Elliot Formation

Elliot Formation
Stratigraphic range: Norian-Pliensbachian
~
Elliot Formation caves in the Matalane Valley, Leribe, Lesotho
TypeGeological formation
Unit ofStormberg Group
Sub-unitsUpper Elliot, Lower Elliot
UnderliesClarens Formation
OverliesMolteno Formation
Thicknessup to 500 m (1,600 ft)
Lithology
PrimaryMudstone, sandstone
OtherSiltstone, conglomerate
Location
Coordinates30°30′S 27°24′E / 30.5°S 27.4°E / -30.5; 27.4
Approximate paleocoordinates44°06′S 1°54′W / 44.1°S 1.9°W / -44.1; -1.9
RegionEastern Cape, Free State, Mafeteng, Maseru, Quthing, Qacha's Nek & Mohale's Hoek
CountryLesotho
South Africa
Type section
Named forElliot, 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-early 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][7][8]

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.[9][10][11][12][13][14]

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).[8][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.[15] 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.[16]

The most common dinosaur species is of the sauropodomorph species Massospondylus carinatus.[17][18] Other species include Blikanasaurus cromptoni, Aardonyx celestae, Euskelosaurus browni, Antetonitrus ingenipes, Pulanesaura eocollum, and the largest sauropodomorph yet found, Ledumahadi mafube.[19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26] Fossilised Massospondylus eggs, some with the fossilized remains of embryos intact, have been recovered from UEF deposits in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park.[27][28]

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. Trackways from a large theropod referred to the ichnotaxon, Kayentapus ambrokholohali have been found, measuring 57 centimetres (22 in) in length.[29][30][31][32][33][34]

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 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.[35] Larger Lesothosaurus specimens are sometimes given the name Stormbergia.[36]
Lycorhinus L. angustidens Upper Elliot A heterodontosaurid
Pegomastax P. africana Upper Elliot A heterodontosaurid
Thyreophora Thyreophora indet Upper Elliot Known from scutes[37]

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.
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
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 L. mafube Upper Elliot A lessemsaurid, either a derived sauropodomorph or basal sauropod. The largest dinosaur in the formation.
Massospondylus M. carinatus Upper Elliot A massospondylid, the most common dinosaur in the formation.
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
Pulanesaura P. eocollum Upper Elliot A derived sauropodomorph or basal sauropod
Sefapanosaurus S. zastronensis Lower Elliot? A derived sauropodomorph

Theropods

Theropods of the Elliot Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphy Notes Images
Dracovenator[38] D. regenti Upper Drumbo Farm Upper Elliot A large neotheropod, potentially close to Dilophosaurus.
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.[39]
Litargosuchus[40] L. leptorhynchus Eagles Crag Farm Upper Elliot A basal crocodylomorph
Orthosuchus O. stormbergi Upper Elliot A possible protosuchid.[41][42][43]
Poposauroidea indet. Lower Elliot An indeterminate poposauroid.[39]
Protosuchus P. haughtoni Upper Elliot A protosuchid
Rauisuchia indet. Lower Elliot A indeterminate large "rauisuchian" (non-crocodylomorph loricatan). Many "rauisuchian" fossils have been found in the formation,[39] including very large limb bones from near Qhemegha, Eastern Cape.[44]
Sphenosuchus S. acutus Upper Elliot A basal crocodylomorph.[45]

Other reptiles

Other reptiles of the Elliot Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphy Notes Images
Australochelys A. africanus Upper Elliot An australochelyid testudinate (early turtle).[46]
Clevosaurus C. sp. Upper Elliot An clevosaurid rhynchocephalian.[47]

Synapsids

A late-surviving diademodontid cynodont may also be present in the Lower Elliot Formation.[48]

Synapsids of the Elliot Formation
Genus Species Location Stratigraphy Notes Images
Diarthrognathus D. broomi Upper Elliot A tritheledontid cynodont
Elliotherium[49] E. kersteni Upper Elliot A tritheledontid cynodont
Erythrotherium E. parringtoni Upper Elliot A mammaliaform cynodont
Megazostrodon M. rudnerae Upper Elliot A megazostrodontid mammaliaform cynodont.[50]
Pachygenelus P. monus Upper Elliot A tritheledontid cynodont
Pentasaurus[51] P. goggai Lower Elliot A stahleckeriid dicynodont
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[52] Upper Elliot[1] An enormous brachyopoid amphibian based on a skull fragment. Potentially the largest amphibian which has ever lived.[52]
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.
Semionotus S. capensis Upper Elliot A semionotid ray-finned fish.

References

  1. ^ a b c d 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. ^ "A description of the sedimentology and palaeontology of the Late Triassic–Early Jurassic Elliot Formation in Lesotho". WIReDSpace Wits. 2004-09-01. 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. ^ "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). 1980-01-01. ISSN 1012-0750.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ a b 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.
  9. ^ Attridge, J.; Crompton, A. W.; Jenkins, Farish A. (June 1985). "The Southern African Liassic prosauropodMassospondylusdiscovered in North America". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. 5 (2): 128–132. Bibcode:1985JVPal...5..128A. doi:10.1080/02724634.1985.10011850. ISSN 0272-4634.
  10. ^ Eriksson, P.; Bordy, E. M. (September 2015). "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.
  11. ^ 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.
  12. ^ 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.
  13. ^ 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.
  14. ^ 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.
  15. ^ 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.
  16. ^ 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.
  17. ^ 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.
  18. ^ Chinsamy, Anusuya. "Bone histology and growth trajectory of the prosauropod dinosaur Massospondylus carinatus Owen | Request PDF". ResearchGate. Retrieved 2018-11-14.
  19. ^ 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.
  20. ^ Yates, Adam M. (2003). "A definite prosauropod dinosaur from the Lower Elliot Formation (Norian: Upper Triassic) of South Africa". Palaeontologia Africana. ISSN 0078-8554.
  21. ^ 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.
  22. ^ 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.
  23. ^ 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.
  24. ^ 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.
  25. ^ 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.
  26. ^ 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.
  27. ^ 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.
  28. ^ Reisz, Robert R.; Evans, David C.; Sues, Hans-Dieter; Scott, Diane (2010-12-02). "Embryonic skeletal anatomy of the sauropodomorph dinosaurMassospondylusfrom 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.
  29. ^ 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.
  30. ^ 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.
  31. ^ 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.
  32. ^ 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.
  33. ^ 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.
  34. ^ "UCT-led team discovers megacarnivore roaming southern Africa 200 million years ago". www.news.uct.ac.za. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  35. ^ 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.
  36. ^ 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.
  37. ^ 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.
  38. ^ 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.
  39. ^ a b c 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.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: article number as page number (link)
  40. ^ 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.
  41. ^ 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.
  42. ^ Nash, D.S., 1975. The morphology and relationships of a crocodilian, Orthosuchus stormbergi, from the Upper Triassic of Lesotho. South African Museum.
  43. ^ 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.
  44. ^ 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.
  45. ^ 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.
  46. ^ 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.
  47. ^ 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.
  48. ^ 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.
  49. ^ 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.
  50. ^ 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.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  51. ^ 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..
  52. ^ a b 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. doi:10.2113/176.3.243. ISSN 1777-5817.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.