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Aitym Formation

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Aitym Formation
Stratigraphic range: ?Santonian
~86–83 Ma
TypeGeological formation
OverliesBissekty Formation
AreaKyzylkum Desert
Thicknessup to
Location
Aitym Formation is located in Uzbekistan
Aitym Formation
Aitym Formation (Uzbekistan)

The Aitym Formation is a geological formation in Uzbekistan which possibly dates to the Santonian stage of the Late Cretaceous period.[1]

The formation has not been precisely dated. However, certain fossils suggest the formation was deposited during the Santonian stage of the Late Cretaceous period.[1]

Fossil content

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A diverse fauna has been unearthed from the Aitym Formation including oysters, ammonites and many marine vertebrates, including an abundant assemblage of chondrichthyans (cartilaginous fish), a rarer assemblage of osteichthyans (bony fish), and rather infrequent finds of plesiosaurs, and sea turtles. Terrestrial vertebrate remains are extremely rare in the formation. A few bones of salamanders, lizards, crocodiles, possibly terrestrial turtle remains, dinosaurs (including birds), and mammals have been found in the formation.[1]

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.

Mammals

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Mammals of the Aitym Formation
Genus Species Location Notes Images
Uzbekbaatar U. wardi[1] A cimolodontan multituberculate
Shalbaatar cf. S. sp.[1] A spalacotheriid symmetrodont
Deltatherus cf. D. sp.[1] A deltatheroidan; reclassified later as Sulestes, as the two genera have been synonymized
Daulestes aff. D. sp[1] A asioryctithere
Kulbeckia Kulbeckia sp. cf. K. kulbecke[1] A possible zalambdalestid
aff. Kulbeckia sp.[1]
Paranyctoides Paranyctoides sp. cf. P. aralensis[1] A possible lipotyphlan
Paranyctoides sp.[1]
Eoungulatum E. sp. cf. E. kudukensis[1] Zhelestid ungulatomorphs
Parazhelestes P. sp. cf. P. robustus[1]
P. sp. aff. P. minor[1]
Aspanlestes cf. A. sp.[1]

Molluscs

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Molluscs of the Aitym Formation
Genus Species Location Notes Images
Placenticeras P. kyzylkumense[1] A placenticeratid ammonite

Amphibians

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Amphibians of the Aitym Formation
Genus Species Location Notes Images
Eoscapherpeton E. asiaticum[2] A giant salamander

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Averianov, A (2003). "Mammals from the Upper Cretaceous Aitym Formation, Kyzylkum Desert, Uzbekistan". Cretaceous Research. 24 (2): 171–191. Bibcode:2003CrRes..24..171A. doi:10.1016/S0195-6671(03)00037-5.
  2. ^ Skutschas, Pavel P.; Saburov, Pavel G.; Boitsova, Elizaveta A.; Kolchanov, Veniamin V. (2019). "Ontogenetic changes in long-bone histology of the cryptobranchid Eoscapherpeton asiaticum (Amphibia: Caudata) from the Late Cretaceous of Uzbekistan". Comptes Rendus Palevol. 18 (3): 306–316. Bibcode:2019CRPal..18..306S. doi:10.1016/j.crpv.2019.02.002.