Karabastau Formation


The Karabastau Formation 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.

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. The formation is noted for its exceptional preservation of fossils, exemplified by the preserved pycnofibres of Sordes.

Paleofauna

Vertebrates

GenusSpeciesCountyMemberAbundanceNotesImages

Batrachognathus

B. volans
2 specimens
An Anurognathid Pterosaur.

Karatausuchus

K. sharovi

An Atoposaurid Crocodylomorph.

Karaurus

K. sharovi

One of the earliest salamanders.
PraeornisP. sharovi2 specimensProto-Feather
SharovisaurusS. karatauensisA Paramacellodid lizard

Sordes
S. pilosus8 specimens
A Pterodactylomorph Pterosaur.
YaxartemysY. longicaudaTurtle
Palaeonisciformes2 species346 specimens2 distinct taxa
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Invertebrates

Numerous species of insect are known from several localities within the formation, primarily Karatau-Mikhailovka an extremely partial list is given here
GenusSpeciesCountyMemberAbundanceNotesImages
ArchocyrtusA. gibbosus, A. kovaleviAn Acrocerid fly
AulieezidiumA. karatauenseA Fulgoromorph

Auliepterix

A. mirabilis

A Micropterygid moth.

Omma

O. aberatum, O. jurassicum, O. pilosum

Ommatid beetles
MesogyrusM. antiquusGyrinid beetle

Palaeolepidopterix

P. aurea

A Micropterygid or Eolepidopterigid moth.
PseudopolycentropusP. latipennisBasal Mecopteran
StenophlebiaS. karatavicaStem-Dragonfly
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