This is a list of stratigraphic units from which dinosaur body fossils have been recovered. Although Dinosauria is a clade which includes modern birds, this article covers only Mesozoic stratigraphic units. Units listed are all either formation rank or higher (e.g. group).
Name | Age | Location | Part of | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Cleveland-Lloyd Dinosaur Quarry | Jurassic | Morrison Formation | Bonebed containing at least 44 Allosaurus as well as remains from Camarasaurus , Stegosaurus , Camptosaurus , Marshosaurus , and many other genera | |
Ghost Ranch Quarry | Late Triassic | Chinle Formation | Bonebed preserving hundreds of Coelophysis skeletons of all ages as well as remains of many other contemporary animals | |
Dry Island Buffalo Jump Provincial Park | Early Maastrichtian | Horseshoe Canyon Formation | Bonebed containing several Albertosaurus specimens of various ages | |
Egg Mountain | Campanian | Two Medicine Formation | Bonebed preserving several nesting Maiasaura as well as other taxa | |
Hilda mega-bonebed | Campanian | Dinosaur Park Formation | Group of several bonebeds containing numerous Centrosaurus | |
Shishugou Death Pits | Middle or Late Jurassic | Shishugou Formation | Believed to have been formed in the footprints of large sauropods and preserve mired specimens of Limusaurus , Guanlong , and other small animals |
Name | Age | Location | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Late Aptian | Preserves birds like Cratoavis alongside the compsognathid “Ubirajara jubatus” | ||
Part of the La Huérguina Formation | |||
Early Albian | Known primarily for well-preserved pterosaur fossils, but also preserves dinosaurs like Irritator | ||
Origin of all specimens of Archaeopteryx ; includes the Torleite Formation and the Painten Formation | |||
Smoky Hill Chalk | Santonian | Birds are known from this unit, but no non-avian dinosaurs have been found; part of the Niobrara Formation | |
Tanis site | Very end of the Maastrichtian | Part of the Hell Creek Formation, is believed to have been deposited at the moment the shockwave from the Chicxulub impactor reached North America | |
Name | Age | Location | Part of | Description |
---|---|---|---|---|
Big Al Quarry | Late Jurassic | Morrison Formation | ||
Brown Hills | Campanian | Djadochta Formation | Also called "Ukhaa Tolgod" | |
Campanian | Djadochta Formation | Also called "Bayn Dzak" |
Here the units are sorted by the number of genera that have been reported as being represented in their respective fossil yields. Since the creation or synonymy of genera can be subjective, the sorting of the units can only roughly approximate their known paleobiodiversities.
Name | Age | Location | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
Aguja Formation | Campanian [5] | Divided into lower and upper shale members [5] | |
Allen Formation | Campanian | ||
Bajo de la Carpa Formation | Late Santonian | ||
Barun Goyot Formation [6] | Middle Campanian (?) [6] | sometimes spelled "Baruungoyot Formation"; has been argued to be either contemporaneous with the Nemegt Formation or immediately preceding it | |
Bayan Mandahu Formation | Campanian | ||
Bayan Shireh Formation [7] | Cenomanian to Santonian [7] | ||
Bissekty Formation [8] | Late Turonian to Coniacian [8] | ||
Cañadón Asfalto Formation | Toarcian | paleobiota list here | |
Candeleros Formation | Cenomanian | ||
Cedar Mountain Formation [9] | Barremian to basal Cenomanian | Composed of several members (in ascending order of age): Buckhorn Conglomerate, Yellow Cat, Poison Strip Sandstone, Ruby Ranch, and Mussentuchit members | |
Cerro del Pueblo Formation | Campanian [5] | ||
Dinosaur Park Formation | Late Campanian [5] | subdivided into the lower Sandy Zone and the upper Muddy Zone as well as the uppermost Lethbridge Coal Zone [5] | |
Djadochta Formation [10] | Middle Campanian [10] | sometimes spelled "Djadokhta", "Djadokata", or "Dzhadokhtskaya Formation" | |
Elliot Formation [11] | Norian to Sinemurian | Lower Elliot is Late Triassic in age, Upper Elliot is Early Jurassic in age | |
Foremost Formation [5] | Campanian | ||
Grès à Reptiles [12] | Early Maastrichtian [12] | ||
Hell Creek Formation [5] | Late Maastrichtian [5] | See paleobiota list here | |
Horseshoe Canyon Formation | Late Campanian to Early Maastrichtian [5] | Divided into several members (in ascending order of age): the Drumheller, Horsethief, Morrin, Tolman, Carbon, and Whitemud members [5] | |
Huincul Formation | Late Cenomanian to early Turonian | ||
Iren Dabasu Formation [13] | Uncertain (some time in the Late Cretaceous) [13] | ||
Jiufotang Formation [1] | Aptian [1] | ||
Judith River Formation | Late Campanian [5] | Composed of the lower McClelland Ferry and upper Coal Ridge members [5] | |
Kaiparowits Formation | Campanian [5] | Divided into three members (lower, middle, and upper) [5] | |
Kimmeridge Clay [14] | Kimmeridgian to Late Tithonian [14] | ||
Kirtland Formation | Late Campanian [5] | Divided into three members (in ascending order of age): the Hunter Wash, Farmington, and De-na-zin members [5] | |
Lameta Formation [15] | Late Maastrichtian | ||
Lance Formation | Late Maastrichtian [5] | ||
Lourinhã Formation | Late Kimmeridgian-earliest Berriasian | ||
Lufeng Formation [16] | Hettangian to Pliensbachian | ||
Morrison Formation [17] | Kimmeridgian to early Tithonian | See paleobiota list here and list of dinosaurs here | |
Nanxiong Formation | Maastrichtian | ||
Nemegt Formation [18] | Early Maastrichtian [18] | ||
Oldman Formation | Late Campanian [5] | Comprised of a lower and upper member which are non-conforming [5] | |
Oxford Clay [19] | Callovian [19] | ||
Portezuelo Formation | Late Turonian to early Coniacian | ||
Prince Creek Formation | Late Campanian to Maastrichtian [5] | ||
Rio Colorado Formation [20] | Campanian | ||
Scollard Formation | Late Maastrichtian [5] | Only the lower Scollard Formation was deposited during the Mesozoic [5] | |
Shaximiao Formation [21] | Bathonian to basal Oxfordian | Subdivided into the lower (Shangshaximiao) and upper (Xiashaximiao) sections; these roughly correspond to the Shunosaurus-Omeisaurus assemblage and Mamenchisaurus assemblage respectively | |
Shishugou Formation | Callovian-Oxfordian | ||
Tendaguru Formation [22] | Kimmeridgian [22] | ||
Tremp Formation | Maastrichtian-Thanetian | ||
Trossingen Formation | Norian-Rhaetian | ||
Two Medicine Formation | Campanian [23] | Divided into several members (in ascending order of age): the Rock City, Shields Crossing, Hagans Crossing, "lacustrine interval", and Flag Butte members [23] | |
Wahweap Formation | Middle Campanian | ||
Wangshi Group [24] | Campanian to early Maastrichtian | Consists of the Linjiazhuang, Jiangjunding, Xingezhuang, Hongtuya, Jingangkou, and Shijiatun formations | |
Wessex Formation [25] | Barremian [25] | ||
Xiagou Formation | Aptian | ||
Xinminbao Group [26] | Barremian to Albian [26] | Composed of the Chijinbao, Digou, and Zhonggou formations | |
Yixian Formation [4] | Barremian [4] | See list of paleobiota here | |
Name | Age | Location | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Late Cretaceous [28] [29] | |||
Kimmeridgian [30] | Also known as "Camadas de Guimarota" | ||
Cenomanian to Coniacian [35] | |||
Sinemurian [37] | |||
Cloverly Formation [38] | Late Aptian [38] | ||
Late Aptian [40] | |||
Late Maastrichtian [42] | |||
Frenchman Formation [43] | Late Maastrichtian [43] | ||
Carnian [44] | |||
Sinemurian to Pliensbachian | |||
Late Maastrichtian [47] | |||
Norian [49] | |||
Campanian [50] | |||
Early Campanian [51] | |||
Late Maastrichtian [54] | |||
Hauterivian to Valanginian [55] | |||
Udurchukan Formation | Maastrichtian | ||
Villar del Arzobispo Formation | |||
Wapiti Formation | Early Campanian to Late Maastrichtian | ||
Barremian [56] | |||
Name | Age | Location | Description |
---|---|---|---|
Late Cretaceous [57] | |||
Aurisina Formation | Campanian [65] | ||
Norian [75] | |||
Cerro Barcino Formation | Aptian-Cenomanian | ||
Charmouth Mudstone Formation | Early Jurassic | ||
Middle Campanian [83] | |||
Dorotea Formation | Late Cretaceous | ||
Eutaw Formation | |||
Rhaetian to ?Sinemurian [87] | |||
Hettangian to Sinemurian [88] | |||
uncertain, Cretaceous | |||
Campanian [90] | |||
Hall Lake Formation | |||
Late Sinemurian to Early Pliensbachian | |||
Itat Formation | |||
Hettangian to Pliensbachian [92] | |||
Barremian [93] | |||
Maastrichtian | |||
?Norian [95] | |||
Barremian [96] | |||
Norian [98] | |||
Late Norian | |||
Marnes Rouges Inferieures | |||
Early Maastrichtian [101] | |||
Late Norian to Rhaetian [103] | |||
Pliensbachian to Toarcian [104] | |||
Pliensbachian to Toarcian [106] | |||
Norian [107] | |||
Saltrio Formation | Sinemurian | ||
Kimmeridgian [3] | |||
Toqui Formation | |||
Tithonian [108] | |||
Turonian | |||
Rhaetian [110] | |||
Cenomanian [111] | |||
Valanginian to Aptian [112] | |||
Zhoutian Formation [113] | Turonian–early Coniacian |
This list includes stratigraphic units that have produced dinosaur remains, although none of these remains have been referred to a specific genus.
Name | Location | Description |
---|---|---|
Khooldzin Svita | ||
Monti Prenestini Carbonatic Platform | ||
Mugher Mudstone | ||
Tujingzi Formation | ||
Unit S3U1 | ||
The Wealden Group, occasionally also referred to as the Wealden Supergroup, is a group in the lithostratigraphy of southern England. The Wealden group consists of paralic to continental (freshwater) facies sedimentary rocks of Berriasian to Aptian age and thus forms part of the English Lower Cretaceous. It is composed of alternating sands and clays. The sandy units were deposited in a flood plain of braided rivers, the clays mostly in a lagoonal coastal plain.
The Maevarano Formation is a Late Cretaceous sedimentary rock formation found in the Mahajanga Province of northwestern Madagascar. It is most likely Maastrichtian in age, and records a seasonal, semiarid environment with rivers that had greatly varying discharges. Notable animal fossils recovered include the theropod dinosaur Majungasaurus, the early bird Vorona, the paravian Rahonavis, the titanosaurian sauropod Rapetosaurus, and the giant frog Beelzebufo.
Argiles et Grès à Reptiles Formation also known as the Argiles Rutilantes Formation is an early Maastrichtian French geologic formation in the département of Var preserving the remains of several types of dinosaurs and other extinct organisms.
The Bushveld Sandstone is a geological formation dating to roughly between 201 and 189 million years ago and covering the Carnian to Norian stages. The Bushveld Sandstone is found in Transvaal, South Africa, and is a member of the Stormberg Group. As its name suggests, it consists mainly of sandstone. Fossils of the prosauropod dinosaur Massospondylus have been recovered from the Bushveld Sandstone.
The Río Colorado Subgroup, formerly named as Río Colorado Formation, is a Late Cretaceous geologic subgroup of the Neuquén Basin in northern Patagonia, Argentina. It belongs to the Neuquén Group and contains the Anacleto and Bajo de la Carpa Formations. The subgroup overlies the Río Neuquén Subgroup and is overlain by the Allen Formation of the Malargüe Group, separated by an unconformity dated to 79 Ma. Dinosaur remains diagnostic to the genus level are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.
The Argiles à Plicatules is a geological formation in northern central France whose strata date back to the Early Cretaceous. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.
The Aguja Formation is a geological formation in North America, exposed in Texas, United States and Chihuahua and Coahuila in Mexico, whose strata date back to the Late Cretaceous. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation. Fossil palms have also been unearthed here.
The Bostobe Formation is a geological formation in Qaraghandy & Qyzylorda, Kazakhastan whose strata date back to the Late Cretaceous.
The Eginsai Formation is a geological formation in Kazakhstan whose strata date back to the Late Cretaceous. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.
The Kallakurichi Formation, alternatively spelled as Kallankurichchi or Kallankurichi Formation, is a geological formation of the Ariyalur Group in Tamil Nadu, southern India whose strata date back to the Maastrichtian stage of the Late Cretaceous. Dinosaur eggs of Megaloolithus cylindricus are among the fossils that have been recovered from the sandy limestones of the formation.
The Lecho Formation is a geological formation in the Salta Basin of the provinces Jujuy and Salta of northwestern Argentina. Its strata date back to the Early Maastrichtian, and is a unit of the Salta Group. The fine-grained bioturbated sandstones of the formation were deposited in a fluvial to lacustrine coastal plain environment.
The Sangarskaya Svita is an Early Cretaceous geologic formation in Russia. Dinosaur remains from the Ankylosauridae are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation, although none have yet been referred to a specific genus.
The Tsagaantsav Formation, Tsagantsab Formation or Tsagan-Tsab Formation is an Early Cretaceous geologic formation in Mongolia. Indeterminate sauropod and psittacosaurid remains have been recovered from the formation. Remains of the pterosaur Noripterus, which were originally given their own genus, "Phobetor" have also been recovered from the formation.
The Turginskaya Svita is an Early Cretaceous period geologic formation located in Russia. Dinosaur remains were recovered from it as early as 1915, including partial theropod remains.
The Dabrazhin Formation preserves dinosaur fossils in Kazakhstan and Tajikistan. There are indeterminate remains of sauropods, nodosaurs, ornithomimosaurs, and other reptiles.