Gaogou Formation

The Gaogou Formation is a fossiliferous geological formation located in the Xixia Basin of China. The formation dates back to the Late Cretaceous (Cenomanian-Coniacian) and fossilized eggs of dinosaurs and turtles are commonly reported from the formation. Dinosaur taxa are also reported from the unit.

Gaogou Formation
Stratigraphic range: Cenomanian-Coniacian ~96–88 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Zhang Fengchen at the Gaogou Formation
Type	Geological formation
Sub-units	Upper Member, Lower Member
Underlies	Majiacun Formation
Overlies	Baiwan Formation
Lithology
Primary	Conglomerate
Other	Mudstone
Location
Coordinates	33.4°N 112.9°E / 33.4; 112.9
Approximate paleocoordinates	32.7°N 104.7°E / 32.7; 104.7
Region	Henan Province
Country	China
Extent	Xixia Basin
Gaogou Formation (China) Show map of China Gaogou Formation (Henan) Show map of Henan

Paleobiota of the Gaogou Formation

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.

Dinosaurs

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic Position	Material	Notes	Images
Baotianmansaurus	B. henanensis	Neixiang		"Partial vertebrae and scapula."[1]	A titanosauriform.
Beibeilong	B. sinensis	Heimaogou		"Embryonic skeleton with associated partial nest."[2]	A large caenagnathid.

Eggs

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic Position	Material	Notes	Images
Dendroolithus	D. xichuanensis	Xichuan		"Eggshell fragments and collapsed eggs."[3]	Dendroolithid eggs laid by ornithopods, sauropod or theropods.
	Indeterminate	Xixia		"Intact eggs and egg clutches."[3]	Dendroolithid eggs laid by ornithopods, sauropod or theropods.
Dictyoolithus	D. neixiangensis	Xixia		Not specified.[3]	Dictyoolithid eggs.
Faveoloolithus	Indeterminate	Nanxiang		"Single egg."[3]	Faveoloolithid egg.
Macroelongatoolithus	M. xixiaensis	Heimaogou		"Partial nest of 6-8 eggs, and eggshell fragments."[2]	Elongatoolithid eggs laid by Beibeilong.
	M. xixiaensis	Neixiang, Xixia		"Isolated eggs and complete egg clutches."[3]	Elongatoolithid eggs laid by caenagnathids.
Neixiangoolithus	N. yani	Neixiang		"Multiple egg clutches."[4]	Testudoolithid eggs laid by a turtle.
Paraspheroolithus	P. cf. irenensis	Xixia		"Complete egg clutches."[3]	Spheroolithid eggs.
Placoolithus	P. tumiaolingensis	Yunxian		"Several eggs and egg clutches."[5]	Dendroolithid eggs laid by ornithopods, sauropod or theropods.
Prismatoolithus	P. gebiensis	Neixiang, Xixia		"Several egg clutches."[3]	Prismatoolithid eggs laid by troodontids.
Youngoolithus	Y. xiaguanensis	Xixia		"Clutch with 4 eggs."[3]	Youngoolithid eggs.

Flora

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic Position	Material	Notes	Images
Araucariaceae indet.	Indeterminate	Xixia		"Amber pieces."[6]	A conifer.
Plantae indet.	Indeterminate	Not specified.	Upper Member	"Rhizoliths."[7]	Root traces.

Invertebrates

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic Position	Material	Notes	Images
Beaconites	B. antarcticus	Not specified.	Upper Member	"Horizontal-overtical, straight to slightly curved, single, lined, meniscate burrows."[7]	Invertebrate traces.
	B. capronus	Not specified.	Upper Member	"Horizontal to vertical, straight to slightly curved, lined, unbranched burrows."[7]	Invertebrate traces.
	B. coronus	Not specified.	Upper Member	"Mostly horizontal to vertical, meniscate burrows."[7]	Invertebrate traces.
Gastruichnus	G. xixiaensis	Not specified.	Upper Member	"Large, high dipping, slightly curved and unbranched burrow."[7]	Traces made by molluscs.
Palaeophycus	P. heberti	Not specified.	Upper Member	"Straight to curved, horizontal to vertical, unbranched and lined burrows."[7]	Invertebrate traces.
	P. megas	Not specified.	Upper Member	"Curved, horizontal to vertical, unbranched and lined burrows."[7]	Invertebrate traces.
Skolithos	S. linearis	Not specified.		"Cylindrical burrows."[7]	Invertebrate traces.
	S. magnus	Not specified.		"Cylindrical to subcylindrical, vertical and slightly curved burrows."[7]	Invertebrate traces.

Turtles

Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic Position	Material	Notes	Images
Yuchelys	Y. nanyangensis	Neixiang		"Partial skeleton with carapace."[8]	A nanhsiungchelyid.

See also

• Dinosaurs portal

• List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
• List of stratigraphic units with dinosaur trace fossils
• Dinosaur eggs
• Cenomanian-Turonian extinction event