Elliot Formation

Elliot Formation
Stratigraphic range: Norian-Pliensbachian ~220–190  Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Elliot Formation caves in the Matalane Valley, Leribe, Lesotho
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Stormberg Group
Sub-units	Upper Elliot, Lower Elliot
Underlies	Clarens Formation
Overlies	Molteno Formation
Thickness	up to 500 m (1,600 ft)
Lithology
Primary	Mudstone, sandstone
Other	Siltstone, conglomerate
Location
Coordinates	30°30′S27°24′E / 30.5°S 27.4°E / -30.5; 27.4
Approximate paleocoordinates	44°06′S1°54′W / 44.1°S 1.9°W / -44.1; -1.9
Region	Eastern Cape, Free State, Mafeteng, Maseru, Quthing, Qacha's Nek & Mohale's Hoek
Country	Lesotho South Africa
Type section
Named for	Elliot, Eastern Cape
Elliot Formation (South Africa)

The Elliot Formation is a geological formation and forms part of the Stormberg Group, the uppermost geological group that comprises the greater Karoo Supergroup. Outcrops of the Elliot Formation have been found in the northern Eastern Cape, southern Free State, and in the eastern KwaZulu-Natal provinces of South Africa. Outcrops and exposures are also found in several localities in Lesotho such as Qacha's Neck, Hill Top, Quthing, and near the capital, Maseru. The Elliot Formation is further divided into the lower (LEF) and upper (UEF) Elliot formations to differentiate significant sedimentological differences between these layers. The LEF is mainly Late Triassic (Norian-Rhaetian) in age while the UEF is mainly Early Jurassic (Hettangian-earliest Pliensbachian) and is tentatively regarded to preserve a continental record of the Triassic-Jurassic boundary in southern Africa. ^[1] This geological formation is named after the town of Elliot in the Eastern Cape, and its stratotype locality is located on the Barkly Pass, 9 km north of the town. ^{[2] [3] [4]}

Geology

The Elliot Formation unconformably overlies the Molteno Formation and is conformably overlain by the Clarens Formation. Due to the reddish colour of the rocks, the Elliot Formation is colloquially referred to as the "Red Beds" in older geologic literature.

The Elliot Formation is dominated by mudstones and siltstones that can be finely laminated. However, the internal structures in the mudstones are often not visible due to locally poor laminations. Calcareous nodules are also found in the mudstone layers and become more frequent up section into the UEF. The mudstones range in colour from greyish purple red in the LEF and turn a more brick red colour with more mature palaeosols in the UEF. Localized intraformational pebble conglomerates that comprise intrabasinal clasts that comprise mud chips, quartzite pebbles, pedogenic nodules, and fossil bone fragments only occur in the UEF. The lower and upper Elliot formations both contain sandstones but they vary in their internal geometries. The sandstones of the LEF mainly comprise laterally accreting channel deposits that are multi-story and contain trough, low angle, and planar, cross-bedding. Ripple cross laminations with good horizontal lamination are also present. In the UEF, sandstone beds are single story and mainly reflect downstream accretion channel geometries and are more tabular in appearance. Common internal sedimentary structures of UEF sandstones are planar, low angle cross-bedding, horizontal and ripple-cross laminations.

The LEF was deposited in a fluvio-lacustrine environment where rivers were more perennial and formed meandering channel geometries, as evidenced by the presence of lateral accretion. However, this depositional environment changed at the onset of the UEF deposits where evidence of shallower river channels, longer periods of floodplain stasis (mature palaeosols) and flash flood events (pedogenic nodule conglomerates) shows that the climate became more arid. ^{[5] [6] [4] [7]}

Correlation

The Elliot Formation is currently considered to correlate chronostratigraphically with geological formations of the Bodibeng Sandstone of the Tuli Basin in Botswana, the Omingonde Formation of the Etjo Basin in Namibia, and the Chinle Formation of the Colorado Plateau in Utah, United States. ^{[8] [4] [9] [10] [11] [12]}

Age

U-Pb radiometric dating using zircon grains has refined the duration of the Elliot Formation. Zircons of the Lower Elliot Formation are entirely Late Triassic, ranging from around 220 to 205 million years old (Norian to Rhaetian stages). Zircons of the Upper Elliot are mostly Early Jurassic, ranging from around 202 to 192 million years old (latest Rhaetian to Sinemurian stages). The oldest zircons of the overlying Clarens Formation are about 187 million years old (mid-Pliensbachian stage). ^[1]

The entire Elliot Formation also preserves a record of magnetostratigraphy, with at least nine reverse-normal polarity chron pairs (EF1r to EF9n). The lower-upper Elliot boundary is in the middle of chron EF6n. The Elliot Formation's magnetostratigraphy can be partially correlated with similar records in the Newark Basin (northeast United States), Chinle and Moenave formations (southwest United States), and Los Colorados Formation (Argentina). ^{[7] [1]}

Paleontology

The Elliot Formation is well known for its diverse fossils of dinosaur and other vertebrates. The formation is divided into two biozones, the Scalenodontoides Assemblage Zone and Massospondylus Assemblage Zone. The Scalenodontoides Assemblage Zone corresponds to the Lower Elliot Formation. Formerly known as the 'Euskelosaurus' Range Zone, its index taxa include the cynodont Scalenodontoides and the sauropodomorphs Blikanasaurus and Melanorosaurus . ^[13] The Massospondylus Assemblage Zone extends from the Upper Elliot Formation into the Clarens Formation. Its index taxa include the sauropodomorph Massospondylus , the ornithischian Lesothosaurus , and the crocodylomorph Protosuchus . ^[14]

Sauropodomorphs are particularly diverse in the Elliot Formation. ^{[15] [16] [17] [18]} The most common dinosaur is a sauropodomorph species, Massospondylus carinatus . ^{[19] [20]} Fossilised Massospondylus eggs, some with the fossilized remains of embryos intact, have been recovered from UEF deposits in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. ^{[21] [22]}

The mudstones of the LEF sometimes yield petrified wood, fossil plant matter, crustaceans, fishes, and turtles while the sandstones of the upper Elliot Formation more often contain various trace fossils. These include vertebrate trackways of basal ornithischian dinosaurs found in the Leribe, Mafeteng, and Mohales Hoek Districts of Lesotho. Possible trackways of the dicynodont Pentasaurus have been found on Morobong Hill in the Mohales Hoek District of Lesotho. ^{[23] [24] [25] [26]}

Dinosaurs

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.

Ornithischians

Ornithischians of the Elliot Formation
Genus / Taxon	Species	Location	Stratigraphy	Notes	Images
Abrictosaurus	A. consors		Upper Elliot	A heterodontosaurid, formerly species of Lycorhinus
Eocursor	E. parvus		Upper Elliot	A basal ornithischian
Fabrosaurus	F. australis		Upper Elliot	A basal ornithischian, nomen dubium
Heterodontosaurus	H. tucki		Upper Elliot	A heterodontosaurid
Lesothosaurus	L. diagnosticus		Upper Elliot	A basal neornithischian or thyreophoran, formerly considered a species of Fabrosaurus. [27] Larger Lesothosaurus specimens are sometimes given the name Stormbergia . [28]
Lycorhinus	L. angustidens		Upper Elliot	A heterodontosaurid
Moyenisauropus			Upper Elliot	Large ornithischian footprints similar to Anomoepus . [29]
Pegomastax	P. africana		Upper Elliot	A heterodontosaurid
Thyreophora	Thyreophora indet		Upper Elliot	Known from scutes [30]
Trisauropodiscus	T. aviforma		Lower–Upper Elliot	Very small bird-like dinosaur footprints, potentially produced by theropods or heterodontosaurid ornithischians. [31]

Sauropodomorphs

Prosauropods of the Elliot Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphy	Notes	Images
Aardonyx	A. celestae		Upper Elliot	A derived sauropodomorph
Antetonitrus	A. ingenipes		Upper Elliot	A lessemsaurid, either a derived sauropodomorph or basal sauropod. [32]
Arcusaurus	A. pereirabdalorum	Spion Kop Heelbo	Upper Elliot	A basal sauropodomorph, known from juveniles
Blikanasaurus	B. cromptoni	Blikana Mountain	Lower Elliot	A derived sauropodomorph or basal sauropod. [33]
Eucnemesaurus	E. fortis		Lower Elliot	A possible riojasaurid
	E. entaxonis
Euskelosaurus	E. browni		Lower Elliot	A plateosaurid, potentially dubious
Gryponyx	G. africanus		Upper Elliot	A massospondylid, potentially dubious
Ignavusaurus	I. rachelis		Upper Elliot	A massospondylid, known from a juvenile. A potential synonym of Massospondylus
Kholumolumo	K. ellenbergerorum		Lower Elliot	A basal massopodan.
Ledumahadi [34]	L. mafube		Upper Elliot	A lessemsaurid, either a derived sauropodomorph or basal sauropod. The largest dinosaur in the formation. [34] [35]
Massospondylus	M. carinatus		Upper Elliot	A massospondylid, the most common dinosaur in the formation. [19] [20]
	M. kaalae		Upper Elliot	A massospondylid which differs from M. carinatus in cranial features
Melanorosaurus	M. readi	Thaba 'Nyama	Lower Elliot	A derived sauropodomorph
Meroktenos	M. thabanensis	Thabana Morena	Lower Elliot	A derived sauropodomorph, formerly a species of Melanorosaurus
Plateosauravus	P. cullingworthi		Lower Elliot	A basal sauropodomorph, formerly specimens of Euskelosaurus
Pseudotetrasauropus	P. bipedoida		Lower Elliot	Large bipedal sauropodomorph footprints. [36] [37]
	P. jaquesi		Lower Elliot	Large quadrupedal sauropodomorph footprints, sometimes considered a species of Lavinipes . [37]
Pulanesaura	P. eocollum		Upper Elliot	A derived sauropodomorph or basal sauropod
Sefapanosaurus	S. zastronensis		Lower Elliot?	A derived sauropodomorph
Tetrasauropus	T. unguiferus		Lower Elliot	Large quadrupedal sauropodomorph footprints. [36] [37]

Theropods

Large theropod-like teeth have been found in the Lower Elliot Formation. ^[38] Various exposures of the formation (primarily in Lesotho) preserve informative interactions between theropod trackmakers and soft sediment. ^{[39] [40] [41] [42]}

Theropods of the Elliot Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphy	Notes	Images
Dracovenator [43]	D. regenti	Upper Drumbo Farm	Upper Elliot	A large neotheropod, potentially close to Dilophosaurus .
Eubrontes			Lower–Upper Elliot	Large theropod footprints.
Grallator			Lower–Upper Elliot	Small theropod footprints.
Kayentapus	K. ambrokholohali		Upper Elliot	Very large theropod footprints. The largest prints, measuring 57 cm (22 in) in length, may belong to a theropod up to 9 m (30 ft) long. [40] [44]
Megapnosaurus	M. rhodesiensis	Syntarsus site	Upper Elliot	A coelophysid, also known as Syntarsus.

Pseudosuchians

Pseudosuchians of the Elliot Formation
Genus / Taxon	Species	Location	Stratigraphy	Notes	Images
Basutodon	B. ferox		Lower Elliot	A dubious archosaur based on a "rauisuchian"-like tooth. [45]
Batrachopus			Upper Elliot	Small crocodylomorph footprints. [46] [25]
Brachychirotherium	B. cf. thuringiacum		Lower Elliot	Large "chirothere" footprints. [46] [36] [1]
Litargosuchus [47]	L. leptorhynchus	Eagles Crag Farm	Upper Elliot	A basal crocodylomorph
Orthosuchus	O. stormbergi		Upper Elliot	A possible protosuchid crocodylomorph. [48] [49] [50]
Paratetrasauropus	P. seakensis		Lower Elliot	Large crocodilian-like footprints, probably from crocodylomorphs. [36]
Poposauroidea indet.			Lower Elliot	An indeterminate poposauroid. [45]
Protosuchus	P. haughtoni		Upper Elliot	A protosuchid crocodylomorph.
Rauisuchia indet.			Lower Elliot	A indeterminate large "rauisuchian" (non-crocodylomorph loricatan). Many "rauisuchian" fossils have been found in the formation, [45] including very large limb bones from near Qhemegha, Eastern Cape. [51] A large toothed maxilla, formerly considered part of " Aliwalia rex ", may be rauisuchian in origin. [1]
Sauropodopus	S. antiquus		Lower Elliot	Large Brachychirotherium -like footprints with a narrow gait. [46] [36]
Sphenosuchus	S. acutus		Upper Elliot	A basal crocodylomorph. [52]

Other reptiles

Other reptiles of the Elliot Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphy	Notes	Images
Australochelys	A. africanus		Upper Elliot	An australochelyid testudinate (early turtle). [53]
Clevosaurus	C. sp.		Upper Elliot	An clevosaurid rhynchocephalian. [54]

Synapsids

A possible late-surviving diademodontid cynodont may be present in the Upper Elliot Formation. ^{[55] [1]}

Synapsids of the Elliot Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphy	Notes	Images
Ameghinichnus	A. sp.		Upper Elliot	Tritylodontid cynodont footprints. [46]
Diarthrognathus	D. broomi		Upper Elliot	A tritheledontid cynodont
Elliotherium [56]	E. kersteni		Upper Elliot [1]	A tritheledontid cynodont
Erythrotherium	E. parringtoni		Upper Elliot	A mammaliaform cynodont
Megazostrodon	M. rudnerae		Upper Elliot	A megazostrodontid mammaliaform cynodont. [57]
Pachygenelus	P. monus		Upper Elliot	A tritheledontid cynodont
Pentasauropus	P. incredibilis		Lower Elliot	Dicynodont footprints
Pentasaurus [58]	P. goggai		Lower Elliot	A stahleckeriid dicynodont, undoubtedly the trackmaker of Pentasauropus. [58]
Scalenodontoides	S. macrodontes		Lower Elliot	A very large traversodontid cynodont
Tritheledon	T. riconoi		Upper Elliot	A tritheledontid cynodont
Tritylodon	T. longaevus		Upper Elliot	A tritylodontid cynodont

Other vertebrates

Amphibians and fish of the Elliot Formation
Genus / Taxon	Species	Location	Stratigraphy	Notes	Images
Brachyopoidea		Quthing, Lesotho [59]	Upper Elliot [1]	An enormous brachyopoid amphibian based on a skull fragment. Potentially the largest amphibian which has ever lived. [59]
Ceratodus	C. sp.		Lower–Upper Elliot	A ceratodontid lungfish.
Chigutisauridae			Lower–Upper Elliot	Indeterminate chigutisaurid amphibians.
Daedalichthys	D. formosa		Upper Elliot	A redfieldiiform ray-finned fish, previously identified as Helichthys .
Endemichthys	E. likhoeli		Upper Elliot	A redfieldiiform ray-finned fish.
Episcopopus	E. ventrosus		Upper Elliot	Very large amphibian footprints. [60]
Semionotus	S. capensis		Upper Elliot	A semionotid ray-finned fish.

References

1. Bordy, Emese M.; Abrahams, Miengah; Sharman, Glenn R.; Viglietti, Pia A.; Benson, Roger B.J.; McPhee, Blair W.; Barrett, Paul M.; Sciscio, Lara; Condon, Daniel; Mundil, Roland; Rademan, Zandri (April 2020). "A chronostratigraphic framework for the upper Stormberg Group: Implications for the Triassic-Jurassic boundary in southern Africa". Earth-Science Reviews. 203 103120. Bibcode:2020ESRv..20303120B. doi:10.1016/j.earscirev.2020.103120. ISSN   0012-8252. S2CID   213646670.
2. Bordy, Emese M.; John Hancox, P.; Rubidge, Bruce S. (2004-03-01). "Fluvial style variations in the Late Triassic–Early Jurassic Elliot formation, main Karoo Basin, South Africa". Journal of African Earth Sciences. 38 (4): 383–400. Bibcode:2004JAfES..38..383B. doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2004.02.004. ISSN   1464-343X.
3. Bordy, E.M.; Hancox, P.J.; Rubidge, B.S. (2004). "A description of the sedimentology and palaeontology of the Late Triassic–Early Jurassic Elliot Formation in Lesotho". Palaeontologia africana. 40: 43–58. ISSN   0078-8554.
4. Bordy, E.M.; Eriksson, P. (2015-09-01). "Lithostratigraphy of the Elliot Formation (Karoo Supergroup), South Africa". South African Journal of Geology. 118 (3): 311–316. Bibcode:2015SAJG..118..311B. doi:10.2113/gssajg.118.3.311. hdl: 2263/55739 . ISSN   1012-0750.
5. Tankard, Anthony; Welsink, Herman; Aukes, Peter; Newton, Robert; Stettler, Edgar (2009-09-01). "Tectonic evolution of the Cape and Karoo basins of South Africa". Marine and Petroleum Geology. 26 (8): 1379–1412. Bibcode:2009MarPG..26.1379T. doi:10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2009.01.022. ISSN   0264-8172.
6. Visser, J.N.J.; Botha, B.J.V. (1980). "Meander channel, point bar, crevasse splay and aeolian deposits from the Elliot Formation in Barkly Pass, North-eastern Cape". South African Journal of Geology. 83 (1): 55–62. ISSN   1012-0750.
7. Sciscio, Lara; De Kock, Michiel; Bordy, Emese; Knoll, Fabien (2017-11-01). "Magnetostratigraphy across the Triassic-Jurassic boundary in the main Karoo Basin". Gondwana Research. 51: 177–192. Bibcode:2017GondR..51..177S. doi:10.1016/j.gr.2017.07.009. hdl: 10261/338607 . ISSN   1342-937X.
8. Attridge, J.; Crompton, A. W.; Jenkins, Farish A. (June 1985). "The Southern African Liassic prosauropod Massospondylus discovered in North America". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 5 (2): 128–132. Bibcode:1985JVPal...5..128A. doi:10.1080/02724634.1985.10011850. ISSN   0272-4634.
9. Smith, R. M.H.; Swart, R. (2002-06-01). "Changing Fluvial Environments and Vertebrate Taphonomy in Response to Climatic Drying in a Mid-Triassic Rift Valley Fill: The Omingonde Formation (Karoo Supergroup) of Central Namibia". PALAIOS. 17 (3): 249–267. Bibcode:2002Palai..17..249S. doi:10.1669/0883-1351(2002)017<0249:CFEAVT>2.0.CO;2. ISSN   0883-1351. S2CID   130316395.
10. Abdala, Fernando; Smith, Roger M. H. (2009-09-12). "A Middle Triassic cynodont fauna from Namibia and its implications for the biogeography of Gondwana". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 29 (3): 837–851. Bibcode:2009JVPal..29..837A. doi:10.1671/039.029.0303. ISSN   0272-4634. S2CID   129096876.
11. Walker, A. D. (1990-10-29). "A revision of Sphenosuchus acutus Haughton, a crocodylomorph reptile from the Elliot Formation (late Triassic or early Jurassic) of South Africa". Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B. 330 (1256): 1–120. doi:10.1098/rstb.1990.0185. ISSN   0962-8436.
12. Tucker, Maurice E.; Benton, Michael J. (1982-12-01). "Triassic environments, climates and reptile evolution". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 40 (4): 361–379. Bibcode:1982PPP....40..361T. doi: 10.1016/0031-0182(82)90034-7 . ISSN   0031-0182.
13. Viglietti, P.A.; McPhee, B.W.; Bordy, E.M.; Sciscio, L.; Barrett, P.M.; Benson, R.B.J.; Wills, S.; Tolchard, F.; Choiniere, J.N. (2020-06-01). "Biostratigraphy of the Scalenodontoides Assemblage Zone (Stormberg Group, Karoo Supergroup), South Africa". South African Journal of Geology. 123 (2): 239–248. doi:10.25131/sajg.123.0017. ISSN   1996-8590.
14. Viglietti, P.A.; McPhee, B.W.; Bordy, E.M.; Sciscio, L.; Barrett, P.M.; Benson, R.B.J.; Wills, S.; Chapelle, K.E.J.; Dollman, K.N.; Mdekazi, C.; Choiniere, J.N. (2020-06-01). "Biostratigraphy of the Massospondylus Assemblage Zone (Stormberg Group, Karoo Supergroup), South Africa". South African Journal of Geology. 123 (2): 249–262. doi:10.25131/sajg.123.0018. ISSN   1996-8590.
15. Yates, Adam M. (2003). "A definite prosauropod dinosaur from the Lower Elliot Formation (Norian: Upper Triassic) of South Africa". Palaeontologia Africana. 39: 63–68. ISSN   0078-8554.
16. Barrett, Paul M. (2004-09-01). "Sauropodomorph dinosaur diversity in the upper Elliot Formation (Massospondylus range zone: Lower Jurassic) of South Africa: research letter". South African Journal of Science. 100 (9–10). ISSN   0038-2353.
17. Hancox, P. John; Rubidge, Bruce S.; Yates, Adam M. (1 September 2004). "First record of a sauropod dinosaur from the upper Elliot Formation (Early Jurassic) of South Africa: research letter". South African Journal of Science. 100 (9): 504–506.
18. McPhee, Blair; Bordy, Emese; Sciscio, Lara; Choiniere, Jonah (2017). "The sauropodomorph biostratigraphy of the Elliot Formation of southern Africa: Tracking the evolution of Sauropodomorpha across the Triassic–Jurassic boundary". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica. 62 (3): 2017. Bibcode:2017AcPaP..62.2017M. doi: 10.4202/app.00377.2017 . ISSN   0567-7920.
19. Sues, H.D., Reisz, R.R., Hinic, S. and Raath, M.A., 2004. On the skull of Massospondylus carinatus Owen, 1854 (Dinosauria: Sauropodomorpha) from the Elliot and Clarens formations (Lower Jurassic) of South Africa. Annals of Carnegie Museum, 73(4), pp.239–257.
20. Chinsamy, Anusuya (1993). "Bone histology and growth trajectory of the prosauropod dinosaur Massospondylus carinatus Owen". Modern Geology. 18: 319–329.
21. Kitching, James (1979). "Preliminary report on a clutch of six dinosaurian eggs from the Upper Triassic Elliot Formation, Northern Orange Free State". Palaeontologia Africana. 22: 41–45.
22. Reisz, Robert R.; Evans, David C.; Sues, Hans-Dieter; Scott, Diane (2010-12-02). "Embryonic skeletal anatomy of the sauropodomorph dinosaur Massospondylus from the Lower Jurassic of South Africa". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 30 (6): 1653–1665. Bibcode:2010JVPal..30.1653R. doi:10.1080/02724634.2010.521604. ISSN   0272-4634. S2CID   84599991.
23. Anderson, J.M.; Anderson, H.M.; Cruickshank, A.R.I. (1998). "Late Triassic ecosystems of the Molteno/Lower Elliot biome of southern Africa" (PDF). Palaeontology. 41 (3): 387–421.
24. Smith, R.; Kitching, J. (1997-06-01). "Sedimentology and vertebrate taphonomy of the Tritylodon Acme Zone: a reworked palaeosol in the Lower Jurassic Elliot Formation, Karoo Supergroup, South Africa". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 131 (1–2): 29–50. Bibcode:1997PPP...131...29S. doi:10.1016/S0031-0182(96)00143-5. ISSN   0031-0182.
25. Knoll, Fabien (January 2005). "The tetrapod fauna of the Upper Elliot and Clarens formations in the main Karoo Basin (South Africa and Lesotho)". Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France. 176 (1): 81–91. Bibcode:2005BSGF..176...81K. doi:10.2113/176.1.81. ISSN   0037-9409.
26. Sciscio, Lara (December 2015). Position of the Triassic-Jurassic boundary in South Africa and Lesotho: a multidisciplinary approach aimed at improving the chronostratigraphy and biostratigraphy of the Elliot Formation, Stormberg Group (Thesis). University of Cape Town – via OpenUCT.
27. Knoll, Fabien (2002-07-08). "Nearly complete skull of Lesothosaurus (Dinosauria: Ornithischia) from the Upper Elliot Formation (Lower Jurassic: Hettangian) of Lesotho". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 22 (2): 238–243. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2002)022[0238:ncsold]2.0.co;2. ISSN   0272-4634. S2CID   85790601.
28. Butler, Richard J. (October 2005). "The 'fabrosaurid' ornithischian dinosaurs of the Upper Elliot Formation (Lower Jurassic) of South Africa and Lesotho". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 145 (2): 175–218. doi: 10.1111/j.1096-3642.2005.00182.x . ISSN   1096-3642.
29. Smith, R. M.H.; Marsicano, C. A.; Wilson, J. A. (2009-10-01). "Sedimentology and paleoecology of a diverse Early Jurassic tetrapod tracksite in Lesotho, southern Africa" (PDF). PALAIOS. 24 (10): 672–684. doi:10.2110/palo.2008.p08-115r. ISSN   0883-1351. Archived from the original on 2018-07-19.
30. Blackbeard, Marc; Yates, Adam (2007). "Taphonomy of an Early Jurassic dinosaur bonebed in the northern Free State (South Africa)" (PDF). Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 27 (supp3): 49A.
31. Abrahams, Miengah; Bordy, Emese M.; Sciscio, Lara; Knoll, Fabien (2017-10-03). "Scampering, trotting, walking tridactyl bipedal dinosaurs in southern Africa: ichnological account of a Lower Jurassic palaeosurface (upper Elliot Formation, Roma Valley) in Lesotho". Historical Biology. 29 (7): 958–975. doi:10.1080/08912963.2016.1267164. ISSN   0891-2963.
32. McPhee, Blair W.; Yates, Adam M.; Choiniere, Jonah N.; Abdala, Fernando (2014-04-25). "The complete anatomy and phylogenetic relationships of Antetonitrus ingenipes (Sauropodiformes, Dinosauria): implications for the origins of Sauropoda". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 171 (1). doi: 10.1111/zoj12127 . ISSN   1096-3642.
33. Galton, Peter M.; Heerden, Jacques (April 1998). "Anatomy of the prosauropod dinosaur Blikanasaurus cromptoni (Upper Triassic, South Africa), with notes on the other tetrapods from the lower Elliot Formation". Paläontologische Zeitschrift. 72 (1–2): 163–177. Bibcode:1998PalZ...72..163G. doi:10.1007/bf02987824. ISSN   0031-0220. S2CID   128464155.
34. McPhee, B. W.; Benson RBJ; Botha-Brink, J.; Bordy, E. M.; Choiniere, J. N. (2018-10-08). "A Giant Dinosaur from the Earliest Jurassic of South Africa and the Transition to Quadrupedality in Early Sauropodomorphs". Current Biology. 28 (19): 3143–3151.e7. Bibcode:2018CBio...28E3143M. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.07.063 . ISSN   0960-9822. PMID   30270189.
35. Sander, P. M.; Lallensack, J. N. (2018-10-08). "Dinosaurs: Four Legs Good, Two Legs Bad". Current Biology. 28 (19): R1160 –R1163. Bibcode:2018CBio...28R1160S. doi: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.08.025 . ISSN   0960-9822. PMID   30300605.
36. Porchetti, Simone D'Orazi; Nicosia, Umberto (2007-05-30). "Re-Examination of Some Large Early Mesozoic Tetrapod Footprints from the African Collection of Paul Ellenberger". Ichnos. 14 (3–4): 219–245. Bibcode:2007Ichno..14..219P. doi:10.1080/10420940601049990. ISSN   1042-0940.
37. Sciscio, Lara; Bordy, Emese M.; Lockley, Martin G.; Abrahams, Miengah (2023-09-28). "Basal sauropodomorph locomotion: ichnological lessons from the Late Triassic trackways of bipeds and quadrupeds (Elliot Formation, main Karoo Basin)". PeerJ. 11 e15970. doi: 10.7717/peerj.15970 . ISSN   2167-8359. PMC   10542822 . PMID   37790620.
38. Ray, Sanghamitra; Chinsamy, Anusuya (2002-06-01). "A theropod tooth from the Late Triassic of southern Africa". Journal of Biosciences. 27 (3): 295–298. doi:10.1007/BF02704918. ISSN   0973-7138.
39. Sciscio, Lara; Bordy, Emese M.; Reid, Mhairi; Abrahams, Miengah (2016-08-23). "Sedimentology and ichnology of the Mafube dinosaur track site (Lower Jurassic, eastern Free State, South Africa): a report on footprint preservation and palaeoenvironment". PeerJ. 4 e2285. Bibcode:2016PeerJ...4e2285S. doi: 10.7717/peerj.2285 . ISSN   2167-8359. PMC   5012264 . PMID   27635310.
40. Sciscio, L.; Bordy, E. M.; Abrahams, M.; Knoll, F.; McPhee, B. W. (2017-10-25). "The first megatheropod tracks from the Lower Jurassic upper Elliot Formation, Karoo Basin, Lesotho". PLOS ONE. 12 (10) e0185941. Bibcode:2017PLoSO..1285941S. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0185941 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   5656318 . PMID   29069093.
41. Bordy, Emese M.; Abrahams, Miengah; Sciscio, Lara (2017). "The Subeng vertebrate tracks: stratigraphy, sedimentology and a digital archive of a historic Upper Triassic palaeosurface (lower Elliot Formation), Leribe, Lesotho (southern Africa)" (PDF). Bollettino della Società Paleontologica Italiana (2): 181–198. ISSN   0375-7633.
42. Rampersadh, Akhil; Bordy, Emese M.; Sciscio, Lara; Abrahams, Miengah (2018). "Dinosaur behaviour in an Early Jurassic palaeoecosystem – uppermost Elliot Formation, Ha Nohana, Lesotho". Annales Societatis Geologorum Poloniae. doi:10.14241/asgp.2018.010.
43. Yates, Adam M. (2005). "A new theropod dinosaur from the Early Jurassic of South Africa and its implications for the early evolution of theropods". Palaeontologia Africana. 41: 105–122.
44. "UCT-led team discovers megacarnivore roaming southern Africa 200 million years ago". University of Cape Town News. 26 October 2017. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
45. Tolchard, Frederick; Nesbitt, Sterling J.; Desojo, Julia B.; Viglietti, Pia; Butler, Richard J.; Choiniere, Jonah N. (2019). "'Rauisuchian' material from the lower Elliot Formation of South Africa and Lesotho: Implications for Late Triassic biogeography and biostratigraphy". Journal of African Earth Sciences. 160 103610. doi:10.1016/j.jafrearsci.2019.103610.
46. Olsen, P.E.; Galton, P.M. (1984). "A review of the reptile and amphibian assemblages from the Stormberg of southern Africa, with special emphasis on the footprints and the age of the Stormberg". Palaeontologia Africana. 25: 87–110. Retrieved 24 November 2021.
47. Clark, James M.; Sues, Hans-Dieter (2002-08-21). "Two new basal crocodylomorph archosaurs from the Lower Jurassic and the monophyly of the Sphenosuchia". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 136 (1): 77–95. doi: 10.1046/j.1096-3642.2002.00026.x . ISSN   1096-3642.
48. Nash, Diane (1968). "A crocodile from the Upper Triassic of Lesotho". Journal of Zoology. 156 (2): 163–179. doi:10.1111/j.1469-7998.1968.tb05927.x. ISSN   0952-8369.
49. Nash, D.S., 1975. The morphology and relationships of a crocodilian, Orthosuchus stormbergi, from the Upper Triassic of Lesotho. South African Museum.
50. Dollman, K. N.; Viglietti, P. A.; Choiniere, J. N. (2017-10-12). "A new specimen of Orthosuchus stormbergi (Nash 1968) and a review of the distribution of Southern African Lower Jurassic crocodylomorphs". Historical Biology. 31 (5): 653–664. doi:10.1080/08912963.2017.1387110. ISSN   0891-2963. S2CID   134134524.
51. Botha, Jennifer; Weiss, Bailey M.; Dollman, Kathleen; Barrett, Paul M.; Benson, Roger B.J.; Choiniere, Jonah N. (2023). "Origins of slow growth on the crocodilian stem lineage". Current Biology. 33 (19): 4261–4268.e3. doi:10.1016/j.cub.2023.08.057.
52. Walker, A. D. (1990-10-29). "A revision of Sphenosuchus acutus Haughton, a crocodylomorph reptile from the Elliot Formation (late Triassic or early Jurassic) of South Africa". Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. B. 330 (1256): 1–120. doi:10.1098/rstb.1990.0185. ISSN   0962-8436.
53. Gaffney, E.S. & Kitching, J.W. (1995). "The Morphology and Relationships of Australochelys, an Early Jurassic Turtle from South Africa". American Museum Novitates (3130): 29. hdl:2246/3666.
54. Sues, H. D.; Reisz, R. (1995). "First record of the early mesozoic sphenodontian clevosaurus (lepidosauria: rhynchocephalia) from the southern hemisphere". Journal of Paleontology. 69 (1): 123–126. Bibcode:1995JPal...69..123S. doi:10.1017/s0022336000026974. S2CID   131414921.
55. Fernando, Abdala; Ross, Damiani; Adam, Yates; Johann, Neveling (2007). "A non-mammaliaform cynodont from the Upper Triassic of South Africa: a therapsid Lazarus taxon?". Palaeontologia Africana. 42: 17–23. ISSN   0078-8554.
56. Hancox, P. J.; Sidor, C. A. (March 2006). "Elliotherium Kersteni, A New Tritheledontid from the Lower Elliot Formation (Upper Triassic) of South Africa". Journal of Paleontology. 80 (2): 333–342. CiteSeerX   10.1.1.557.9156 . doi:10.1666/0022-3360(2006)080[0333:EKANTF]2.0.CO;2. ISSN   0022-3360. S2CID   130003909.
57. E, Gow, Chris (1986-06-30). "A new skull of Megazostrodon (Mammalia, Triconodonta) from the Elliot Formation (Lower Jurassic) of Southern Africa". Palaeontologia Africana. ISSN   0078-8554.
58. Kammerer, Christian F. (2018). "The first skeletal evidence of a dicynodont from the lower Elliot Formation of South Africa". Palaeontologia Africana. 52: 102–128. hdl: 10539/24148 . ISSN   2410-4418..
59. Steyer, J. Sébastien; Damiani, Ross (2005-05-01). "A giant brachyopoid temnospondyl from the Upper Triassic or Lower Jurassic of Lesotho". Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France. 176 (3): 243–248. Bibcode:2005BSGF..176..243S. doi:10.2113/176.3.243. ISSN   1777-5817.
60. Marsicano, Claudia A.; Wilson, Jeffrey A.; Smith, Roger M. H. (2014-08-06). "A Temnospondyl Trackway from the Early Mesozoic of Western Gondwana and Its Implications for Basal Tetrapod Locomotion". PLOS ONE. 9 (8) e103255. Bibcode:2014PLoSO...9j3255M. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0103255 . ISSN   1932-6203. PMC   4123899 . PMID   25099971.