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Densuș-Ciula Formation

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Densuș-Ciula Formation
Stratigraphic range: Maastrichtian
TypeGeological formation
Sub-unitsLower, Middle and Upper Members
UnderliesCenozoic deposits
OverliesFlysch
Lithology
PrimaryMudstone, sandstone, conglomerate
Location
Country Romania
ExtentNorthwest Hațeg Basin

The Densuș-Ciula Formation is a geological formation in Romania whose strata date back to the Late Cretaceous. It forms part of the Hațeg Island assemblage. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[1] It is divided up into three members, the lower member is noted for high content of volcanogenic material and is poorly fossiliferous. While the Middle member consists of silty mudstones, sandstones and conglomerates containing volcanogenic clasts and is richly fossiliferous, while the upper member consists of matrix supported red conglomerates and is poorly fossiliferous.[2]

Fossil content

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Indeterminate dromaeosaurid and possible indeterminate troodontid remains present in Județul Hunedoara, Romania.[1] An unnamed theropod is also present.[1]

Amphibians

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Amphibians
Genus Species Presence Notes Images
Albanerpeton Indeterminate Albanerpetontid
Paralatonia P. transylvanica Alytid
Hatzegobatrachus H. grigorescui Bombinatorid

Squamates

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Squamates
Genus Species Presence Notes Images
Nidophis N. insularis Madtsoiid snake

Turtles

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Turtles
Genus Species Presence Notes Images
Kallokibotion K. bajazidi
Dortokidae Indeterminate

Crocodyliformes

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Crocodyliformes
Genus Species Presence Notes Images
Allodaposuchus A. precedens
Doratodon Indeterminate
Sabresuchus S. sympiestodon Formerly thought to be Theriosuchus

Dinosaurs

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Ornithischians

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Ornithischians of the Densuș-Ciula Formation
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
Telmatosaurus T. transsylvanicus A skull. A hadrosauromorph.
Zalmoxes Z. robustus Hunedoara County A small rhabdodontid ornithopod[1]
Z. shqiperorum Hunedoara County

Sauropods

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Sauropods of the Densuș-Ciula Formation
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
Uriash U. kadici[3] Locality VI of Kadić. A Partial skeleton composed of incomplete vertebrae, metatarsal, femur, and humerus. A titanosaur.

Theropods

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Theropods of theDensuș-Ciula Formation
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
Balaur B. bondoc A paravian probably a junior synonym of Elopteryx[4][5]

Pterosaurs

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Pterosaurs of Densuș-Ciula Formation.
Genus Species Presence Material Notes Images
Hatzegopteryx[6] H. thambema[6] Valioara A preserved robust skull, incomplete left humerus, and unidentified bone fragments. A giant azhdarchid pterosaur.

Mammals

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Mammals
Genus Species Presence Notes Images
Hainina Indeterminate Two species

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Cretaceous, Europe)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 588-593. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
  2. ^ VASILE, ŞTEFAN; CSIKI, ZOLTÁN; GRIGORESCU, DAN (2011). "Reassessment of the Spatial Extent of the Middle Member, Densuş-Ciula Formation (Maastrichtian), Haţeg Basin, Romania". Acta Palaeontologica Romaniae: 335–342.
  3. ^ Díez Díaz, Verónica; Mannion, Philip D.; Csiki-Sava, Zoltán; Upchurch, Paul (20 February 2025). "Revision of Romanian sauropod dinosaurs reveals high titanosaur diversity and body-size disparity on the latest Cretaceous Haţeg Island, with implications for titanosaurian biogeography". Journal of Systematic Palaeontology. 23 (1). doi:10.1080/14772019.2024.2441516.
  4. ^ Brusatte, S. L.; Vremir, M. T. S.; Csiki-Sava, Z. N.; Turner, A. H.; Watanabe, A.; Erickson, G. M.; Norell, M. A. (2013). "The Osteology of Balaur bondoc, an Island-Dwelling Dromaeosaurid (Dinosauria: Theropoda) from the Late Cretaceous of Romania" (PDF). Bulletin of the American Museum of Natural History. 374: 1–100. doi:10.1206/798.1. S2CID 59932467.
  5. ^ Stoicescu, V.; Codrea, V.A.; Bordeianu, M.; Solomon, A.A. (2024). "Elopteryx at Nălaț-Vad: new theropod material described from the Hațeg Basin (Romania)" (PDF). North-Western Journal of Zoology. 20 (1): 73–80.
  6. ^ a b Buffetaut, E., Grigorescu, D., and Csiki, Z. (2002). "A new giant pterosaur with a robust skull from the latest Cretaceous of Romania." Naturwissenschaften, 89(4): 180-184. Abstract