Karabastau Formation

The Karabastau Formation (Kazakh: Qarabastaý svıtasy) is a geological formation in Kazakhstan whose strata date back to the Late Jurassic. Pterosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[1][2]

Karabastau Formation
Stratigraphic range: Late Jurassic Oxfordian–Kimmeridgian
Specimen of Sordes
TypeGeological formation
AreaKaratau Mountains
Thickness26 m (85 ft) exposed
Lithology
PrimaryClaystone
OtherDolomite, conglomerate
Location
RegionCentral Asia
Country Kazakhstan

Lithology and depositional environment

The primary lithology consists of 1 mm thick varve laminations of claystone, with a dark part and a light dolomitic part, which probably correspond to a wet and dry season respectively. These were deposited within an ancient freshwater paleolake, that given the number of laminations has been suggested to have existed for over 150,000 years.[2] The formation is noted for its exceptional preservation of fossils, exemplified by the preserved pycnofibres of Sordes.

Paleofauna

Vertebrates
Genus Species County Member Abundance Notes Images

Batrachognathus

B. volans

 2 specimens

An Anurognathid Pterosaur.

Karatausuchus

K. sharovi

An Atoposaurid Crocodylomorph.

Karaurus

K. sharovi

One of the earliest salamanders.

Praeornis P. sharovi 2 specimens Proto-Feather
Sharovisaurus S. karatauensis A Paramacellodid lizard

Sordes

 S. pilosus 8 specimens

A Pterodactylomorph Pterosaur.

Yaxartemys Y. longicauda Turtle
Palaeonisciformes 2 species 346 specimens 2 distinct taxa[3]

Invertebrates

Numerous species of insect are known from several localities within the formation, primarily Karatau-Mikhailovka[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] an extremely partial list is given here

Genus Species County Member Abundance Notes Images
Archocyrtus A. gibbosus, A. kovalevi An Acrocerid fly
Aulieezidium A. karatauense A Fulgoromorph

Auliepterix

A. mirabilis

A Micropterygid moth.

Omma [14]

O. aberatum, O. jurassicum, O. pilosum

Ommatid beetles

Mesogyrus M. antiquus Gyrinid beetle

Palaeolepidopterix

P. aurea

A Micropterygid or Eolepidopterigid moth.

Pseudopolycentropus P. latipennis Basal Mecopteran
Stenophlebia S. karatavica Stem-Dragonfly

See also

References
  1. Barrett, P.M., Butler, R.J., Edwards, N.P., & Milner, A.R. Pterosaur distribution in time and space: an atlas. p61-107. in Flugsaurier: Pterosaur papers in honour of Peter Wellnhofer. 2008. Hone, D.W.E., and Buffetaut, E. (eds). Zitteliana B, 28. 264pp.
  2. Dzik, Jerzy; Sulej, Tomasz; Niedźwiedzki, Grzegorz (2010-07-14). "Possible link connecting reptilian scales with avian feathers from the early Late Jurassic of Kazakstan". Historical Biology. 22 (4): 394–402. doi:10.1080/08912961003710616. ISSN 0891-2963.
  3. Skrzycka, Roksana (2014-07-03). "Revision of two relic actinopterygians from the Middle or Upper Jurassic Karabastau Formation, Karatau Range, Kazakhstan". Alcheringa: An Australasian Journal of Palaeontology. 38 (3): 364–390. doi:10.1080/03115518.2014.880267. ISSN 0311-5518.
  4. "Karabastau Formation". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  5. "Karatau-Galkino (PIN collection 1789)". Paleobiology Database.
  6. "Karatau-Mikhailovka (PIN collection 2997)". Paleobiology Database.
  7. "Karatau-Mikhailovka (PIN collection 2554)". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  8. "Karatau-Mikhailovka (PIN collection 2066)". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  9. "Karatau-Mikhailovka (PIN collection 2239)". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  10. "Karatau-Mikhailovka (PIN collection 2384)". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  11. "Karatau-Mikhailovka (PIN collection 2904)". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  12. "Karatau-Mikhailovka (PIN collection 2784)". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  13. "Karatau-Galkino (PIN collection 2452)". paleobiodb.org. Retrieved 2020-01-31.
  14. Tan, Jingjing; Wang, Yongjie; Ren, Dong; Yang, Xingke (2012). "New fossil species of ommatids (Coleoptera: Archostemata) from the Middle Mesozoic of China illuminating the phylogeny of Ommatidae". BMC Evolutionary Biology. 12: 113. doi:10.1186/1471-2148-12-113. PMC 3518168. PMID 22776212.

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