ancient reptiles

Gansus Zheni Liu et al. 2014

BH Staff | fossils, ancient reptiles

October 1, 2022

Age and Locality: Early Cretaceous, Liaoning Province. Gansus Zheni Liu was discovered in the lacustrine strata of the Jiufotang Formation in Lingyuan City, Liaoning Province, during the early Cretaceous period. It is one of the most advanced birds in the Jehol Biota and is closely related to the Gansus bird found in Gansu Province. Studies have shown that Gansus Zheni Liu had similar habits to modern wading and swimming birds. Modern birds originated in the early Cretaceous period and include all living birds.

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Fenghuangopterus sp.

BH Staff | fossils, ancient reptiles

October 1, 2022

Age and Locality: Middle Jurassic, Liaoning Province. Fenghuangopterus lived in the mid-Jurassic period about 160 million years ago and belonged to the subfamily Anurognathinae of the family Dsungaripteridae. Its skull is short with large antorbital fenestrae, and it has 11 teeth in the upper jaw that are vertical and widely spaced. Fossils of Anurognathinae are mostly found in the late Jurassic fossil beds, while the fossils of Fenghuangopterus were discovered in the mid-Jurassic strata.

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Huaxiapterus sp.

BH Staff | fossils, ancient reptiles

October 1, 2022

Age and Locality: Early Cretaceous, Liaoning Province. Huaxiapterus is a genus of pterosaurs belonging to the suborder Pterodactyloidea and family Anhangueridae. Its fossils were discovered in the Jiufotang Formation in Chaoyang, Liaoning Province, China, dating back to the Barremian to Aptian stages of the Lower Cretaceous. Huaxiapterus is the second known genus of the family Anhangueridae found in this region, following the discovery of Chinese pterosaurs. Huaxiapterus has a relatively large head with a bird-like pointed beak, lacking teeth. Above the head is a long bony crest that extends from the elevated front of the upper jaw bone to the back of the skull.

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Chunerpeton tianyiensis Gao & Shubin, 2003

BH Staff | fossils, ancient reptiles

September 11, 2022

Age and Locality: Later Jurassic, Inner Mongolia. Chunerpeton tianyiensis is an extinct species of temnospondyl amphibian from the Early Cretaceous period, specifically from the Jehol Biota, known for its exceptional fossil preservation. The fossils of Chunerpeton tianyiensis have been found in the Yixian Formation in Liaoning Province, China, which is renowned for providing detailed insights into the life of the Early Cretaceous, approximately 125 million years ago. This species is part of the group called temnospondyls, which were a diverse and widespread assembly of Paleozoic and Mesozoic amphibians.

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Jeholotriton paradoxus Wang, 2000

BH Staff | fossils, ancient reptiles

September 11, 2022

Age and Locality: Later Jurassic, Inner Mongolia. Jeholotriton paradoxus is an extinct species of salamander that lived during the Early Cretaceous period, approximately 120 million years ago. This species is part of the Jehol Biota, a famous collection of fossils from the Yixian Formation and Jiufotang Formation in northeastern China, noted for their exceptional preservation and the insights they provide into prehistoric life. The name “Jeholotriton paradoxus” reflects its unique and somewhat paradoxical features that distinguish it from other salamanders.

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