Balabansai Formation
Geological formation
AgeBathonian-Callovian
~
PeriodBathonian
PrilithologySandstone, siltstone, claystone
OtherlithologyGravel, marl
RegionOngtustik Qazaqstan oblysy, Jalal-Abad Region
CountryKazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan
Coordinates41.3°N 72.1°E
Paleocoordinates40.9°N 76.2°E
UnderliesHodzhiabad Formation[1]
Cretaceous red beds
OverliesIgrysai Svita[1]
ThicknessUp to 250 m (820 ft)

The Balabansai Formation (sometimes transcribed Balabansay,[1] also known as Balabansai Svita) is a geological formation in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan whose strata date back to the Bathonian and Callovian stages of the Middle Jurassic. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[2] The lithology primarily consists of variegated sandstones, siltstones, claystones, and rare gravels and marls.[3] Many taxa have been found in the formation, including amphibians[4] and mammals.[5]

Vertebrate paleofauna

Indeterminate Avialae remains located in Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy, Kazakhstan.[2]

Fish

Fish of the Balabansai Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceNotes
FerganamiaF. verziliniA bowfin
FerganoceratodusF. jurassicusA lungfish
PalaeobatesP. verziliniAn elasmobranch
PolyacrodusP. balabansaiensis, P. prodigialisA hybodont

Amphibians

Amphibians of the Balabansai Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceNotes
Ferganobatrachus[6]F. riabininiTemnospondyl
KokartusK. honorariusSalamander

Turtles

Turtles of the Balabansai Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceNotes
ToxocheloidesT. narynensis
XinjiangchelysX. tianshanensis, X. latimarginalisXinjiangchelydae

Lizards

Lizards of the Balabansai Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceNotes
ChangetisaurusC. estesiRelative of Dorsetisaurus
LacertiliaIndeterminate

Choristoderes

Choristoderes of the Balabansai Formation
GenusSpeciesPresenceNotes
ChoristoderaIndeterminateSimilar to Cteniogenys

Crocodyliformes

Crocodyliformes
GenusSpeciesPresenceNotes
SunosuchusIndeterminate

Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs
GenusSpeciesPresenceMaterialNotes
Praeornis[2]P. sharovi[2]Geographically located in Ongtustik Qazaqstan Oblysy, Kazakhstan.[2]
Alpkarakush[7]A. kyrgyzicusJalal-Abad Oblast, KyrgyzstanA partial skeleton including skull bones, partial pectoral and pelvic girdles, dorsal and sacral vertebrae, and most of the hindlimbsA metriacanthosaurid theropod
Ferganasaurus[8]F. verziliniLocated within KyrgyzstanBasal sauropod
Ferganocephale[3]F. adenticulatumLocated within KyrgyzstanDubious taxon, Neornithischia indet.
Neosauropoda indet.[3]Family, genus and species indeterminateKyrgyzstanA heavily worn tooth, the apex of a tooth crown, a left metatarsal I, and a right manual phalanx
Tetanurae indet.[3]Family, genus and species indeterminateKyrgyzstanDozens of teeth
Stegosauria indet.[9]Family, genus and species indeterminateKyrgyzstanFour posterior dorsal vertebraeMay be as old as Adratiklit. Remains not diagnostic, given nomen nudum "Ferganastegos" by Roman Ulansky.

Pterosaurs

Mammals
GenusSpeciesPresenceNotes
Rhamphorhynchinae indet.[3]Genus and species indeterminateKyrgyzstan

Mammals

Mammals
GenusSpeciesPresenceNotes
FerganodonF. cf. naryensisA eutriconodont
ParitatodonIndeterminateA docodont or a shuotheriid
SimpsonodonIndeterminateA docodont, multiple species present
Tashkumyrodon[10]T. desideratusA docodont
AmphilestidaeIndeterminate
AmphitheriidaeIndeterminate
DocodontaIndeterminate
PaurodontidaeIndeterminate
TegotheriidaeIndeterminate
TinodontidaeIndeterminate
TriconodontidaeIndeterminate

Invertebrate paleofauna

Molluscs

GenusSpeciesPresenceNotes
Proparreysia[11]"P. thashkumyrica"A bivalve
Sulcatapex[11]"S. chatkalica"A bivalve
Yeniella[11]"Y. asiatica", "Y. sculpturata"A bivalve

Flora

Conifers

GenusSpeciesPresenceNotes
Podozamites[11]P. lanceolatus

Ferns

GenusSpeciesPresenceNotes
Cladophlebis[11]C. whitbiensis
Coniopteris[11]C. furssenkoi, C. hymenophylloides

See also

References

  1. ^ De Pelsmaeker, Elien; Jolivet, Marc; Laborde, Amandine; Poujol, Marc; Robin, Cécile; Zhimulev, Fedor I.; Nachtergaele, Simon; Glorie, Stijn; De Clercq, Shana; Batalev, Vladislav Yu.; De Grave, Johan (2018). "Source-to-sink dynamics in the Kyrgyz Tien Shan from the Jurassic to the Paleogene: Insights from sedimentological and detrital zircon U-Pb analyses". Gondwana Research. 54: 180–204. Bibcode:2018GondR..54..180D. doi:10.1016/j.gr.2017.09.004. ISSN 1342-937X
  2. ^ Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Jurassic, Asia)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 550–552. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  3. ^ AVERIANOV, ALEXANDER O.; MARTIN, THOMAS; BAKIROV, AIZEK A. (January 2005). "Pterosaur and dinosaur remains from the Middle Jurassic Balabansai Svita in the northern Fergana Depression, Kyrgyzstan (Central Asia)". Palaeontology. 48 (1): 135–155. Bibcode:2005Palgy..48..135A. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2004.00437.x. ISSN 0031-0239. S2CID 55249438
  4. ^ Skutschas, Pavel P. (2013-10-01). "Mesozoic salamanders and albanerpetontids of Middle Asia, Kazakhstan, and Siberia". Palaeobiodiversity and Palaeoenvironments. 93 (4): 441–457. Bibcode:2013PdPe...93..441S. doi:10.1007/s12549-013-0126-8. ISSN 1867-1594. S2CID 140159226
  5. ^ Martin, Thomas & Averianov, Alexander O. (2010-05-18). "Mammals from the Middle Jurassic Balabansai Formation of the Fergana Depression, Kyrgyzstan". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 30 (3): 855–871. Bibcode:2010JVPal..30..855M. doi:10.1080/02724631003758045. ISSN 0272-4634. S2CID 128716878
  6. ^ AVERIANOV, ALEXANDER O.; MARTIN, THOMAS; SKUTSCHAS, PAVEL P.; REZVYI, ANTON S.; BAKIROV, AIZEK A. (2008-01-25). "Amphibians from the Middle Jurassic Balabansai Svita in the Fergana Depression, Kyrgyzstan (Central Asia)". Palaeontology. 51 (2): 471–485. Bibcode:2008Palgy..51..471A. doi:10.1111/j.1475-4983.2007.00748.x. ISSN 0031-0239
  7. ^ Rauhut, Oliver W M; Bakirov, Aizek A; Wings, Oliver; Fernandes, Alexandra E; Hübner, Tom R (2024-08-01). "A new theropod dinosaur from the Callovian Balabansai Formation of Kyrgyzstan". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society. 201 (4). doi:10.1093/zoolinnean/zlae090. ISSN 0024-4082
  8. ^ Alifanov, Vladimir R. & Averianov, Alexander O. (2003-06-17). "Ferganasaurus verzilini, gen. et sp. nov., a new neosauropod (Dinosauria, Saurischia, Sauropoda) from the Middle Jurassic of Fergana Valley, Kirghizia". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 23 (2): 358–372. doi:10.1671/0272-4634(2003)023[0358:fvgesn2.0.co;2]. ISSN 0272-4634. S2CID 85902362
  9. ^ Averianov, A. O.; Bakirov, A. A.; Martin, T. (2007). "First definitive stegosaur from the Middle Jurassic of Kyrgyzstan". Paläontologische Zeitschrift. 81 (4): 440–446. Bibcode:2007PalZ...81..440A. doi:10.1007/BF02990255. ISSN 0031-0220. S2CID 129163170
  10. ^ Martin, Thomas & Averianov, Alexander O. (2004-03-25). "A new docodont (Mammalia) from the Middle Jurassic of Kyrgyzstan, central Asia". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 24 (1): 195–201. Bibcode:2004JVPal..24..195M. doi:10.1671/15. ISSN 0272-4634. S2CID 55118845
  11. ^ Кузичкина, Ю. М. (1979). "Балабансайская Свита". ru:Стратиграфический словарь СССР: Триас, Юра, Мелсборник. Министерство геологии СССР (ed.). Leningrad: Недра. p. 49.