Aitym Formation

The Aitym Formation is a geological formation in Uzbekistan which possibly dates to the Santonian stage of the Late Cretaceous period.^[1]

Aitym Formation
Stratigraphic range: ?Santonian ~86–83 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N ↓
Type	Geological formation
Overlies	Bissekty Formation
Area	Kyzylkum Desert
Thickness	up to
Location
Aitym Formation (Uzbekistan)

The formation has not been precisely dated. However, certain fossils suggest the formation was deposited during the Santonian stage of the Late Cretaceous period.^[1]

Fossil content

A diverse fauna has been unearthed from the Aitym Formation including oysters, ammonites and many marine vertebrates, including an abundant assemblage of chondrichthyans (cartilaginous fish), a rarer assemblage of osteichthyans (bony fish), and rather infrequent finds of plesiosaurs, and sea turtles. Terrestrial vertebrate remains are extremely rare in the formation. A few bones of salamanders, lizards, crocodiles, possibly terrestrial turtle remains, dinosaurs (including birds), and mammals have been found in the formation.^[1]

Color key Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon		Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Mammals

Mammals of the Aitym Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Notes	Images
Uzbekbaatar	U. wardi[1]		A cimolodontan multituberculate
Shalbaatar	cf. S. sp.[1]		A spalacotheriid symmetrodont
Deltatherus	cf. D. sp.[1]		A deltatheroidan; reclassified later as Sulestes, as the two genera have been synonymized
Daulestes	aff. D. sp[1]		A asioryctithere
Kulbeckia	Kulbeckia sp. cf. K. kulbecke[1]		A possible zalambdalestid
	aff. Kulbeckia sp.[1]
Paranyctoides	Paranyctoides sp. cf. P. aralensis[1]		A possible lipotyphlan
	Paranyctoides sp.[1]
Eoungulatum	E. sp. cf. E. kudukensis[1]		Zhelestid ungulatomorphs
Parazhelestes	P. sp. cf. P. robustus[1]
	P. sp. aff. P. minor[1]
Aspanlestes	cf. A. sp.[1]

Molluscs

Molluscs of the Aitym Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Notes	Images
Placenticeras	P. kyzylkumense[1]		A placenticeratid ammonite

Amphibians

Amphibians of the Aitym Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Notes	Images
Eoscapherpeton	E. asiaticum[2]		A giant salamander