckennai | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Several specimens with partial to complete skeletons and skulls."[119][121][28] | An oviraptorid. | |
Macroolithus | M. mutabilis | "Eggs." | Eggs probably laid by an oviraptorid | ||
Oviraptor | O. philoceratops | Bayn Dzak | "Partial skeleton with skull, associated with a nest and juvenile."[122][120][27] | An oviraptorid. | |
Oviraptoridae indet. | Indeterminate | Zamyn Khondt | "Nearly complete skeleton with skull."[123] | An oviraptorid also known as the Zamyn Khondt oviraptorid. Uncertainly referred to Citipati.[119][120] | |
Indeterminate | Zamyn Khondt | "Nearly complete skull with atlas and axis."[124] | An oviraptorid. | ||
Indeterminate | Udyn Sayr | "Assemblage of individuals."[27] | An oviraptorid. | ||
Indeterminate | Not specified. | "Two skulls with characteristic high crest."[125][126][127] | An oviraptorid. | ||
Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Almas | A. ukhaa | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Skull with partial skeleton."[128] | A troodontid. | |
Archaeornithoides | A. deinosauriscus | Bayn Dzak | "Partial skull."[129] | A troodontid? Uncertain relationships among coelurosaurs.[129][130] | |
Byronosaurus | B. jaffei | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Skull and fragmentary skeleton."[131] | A troodontid. | |
Gobivenator | G. mongoliensis | Zamyn Khondt | "Almost complete skeleton."[132] | A troodontid. | |
Saurornithoides | S. mongoliensis | Bayn Dzak | "Skull with fragmentary skeleton."[133] | A troodontid. | |
Troodontidae indet. | Indeterminate | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial skeleton."[134] | A troodontid. | |
Indeterminate | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Juvenile skulls, skeleton, and one nest."[135][130] | A troodontid. Referred to either Almas,[136][128] or Byronosaurus.[130] | ||
Indeterminate | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Fragmented skull and skeleton remains."[137] | A troodontid. Provisionally referred to Saurornithoides,[137] but now excluded.[133] | ||
Indeterminate | Ukhaa Tolgod | "Partial skull and skeletons from two specimens."[93] | A troodontid. | ||
Genus | Species | Location | Material | Notes | Images |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Tyrannosauridae indet. |
Indeterminate | Bayn Dzak | Not specified.[32] | A tyrannosaurid. | |
Indeterminate | Khongil | "Supraorbital, vertebra, rib, femur and metatarsals."[138] | A tyrannosaurid. | ||
Indeterminate | Not specified. | "Partial right ilium."[139] | A tyrannosaurid. | ||
Indeterminate | Not specified. | "Teeth."[20] | A tyrannosaurid. | ||
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