Similifaveoloolithus
Similifaveoloolithus Temporal range: Cretaceous | |
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Eggshell classification | |
Basic shell type: | †Dinosauroid-spherulitic |
Oofamily: | †Similifaveoloolithidae |
Oogenus: | †Similifaveoloolithus Wang et al., 2011 |
Oospecies | |
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Similifaveoloolithus is an oogenus of fossil dinosaur egg from the Tiantai basin in Zhejiang Province, China. It is the sole known oospecies of the oofamily Similifaveoloolithidae.[1][2]
Description
Similifaveoloolithus gongzhulingensis is known from nine specimens, including five complete fossil eggs; S. shuangtangensis is known from two complete fossil eggs. The eggs are spherical and the pores are very numerous and irregular, with a honeycomb-like appearance. They are 11-12 cm in diameter. The shell is composed of two or three superimposed layers of shell units. S. gongzhulingensis is distinguished from S. shuangtangensis by its thicker eggshell.[1][2]
Parataxonomy
Similifaveoloolithus is the only described oospecies of Similifaveoloolithidae. S. shuangtangensis was originally described as a species of Dendroolithus in 2003.[3] However, Wang et al (2011) considered it different enough from other ootaxa to be placed into a new oofamily and oogenus.[2] S. gongzhulingensis was originally described as a species of Dictyoolithus, but it was reclassified as a species of Similifaveoloolithus by Wang et al. (2013), because it shares much more in common with S. shuangtangensis than with the Dictyoolithids.[4][1]
References
- 1 2 3 Wang Qiang, Zhao Zikui, Wang Xiaolin, Zhang Shukang, and Jiang Yan'gen. (2013) "New forms of dictyoolithids from the Tiantai Basin, Zhejiang Province of China and a parataxonomic revision of the dictyoolithids." Vertebrate PalAsiatica 51:43-54.
- 1 2 3 Wang Qiang, Zhao Zi-kui, Wang Xiao-lin, and Jiang Yan-gen. (2011) "New ootypes of dinosaur eggs from the Late Cretaceous in Tiantai Basin, Zhejiang Province, China." Vertebrata PalAsiatica 49(4):446-449.
- ↑ Fang Xiaosi; Lu Liwu; Jiang Yangen; and Yang Liangfeng. (2003). "Cretaceous fossil eggs from the Tiantai basin of Zhejiang,with a discussion on the extinction of dinosaurs." Geological Bulletin of China 22(7):512-520.
- ↑ Wang Q., Zan S Q., Jin L.Y. and Chen J. (2006). "A new oospecies, Dictyoolithus gongzhulingensis, from the Early Cretaceous Quantou Formation in the central Jilin Province." Journal of Jilin University, Earth Science Edition 36(2): 153-157(in Chinese with English abstract)