Djadochta Formation
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The Flaming Cliffs, type locality of the Djadochta Formation
The Flaming Cliffs, type locality of the Djadochta Formation

The Djadochta Formation (sometimes transcribed Djadokhta) is situated in central Asia (Gobi Desert) and dates from the Late Cretaceous Period. Laid down in the early Campanian, possibly starting in the latest Santonian, it is dated somewhat uncertainly at about 84-75 mya (million years ago). The type locality are the famous "Flaming Cliffs", locally known as Bayanzag ("rich in Haloxylon") or Ulaan-Ereg ("red cliffs").

It preserves an arid habitat of sand dunes, with little freshwater apart from oases and arroyos. In fact, the present-day climate at most Djadochta Formation sites differs little from what it was some 80 mya, except by being somewhat warmer and perhaps a bit less arid then. This is testimony to the fact that the location has long been so far from any major source of evaporation that little rainfall reached it, even before the Himalayas were uplifted which bar clouds from reaching today's Gobi desert.

Most notable fossil discoveries have been the first confirmed dinosaur eggs (a clutch, probably of Oviraptor) and several dinosaur finds, Protoceratops, Pinacosaurus and Velociraptor being the most prominent.

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Flora and fauna

The fauna of the Djadochta Formation is very similar in composition to the nearby Byab Mandahu Formation. The two share many of the same genera, but differ in the exact species. For example, the most common mammal in the Djadochta is Kryptobaatar dashzevegi, while in the Bayan Mandahu, it is the closely related Kryptobaatar mandahuensis. Similarly, the dinosaur fauna of the Djadochta includes Protoceratops andrewsi and Velociraptor mongoliensis]], which the Bayan Mandahu yields Protoceratops hellenikorhinus and Velociraptor osmolskae.[1]

Amphibians

Amphibians of the Djadochta Formation
Taxa Presence Description Images
A frog of uncertain classification.

Birds and other theropods

Theropod dinosaurs of the Djadochta Formation
Taxa Presence Description Images
A basal ornithurine bird.[2]
A coelurosaur of uncertain relationships.
An avimimid.
An oviraptorid found brooding its eggs.
An oviraptorid with a distinctive, tall crest.
An oviraptorid.
A dromaeosaurid.
An alvarezsaurid.
An oviraptorid.
A troodontid.
An alvarezsaurid.
A tyrannosaur.
A dromaeosaurid.
A dromaeosaurid.

Crocodylomorphs

Crocodylomorphs of the Djadochta Formation
Taxa Presence Description Images
A gobisuchid.
A gobisuchid.
A basal crocodyliform.

Lizards

Lizards of the Djadochta Formation
Taxa Presence Description Images
A primitive iguanid.
An anguimorph.
An anguimorph.
An agamid.
An agamid.
An agamid.
A primitive iguanid.

Mammals

Mammals of the Djadochta Formation
Taxa Presence Description Images
A marsupial.
A marsupial.
A marsupial.
A therian mammal of uncertain classification.
A multituberculate.
A placental.
A multituberculate, the most common mammal in this formation.[1]
A placental.

Ornithischians

Ornithischian dinosaurs of the Djadochta Formation
Taxa Presence Description Images
A hadrosaur of uncertain classification.
An ankylosaur.
A ceratopsian.

Sauropods

Sauropod dinosaurs of the Djadochta Formation
Taxa Presence Description Images
A sauropod of uncertain classification.

See also

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Godefroit, Pascal; Currie, Philip J.; Li Hong; Shang Chang Yong; and Dong Zhi-ming (2008). "A new species of Velociraptor (Dinosauria: Dromaeosauridae) from the Upper Cretaceous of northern China". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 28 (2): 432–438. 
  2. ^ Only known from this formation

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