Elliot Formation

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Elliot Formation
Stratigraphic range: Upper Triassic-Lower Jurassic, 210–190 Ma
Type Geological formation
Unit of Stormberg Group
Sub-units Upper Elliot Formation, Lower Elliot Formation
Underlies Molteno Formation
Overlies Clarens Formation

The Elliot Formation is a geological formation dating to roughly 210 to 190 million years ago and covering the Norian to Sinemurian stages. The Elliot Formation is found in South Africa and Lesotho and is a member of the Stormberg Group. It consists mainly of limestone, sandstone, and mudstone. Fossils of the prosauropod dinosaur Massospondylus have been recovered from the upper Elliot Formation.

Stratigraphy

Stratigraphy of the Karoo Supergroup in the Karoo Basin
Period Group Formation west of 24°E Formation east of 24°E Assemblage Zone
Jurassic Drakensberg Hiatus Drakensberg
Stormberg Clarens
Triassic Elliot
Molteno
Beaufort
Burgersdorp Cynognathus
Katberg Lystrosaurus
Balfour
Permian Dicynodon
Teekloof
Cistecephalus
Middleton
Tropidostoma
Pristerognathus
Abrahams-Kraal Koonap
Tapinocephalus
Eodicynodon
Ecca Waterford Waterford
Tierberg / Fort Brown Fort Brown
Laingsburg / Ripon Ripon
Collingham Collingham
White Hill White Hill
Prince Albert Prince Albert
Carboniferous Dwyka Elandsvlei Elandsvlei
References: Rubidge (2005),[1] Selden and Nudds (2011).[2]


Vertebrate fauna

Dinosaurs

Unidentified dinosaur eggs have been recovered from the formation.[3]

Ornithischia

An unnamed ornithischian genus has been reported from the Upper Elliot Formation.[3] Geographically it was located in the Mafeteng district, Lesotho.[3] Ornithischian tracks have been reported from the Upper Elliot Formation.[3] Geographically they were located in Leribe District,[4] Mafeteng district, and Mohales Hoek District, Lesotho.[3] Possible indeterminate ornithischian remains have been reported from the Lower and Upper Elliot Formation of Cape Province, South Africa[4] and the Mohales Hoek District, Lesotho.[3]

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.
Ornithischian dinosaurs of the Elliot Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images

Abrictosaurus[3]

A. consors[3]

Flag of Lesotho.svg

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

"[Two] skulls, [one] associated with fragmentary skeleton; material consisting of either male and female or adult and juvenile."[5]

The Qacha's Nek District remains were once considered Lycorhinus consors.[3]
Abrictosaurus
Heterodontosaurus
Heterodontosaurus
File:Human-heterodontosaurus size comparison.png
Heterodontosaurus

Fabrosaurus[3]

F. australis[3]

Flag of Lesotho.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

"Fragmentary dentary with teeth."[6]

Its remains are now considered indeterminate ornithischian.[3]

Heterodontosaurus[3]

H. tucki[3]

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

Indeterminate[3]

Flag of Lesotho.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

Lanasaurus

L. scalpridens

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot

Now regarded as a junior synonym of Lycorhinus.

Lesothosaurus[4]

L. diagnosticus[4]

Flag of Lesotho.svg
  • Upper Elliot

"At least [four] skulls and associated skeletal material."[6]

Lycorhinus[3]

L. angustidens[3]

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot

"Isolated dentary maxillae."[5]

L. consors[3]

Flag of Lesotho.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

Split off as the type species of the new genus Abrictosaurus.

Pegomastax[7]

P. africana[7]
  • Upper Elliot

Sauropodomorpha

Prosauropod tracks have been found in the Lower and Upper Elliot Formation.[4][3] Geographically, these finds have been located in Leribe District, Mafeteng District, Mohales Hoek district, Quthing District,[3] and Maseru District, Lesotho.[4] Possible prosauropod tracks have been located in the Lower Elliot Formation. Geographically these were located in Cape Province, South Africa.[4]

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.
Sauropodomorph dinosaurs of the Elliot Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images

Aardonyx

A. celestae

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot
Massospondylus
Massospondylus
File:Melanorosaurus readi steveoc.jpg
Melanorosaurus readi

Aetonyx

A. palustris

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

"Cervicals, caudals, partial fore- and hindlimb."[8]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]

Antetonitrus[4]

A. ingenipes[4]

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[9]

Blikanasaurus[4]

B. cromptoni[4]

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Lower Elliot[4]

"Associated left tibia, fibula, tarsus, [and] pes."[10]

Dromicosaurus

D. gracilis

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]

Eucnemesaurus

E. fortis

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Lower Elliot[4]

"Fragmentary skeleton."[8]

Euskelosaurus[4]

E. africanus

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Lower Elliot[4]

"Vertebrae, ischia, incomplete ilia, tibiae and femora."[8]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[4]

E. browni[4]

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Lower Elliot[4]

Indeterminate[4]

Flag of Lesotho.svg

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Lower Elliot[4]

Gryponyx

G. africanus

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

"Vertebrae, both manus, pelvis and hindlimbs."[8]

A valid sauropodomorph genus and species.[11]

G. taylori

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

"Sacrals, pelvic girdle."[8]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]

Hortalotarsus

H. skirtopodus

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]

Ignavusaurus[12]

I. rachelis[12]

Flag of Lesotho.svg

Leptospondylus

L. capensis

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

"Caudals."[8]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]

Massospondylus[4]

M. browni

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

"Cervicals, dorsal, caudals, pedal elements."[8]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]

M. carinatus[3]

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

M. harriesi

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

"Forelimb."[8]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]

M. schwarzi

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]

Indeterminate[3]

Flag of Lesotho.svg

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]
  • Lower Elliot[4]

Melanorosaurus[4]

M. readi[4]

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Lower Elliot[4]

"[Three] partial skeletons, adult."[13]

Indeterminate[4]

Flag of Lesotho.svg
  • Lower Elliot[4]

Meroktenos[9]

M. thabanensis[9]

Flag of Lesotho.svg
  • Lower Elliot[9]

"Femur, adult."[13]

Orinosaurus

O. capensis

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Lower Elliot[4]

"Proximal tibia."[8]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[4]

Pachyspondylus

P. orpenii

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

"Fragmentary vertebrae."[8]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]

Plateosauravus[14][15]

P. cullingworthi[14][15]

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Lower Elliot[4]

"Partial skeleton."[8]

Plateosaurus

P. stormbergensis

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Lower Elliot[4]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[4]

Thecodontosaurus

T. browni

Flag of Lesotho.svg

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]

T. minor

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]

Theropoda

Theropod tracks are stratigraphically located in both the Lower and Upper Elliot Formation. Geographically, they are located in the Leribe District, Mafeteng District, Quthing District,[3] Maseru District and Mohales Hoek district,[4][3] Lesotho.[4]

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.
Theropod dinosaurs of the Elliot Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images

Aliwalia[4]

A. rex[4]

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Lower Elliot[4]

Partial femur and possible maxilla.[16]

Now known to be a chimera of Eucnemesaurus and a theropod mandible.
File:Coelophysis rhodesiensis.JPG
Coelophysis rhodesiensis

Dracovenator[17]

D. regenti[17]

Flag of South Africa.svg

A dilophosaurid

Coelophysis[3]

C. rhodesiensis[3]

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

Former Megapnosaurus rhodesiensis.

Megapnosaurus[3]

M. rhodesiensis[3]

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

Note: Referred to as Syntarsus by Weishampel et al.[3]

Syntarsus[3]

S. rhodesiensis[3]

Flag of South Africa.svg
  • Upper Elliot[3]

Mammals

Mammals of the Elliot Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphic position Material Notes Images

Megazostrodon[18]

M. rudnerae[18]
  • Orange Free County[18]

Upper Elliot Formation[18]

Skull and isolated vertebrae[18]

See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  2. ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  3. ↑ 3.000 3.001 3.002 3.003 3.004 3.005 3.006 3.007 3.008 3.009 3.010 3.011 3.012 3.013 3.014 3.015 3.016 3.017 3.018 3.019 3.020 3.021 3.022 3.023 3.024 3.025 3.026 3.027 3.028 3.029 3.030 3.031 3.032 3.033 3.034 3.035 3.036 3.037 3.038 3.039 3.040 3.041 3.042 3.043 3.044 3.045 3.046 3.047 3.048 3.049 3.050 3.051 3.052 3.053 3.054 3.055 3.056 3.057 3.058 3.059 3.060 3.061 3.062 3.063 3.064 3.065 3.066 3.067 3.068 3.069 3.070 3.071 3.072 3.073 3.074 3.075 3.076 3.077 3.078 3.079 3.080 3.081 3.082 3.083 3.084 3.085 3.086 3.087 3.088 3.089 3.090 3.091 3.092 3.093 3.094 3.095 3.096 3.097 3.098 3.099 3.100 Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Early Jurassic, Africa)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 535–536. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 4.10 4.11 4.12 4.13 4.14 4.15 4.16 4.17 4.18 4.19 4.20 4.21 4.22 4.23 4.24 4.25 4.26 4.27 4.28 4.29 4.30 4.31 4.32 4.33 4.34 4.35 4.36 4.37 4.38 4.39 4.40 4.41 4.42 4.43 4.44 4.45 4.46 4.47 4.48 4.49 4.50 4.51 4.52 4.53 Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Triassic, Africa)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 528–529. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 "Table 18.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 394.
  6. ↑ 6.0 6.1 "Table 14.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 326.
  7. ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  8. ↑ 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 8.10 "Table 12.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 236.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  10. ↑ "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 261.
  11. ↑ C. C. Vasconcelos, A. M. Yates (2004). Sauropodomorph biodiversity of the upper Elliot Formation (Lower Jurassic) of southern Africa. Geoscience Africa, Abstract Volume 2:670.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 12.2 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "Table 12.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 235.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 Yates, A.M., and Kitching, J.W. (2003). The earliest known sauropod dinosaur and the first steps towards sauropod locomotion. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 270(1525):1753-1758.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 Yates, A.M. (2006). Solving a dinosaurian puzzle: the identity of Aliwalia rex Galton. Historical Biology, iFirst article, 1-30.
  16. ↑ "Table 2.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 26.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 17.2 17.3 A. M. Yates. 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
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 18.3 18.4 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.

References

  • [1]
  • [2]
  • Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. 861 pp. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
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