The Liushu Formation is a geological formation in Gansu province, China that spans up to 100 m thick and is widely distributed within the Linxia Basin, with a paleomagnetic age between 11 and 6.4 mya (Upper/Late Miocene).
Geology The formation is divided into three parts representing three different ages, generally referred to as the "upper part" (youngest, at 6-7 mya), the "middle part" (intermediate, at 9 to 7.6 mya, also known as the Dashengou Fauna), and the "lower part" (oldest). Paleobiota Birds GenusSpeciesLocalityStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImagesEopavoE. hezhengensis A partial skeletonA stem relative of peafowlFalcoF. hezhengensis?"Hipparion fauna", Gansu Province A nearly complete, articulated skeletonAn extinct falcon, classified as a stem kestrelGracilisgallusG. linxiaShi-li-dun, Gansu Province Upper part; borders the lower Hewangjia Formation A nearly complete, articulated skeletonAn extinct phasianidGansugypsZhang, Zihui & Xiaoting, Zheng & Zheng, Guangmei & Hou, Lianhai. (2010). A new Old World vulture (Falconiformes: Accipitridae) from the Miocene of Gansu Province, northwest China. Journal of Ornithology. 151. 401-408. 10.1007/s10336-009-0468-1. G. linxiaensisYangwapuzijifang, Guanghe County Upper part Two articulated skeletonsAn extinct aegypiine Old World vultureLinxiavisL. inaquosusBaiwang, Gansu ProvinceMiddle part–Upper partArticulated and associated elements of the wings, shoulder girdle, vertebrae, and hind limbAn extinct sandgrouseMiosurniaLi, Z., Stidham, T.A., Zheng, X., Wang, Y., Zhao, T., Deng, T., & Zhou, Z. (2022). Early evolution of diurnal habits in owls (Aves, Strigiformes) documented by a new and exquisitely preserved Miocene owl fossil from China. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 119.M. diurna Linxia Basin of Gansu Province Upper part A nearly complete, articulated skeleton, lacking the right forelimb and left manual digits A diurnal surniin bird in the true owl familyMioneophronli, Zhiheng & Clarke, Julia & Zhou, Zhonghe & Deng, Tao. (2016). A new Old World vulture from the late Miocene of China sheds light on Neogene shifts in the past diversity and distribution of the Gypaetinae. The Auk. 133. 615-625. 10.1642/AUK-15-240.1. M. longirostrisBaihua Village, Zhuangheji Town, Guanghe CountyUpper partA nearly complete, articulated skeletonAn extinct gypaetine Old World vulturePanraogallusP. hezhengensis Zhuangkeji Township, Gansu Province Upper part A nearly complete, articulated skeleton An extinct phasianid SinoergilornisS. guangheensis Langwagou Village, Zhuangkeji Town, Guanghe County Upper partA three-dimensionally preserved distal left tarsometatarsus and a nearly complete set of pedal phalangesAn eogruidStruthioHou, L., Zhou, Z., Zhang, F. et al. A Miocene ostrich fossil from Gansu Province, northwest China. Chin.Sci.Bull. 50, 1808–1810 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1360/982005-575S. linxiaensis Yangwapuzijifang, Guanghe County Upper partAn incomplete pelvis and synsacrumAn extinct ostrich, also placed in the genus Orientornis
Mammals Artiodactyla GenusSpeciesCountyStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImagesChleuastochoerusC. linxiaensis Yangwapuzi, Guanghe County Upper part The cranium of a male individual and a juvenile femaleA Hyotheriinae suidae.C. stehlini Middle to Upper part Cranium skull and mandibleDicrocerusD. sp. Houshan locality, Guanghe County Middle to Upper partAn ancient deerDorcadoryxD. sp. Baihuacun and Langwagou localities Middle to Upper part. An early caprini relativeEostyloceros Deng, Tao, Wang, Shi-Qi, Shi, Qin-Qin, Li, Yi-Kun & Li, Yu, 2014, A new species of Eostyloceros (Cervidae, Artiodactyla) from the Late Miocene of the Linxia Basin in Gansu, China, Zootaxa 3893 (3), pp. 363-381 E. hezhengensis Gaojiashan, Hezheng County Upper partAn adult skull with its cranial appendages, lacking the muzzle, the left dentition, and the basioccipital partA large muntjak EuproxHou, Sukuan. (2014). A new species of Euprox (Cervidae, Artiodactyla) from the upper Miocene of the Linxia Basin, Gansu Province, China, with interpretation of its paleoenvironment. Zootaxa. 3911. 43-62. 10.11646/zootaxa.3911.1.2. E. furcatus Upper part An adult skull and pair of near-complete antlers. The largest known Eupox species ever discoveredGazellaShi, Qinqin. (2023). Fossil bovids from the Linxia Basin of Gansu Province, China, and their implications for regional biostratigraphy, palaeogeography and palaeoecology. Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology. 619. 111543. 10.1016/j.palaeo.2023.111543. G. dorcadoidesHoushan and Baihuacun locality, Guanghe County Upper part. Early relatives of gazelles. G. gaudryiMiddle to Upper part G. paotehensis Multiple skullsHezhengiaH. bohlini Houshan, Bajia, Shuanggongbei, and Zhongmajia locality, Guanghe County Middle partKnown from hundreds of skullsA Urmiatheriini bovidHonanotheriumH. schlosseri Houshan locality, Guanghe CountyMiddle partAn ancient giraffidMiotragocerusM. gregarius Houshan locality, Guanghe CountyMiddle partAn extinct antelopePaleotragusP. microdonHoushan locality, Guanghe CountyUpper partAn ancient giraffidProtoryxP. sp.Houshan locality, Guanghe CountyUpper partAn ancient bovidSamotheriumS. boissieri Houshan locality, Guanghe CountyMiddle part A cranium skull.An ancient giraffidSchansitheriumS. tafeliDashengou and Yangjiashan, Gansu CountyUpper part A cranium skull. A four-horned giraffidShaanxispiraS. linxiaensis. Panyang and Songjianao locality.Lower to Middle part A cranium skull.An ancient bovidSinotragusS. wimaniSongshugou locality, Guanghe CountyUpper partAn ancient bovidTsaidamotherium T. brevirostrum Yancaiping locality, Hezheng County. Lower part. A cranium skull. An ovibovinid caprinae .UrmiatheriumShi, Qinqin & Wang, Shiqi & Chen, Shaokun & Li, Yi-kun & Palasiatica, Vertebrata. (2016). The first discovery of Urmiatherium (Bovidae, Artiodactyla) from Liushu Formation, Linxia Basin. Vertebrata Palasiatica. U. intermedium Huaigou village, Gansu province Upper partA male adult skull An early caprinae.
Carnivora
Caniformia GenusSpeciesCountyStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImagesAgriotheriumA. inexpetansYangjiashan, Gansu CountyMiddle partAn omnivorous ailuropodine bearAgriotheriini indet.IndeterminateHoushan locality, Guanghe CountyMiddle partTwo currently unnamed speciesMartesM. spHoushan locality, Guanghe CountyMiddle PartA martenMelodonM. majoriMiddle partA musteloidParataxideaP. sinensisHoushan locality, Guanghe CountyUpper part A fossil skull with maxillary teeth.a badger-like mustelidPekania P. sp.Houshan locality, Guanghe CountyMiddle PartA fisherPromeles P. sp.Houshan locality, Guanghe CountyMiddle PartPromephitisP. hootoniHoushan locality, Guanghe CountyMiddle partA musteloidP. sp.P. parvus Houshan locality, Guanghe CountySinictisS. sp.Middle partA musteloidUrsavusQiuZ, X., Deng, T., & WangB, Y. (2014). A Late Miocene Ursavus skull from Guanghe, Gansu, China.U. tedfordiHuaigou village, Guanghe CountyUpper part A cranium skull in association with the mandibleAn early bear
Feliformia GenusSpeciesCountyStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImagesAdcrocuta A. eximiaHoushan locality, Guanghe CountyMiddle PartA hyaenidAlbanosmilusA. sp.Houshan locality, Guanghe CountyMiddle partA barbourofeline nimravidAmphimachairodusA. hezhengensisHoushan, Guanghe CountyMiddle part.A nearly complete cranium skull A homotheriine machairodontine felid A. horribilis Yangjiashan, Gansu CountyUpper partCranial remainsThe largest species of Amphimachairodus DinocrocutaD. gigantea Houshan locality, Guanghe County; Dashengou, Gansu CountyMiddle part Multiple complete and partial skulls and at least one postcranial specimen.A gigantic hyena, the most common carnivoran in the Dashengou FaunaFelisF. sp.Guanghe CountyUpper part to Middle part A felid HyaenictitheriumH. hyaenoides Houshan locality, Guanghe County Upper part to Middle part A hyaenidH. wongii H. sp.Houshan locality, Guanghe CountyMiddle PartSmaller then H. wongiIctitheriumI. sp.Guanghe CountyUpper part to Middle partA hyaenidI. cf. viverrinumHoushan locality, Guanghe CountyMiddle PartMachairodusM. aphanistusShanzhuang localityA homotheriine machairodontine felid, and the first evidence of this species in East Asia.MetailurusM. majorGuanghe CountyUpper partA metalurin felid
Perissodactyla The Liushu formation displays a lineage of Elasmotheriine rhinoceros throughout its stratigraphy. Iranotherium is restricted to the middle part of the formation but remains absent in the overlying layers, the only Elasmotheriine that can be found in the upper layers is Sinotherium. Chalicotheres Genus Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes ImagesAncylotheriumChen, Shaokun & Deng, Tao & Pang, Li-Bo & He, Wen & Chen, Shan-Qin. (2012). A juvenile skull of Ancylotherium (Mammalia, Perissodactyla, Chalicotheriidae) from the Pliocene of China. Geobios. 45. 527-534. 10.1016/j.geobios.2012.06.002. A. sp. Duikang locality, Guanghe County. Lower part A juvenile cranium skull. A shizotheriine chalicothereNestoritheriumN. linxiaense Houshan locality, Guanghe CountyLower and Middle partsA skull without the occipital surface, right zygomatic arch, premaxilla, and anterior nasal bone A chalicothere
Equids Genus Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes ImagesHipparionH. chiaiGuanghe County Middle part An ancient horse H. coelophyes Upper partH. dongxiangenseLower partH. weihoensis Middle part
Rhinocerotids Genus Species Locality Stratigraphic position Material Notes ImagesAcerorhinusA. hezhengensis Middle part Skulls based on sexual dimorphismA hornless rhinoChilotherium C. wimani Zhongmajia, Guanghe CountyMiddle part Several skull specimens. A tusked rhino IranotheriumI. morganiGuanghe CountyMiddle part Two skulls based on sexual dimorphism and an isolated mandibleAn elasmotheriine with a unique sexual dimorphism, ancestral to Sinotherium NingxiatheriumDeng, Tao. (2008). A new elasmothere (Perissodactyla, Rhinocerotidae) from the Late Miocene of the Linxia Basin in Gansu, China. Geobios. 41. 719-728. 10.1016/j.geobios.2008.01.006. N. euryrhinus.Guonigou in Nalesi Township, Dongxiang CountyLower part A completely adult skull with both cheek tooth rowsParelasmotheriumP. linxiaenseDongxiang County Lower partA near complete skullA grazing elasmotheriineP. simplumLower partSinotheriumS. lagreliiGuanghe County Upper partA partial skullAn elasmotheriine, ancestral to Elasmotherium. It displays the important transition from nose-horned to forehead-horned rhinos.
Rodents GenusSpeciesCountyMemberMaterialNotesImagesHuerzelerimys H. asiaticus Niuzhawan, Sanhe Village, Hezheng County Upper part. A complete skull and mandible with cervical 5 An early murine rodentHystrixH. brevirostra Maijiaji Village, Hezheng CountyUpper part.A nearly complete skull An early porcupinePararhizomysP. hipparionumMiddle partA rodentP. parvulus Xiayangwan, Guanghe CountyMiddle part An anterior part of a skull with associated teeth
Proboscidea GenusSpeciesLocalityMemberMaterialNotesImagesKonobelodonWang, Shiqi & Shi, Qinqin & He, Wen & Chen, ShanQin & Yang, XiangWen. (2016). A new species of the tetralophodont amebelodontine Konobelodon Lambert, 1990 (Proboscidea, Mammalia) from the Late Miocene of China. Geodiversitas. 38. 65-97. 10.5252/g2016n1a4. K. robustus Zhongmajia and Guonigou, Guanghe County Middle and Upper parts Multiple specimens comprising a skull, pelvis bone, and incomplete mandiblesAn amebelodontTetralophodonT. exoletus Houshan locality, Guanghe CountyMiddle part A gomphothere
Reptiles GenusSpeciesLocalityStratigraphic positionMaterialNotesImagesEryxE. linxiaensis Shangwangjia Village, Guanghe County Upper partA series of partially preserved cranial and post-cranial elements A sand boa
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