Elliot Formation
Encyclopedia
The Elliot Formation is a geological formation dating to roughly 210 to 190 million years ago and covering the Norian
to Sinemurian
stages. The Elliot Formation is found in South Africa
and Lesotho
and is a member of the Stormberg Group
. It consists mainly of limestone
, sandstone
, and mudstone
. Fossil
s of the prosauropod dinosaur
Massospondylus
have been recovered from the upper Elliot Formation.
, Lesotho. Ornithischian tracks have been reported from the Upper Elliot Formation. Geographically they were located in Leribe District
,, Mafeteng district
, and Mohales Hoek District, Lesotho. Possible indeterminate ornithischian remains have been reported from the Lower and Upper Elliot Formation of Cape Province
, South Africa and the Mohales Hoek District, Lesotho.
, Mafeteng District
, Mohales Hoek district, Quthing District
, and Maseru District
, Lesotho. Possible prosauropod tracks have been located in the Lower Elliot Formation. Geographically these were located in Cape Province
, South Africa.
, Mafeteng District
, Quthing District
, Maseru District
and Mohales Hoek district, Lesotho.
Norian
The Norian is a division of the Triassic geological period. It has the rank of an age or stage . The Norian lasted from 216.5 ± 2.0 to 203.6 ± 1.5 million years ago. It was preceded by the Carnian and succeeded by the Rhaetian.-Stratigraphic definitions:The Norian was named after the Noric Alps in...
to Sinemurian
Sinemurian
In the geologic timescale, the Sinemurian is an age or stage in the Early or Lower Jurassic epoch or series. It spans the time between 196.5 ± 2 Ma and 189.6 ± 1.5 Ma...
stages. The Elliot Formation is found in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
and Lesotho
Lesotho
Lesotho , officially the Kingdom of Lesotho, is a landlocked country and enclave, surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. It is just over in size with a population of approximately 2,067,000. Its capital and largest city is Maseru. Lesotho is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. The name...
and is a member of the Stormberg Group
Stormberg Group
The Stormberg Group is the name given to the sedimentary geological formations found in Karoo Basin region of Southern Africa, immediately above the Beaufort Group...
. It consists mainly of limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
, and mudstone
Mudstone
Mudstone is a fine grained sedimentary rock whose original constituents were clays or muds. Grain size is up to 0.0625 mm with individual grains too small to be distinguished without a microscope. With increased pressure over time the platey clay minerals may become aligned, with the...
. Fossil
Fossil
Fossils are the preserved remains or traces of animals , plants, and other organisms from the remote past...
s of the prosauropod dinosaur
Dinosaur
Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of...
Massospondylus
Massospondylus
Massospondylus and ) is a genus of prosauropod dinosaur from the early Jurassic Period . It was described by Sir Richard Owen in 1854 from remains found in South Africa, and is thus one of the first dinosaurs to have been named...
have been recovered from the upper Elliot Formation.
Ornithischia
An unnamed ornithischian genus has been reported from the Upper Elliot Formation. Geographically it was located in the Mafeteng districtMafeteng District
Mafeteng is a district of Lesotho. It has an area of 2,119 km² and a population in 2006 of approximately 193,682. Mafeteng is the capital or camptown, and only town in the district.-Geography:...
, Lesotho. Ornithischian tracks have been reported from the Upper Elliot Formation. Geographically they were located in Leribe District
Leribe District
Leribè is a district of Lesotho. It has an area of 2,828 km² and a population in 2006 of approximately 298,352. Hlotse is the capital or camptown of the district. The district has one additional town, namely Maputsoe and Matukeng.-Geography:...
,, Mafeteng district
Mafeteng District
Mafeteng is a district of Lesotho. It has an area of 2,119 km² and a population in 2006 of approximately 193,682. Mafeteng is the capital or camptown, and only town in the district.-Geography:...
, and Mohales Hoek District, Lesotho. Possible indeterminate ornithischian remains have been reported from the Lower and Upper Elliot Formation of Cape Province
Cape Province
The Province of the Cape of Good Hope was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa...
, South Africa and the Mohales Hoek District, Lesotho.
| Ornithischian dinosaur Dinosaur Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of... s of the Elliot Formation |
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| Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
Abrictosaurus Abrictosaurus Abrictosaurus is a genus of heterodontosaurid dinosaur from the Early Jurassic Period of what is now southern Africa. It was a small bipedal herbivore or omnivore, approximately 1.2 meters long, and weighing less than 45 kilograms .This dinosaur is known from the fossil remains of only... |
A. consors |
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"[Two] skulls, [one] associated with fragmentary skeleton; material consisting of either male and female or adult and juvenile." |
The Qacha's Nek District Qacha's Nek District Qacha's Nek is a district of Lesotho. It has an area of 2,349 km² and a population in 2006 of approximately 71,876. Qacha's Nek is the capital or camptown, and only town in the district.-Geography:... remains were once considered Lycorhinus consors. |
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Fabrosaurus Fabrosaurus Fabrosaurus ) was a genus of herbivorous dinosaur which lived during the Early Jurassic . As the only fossil known of it is a partial jawbone with three teeth, Fabrosaurus is a nomen dubium and may in fact be the same as Lesothosaurus.Fabrosaurus was around 1 meter long... |
F. australis |
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"Fragmentary dentary with teeth." |
Its remains are now considered indeterminate ornithischian. |
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Heterodontosaurus Heterodontosaurus Heterodontosaurus is a genus of small herbivorous dinosaur with prominent canine teeth which lived in the Early Jurassic of South Africa. It was similar to a hypsilophodont in shape, and ate plants, despite its canines.Heterodontosaurus is currently known from specimens of the SAFM from South... |
H. tucki |
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Indeterminate |
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Lanasaurus |
L. scalpridens |
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Now regarded as a junior synonym of Lycorhinus Lycorhinus Lycorhinus is a genus of heterodontosaurid ornithischian dinosaur hailing from the Early Jurassic strata of the Elliot Formation located in the Cape Province, South Africa.... . |
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Lesothosaurus Lesothosaurus Lesothosaurus is an herbivorous ornithischian dinosaur. It was named by paleontologist Peter Galton in 1978, the name meaning "lizard from Lesotho". The genus is monotypic, having only one valid species, Lesothosaurus diagnosticus, within the genus.... |
L. diagnosticus |
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"At least [four] skulls and associated skeletal material." |
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Lycorhinus Lycorhinus Lycorhinus is a genus of heterodontosaurid ornithischian dinosaur hailing from the Early Jurassic strata of the Elliot Formation located in the Cape Province, South Africa.... |
L. angustidens |
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"Isolated dentary maxillae." |
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L. consors |
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Split off as the type species of the new genus Abrictosaurus Abrictosaurus Abrictosaurus is a genus of heterodontosaurid dinosaur from the Early Jurassic Period of what is now southern Africa. It was a small bipedal herbivore or omnivore, approximately 1.2 meters long, and weighing less than 45 kilograms .This dinosaur is known from the fossil remains of only... . |
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Sauropodomorpha
Prosauropod tracks have been found in the Lower and Upper Elliot Formation. Geographically, these finds have been located in Leribe DistrictLeribe District
Leribè is a district of Lesotho. It has an area of 2,828 km² and a population in 2006 of approximately 298,352. Hlotse is the capital or camptown of the district. The district has one additional town, namely Maputsoe and Matukeng.-Geography:...
, Mafeteng District
Mafeteng District
Mafeteng is a district of Lesotho. It has an area of 2,119 km² and a population in 2006 of approximately 193,682. Mafeteng is the capital or camptown, and only town in the district.-Geography:...
, Mohales Hoek district, Quthing District
Quthing District
Quthing is a district of Lesotho. It has an area of 2,916 km² and a population in 2006 of approximately 120,502. Quthing, also known as Moyeni, is the capital of the district or camptown, and the only town in the district...
, and Maseru District
Maseru District
Maseru is a district of Lesotho. It has an area of 4,279 km² and a population in 2006 of approximately 429,823. Maseru is also the name of the district's capital, and is the only city in the district. Additionally it is the capital of the country. It is the largest urban area in the country,...
, Lesotho. Possible prosauropod tracks have been located in the Lower Elliot Formation. Geographically these were located in Cape Province
Cape Province
The Province of the Cape of Good Hope was a province in the Union of South Africa and subsequently the Republic of South Africa...
, South Africa.
| Sauropodomorph dinosaur Dinosaur Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of... s of the Elliot Formation |
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| Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
Aardonyx Aardonyx Aardonyx is a genus of prosauropod dinosaur. It is known from the type species Aardonyx celestae found from the Lower Jurassic Elliot Formation of South Africa. A. celestae was named after Celeste Yates, who prepared much of the first known fossil material of the species... |
A. celestae |
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Aetonyx |
A. palustris |
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"Cervicals, caudals, partial fore- and hindlimb." |
Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains. |
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Antetonitrus Antetonitrus Antetonitrus is the oldest known genus of sauropod dinosaur, living during the Late Triassic Period of southern Africa. It was a quadrupedal herbivore, like many of its later relatives, although it was far smaller than some of them... |
A. ingenipes |
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Blikanasaurus Blikanasaurus Blikanasaurus was a genus of sauropodomorph dinosaur found in Lower Elliot Formation rocks from the Late Triassic in what is now South Africa's Cape Province. Known from a left lower limb only, it has been variously classified as a prosauropod or basal sauropod... |
B. cromptoni |
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"Associated left tibia, fibula, tarsus, [and] pes." |
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Dromicosaurus |
D. gracilis |
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Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains. |
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Eucnemesaurus Eucnemesaurus Eucnemesaurus is a basal sauropodomorph dinosaur genus usually considered to be a synonym of Euskelosaurus. Recent study by Yates , however, indicates that it is valid and the same animal as putative "giant herrerasaurid" Aliwalia.... |
E. fortis |
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"Fragmentary skeleton." |
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Euskelosaurus Euskelosaurus Euskelosaurus was a semi-bipedal dinosaur from the Late Triassic. It was a prosauropod that lived in the Late Triassic Period, in present-day South Africa, Lesotho, and Zimbabwe. It was first described by Thomas Henry Huxley in 1866 as Euskelesaurus brownii based on holotype BMNH R1625, limb and... |
E. africanus |
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"Vertebrae, ischia, incomplete ilia, tibiae and femora." |
Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains. |
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E. browni |
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Indeterminate |
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Gryponyx Gryponyx Gryponyx is an extinct genus of massopod sauropodomorph known from southern Free State, central South Africa.-Description:... |
G. africanus |
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"Vertebrae, both manus, pelvis and hindlimbs." |
A valid sauropodomorph genus and species. |
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G. taylori |
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"Sacrals, pelvic girdle." |
Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains. |
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Indeterminate |
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Hortalotarsus |
H. skirtopodus |
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Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains. |
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Ignavusaurus Ignavusaurus Ignavusaurus is a genus of basal sauropodomorph dinosaur that lived during the Early Jurassic in what is now present-day Lesotho. Its fossils were found in the upper Elliot Formation which is probably Hettangian in age. It was described on the basis of a partial, well preserved articulated skeleton... |
I. rachelis |
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Leptospondylus |
L. capensis |
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"Caudals." |
Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains. |
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Massospondylus Massospondylus Massospondylus and ) is a genus of prosauropod dinosaur from the early Jurassic Period . It was described by Sir Richard Owen in 1854 from remains found in South Africa, and is thus one of the first dinosaurs to have been named... |
M. browni |
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"Cervicals, dorsal, caudals, pedal elements." |
Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains. |
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M. carinatus |
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M. harriesi |
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"Forelimb." |
Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains. |
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M. schwarzi |
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Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains. |
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Indeterminate |
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Melanorosaurus Melanorosaurus Melanorosaurus , is a genus of basal sauropodomorph dinosaur that lived during the Late Triassic period. A herbivore from South Africa, it had a large body and sturdy limbs, suggesting it moved about on all fours... |
M. readi |
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"[Three] partial skeletons, adult." |
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M. thabanensis |
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"Femur, adult." |
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Indeterminate |
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Orinosaurus |
O. capensis |
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"Proximal tibia." |
Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains. |
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Pachyspondylus |
P. orpenii |
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"Fragmentary vertebrae." |
Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains. |
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Plateosaurus Plateosaurus Plateosaurus is a genus of plateosaurid dinosaur that lived during the Late Triassic period, around 216 to 199 million years ago, in what is now Central and Northern Europe. Plateosaurus is a basal sauropodomorph dinosaur, a so-called "prosauropod"... |
P. cullingworthi |
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"Partial skeleton." |
Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains. |
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P. stormbergensis |
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Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains. |
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Thecodontosaurus Thecodontosaurus Thecodontosaurus is a genus of herbivorous basal sauropodomorph dinosaur which lived during the late Triassic period .... |
T. browni |
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Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains. |
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T. minor |
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Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains. |
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Theropoda
Theropod tracks are stratigraphically located in both the Lower and Upper Elliot Formation. Geographically, they are located in the Leribe DistrictLeribe District
Leribè is a district of Lesotho. It has an area of 2,828 km² and a population in 2006 of approximately 298,352. Hlotse is the capital or camptown of the district. The district has one additional town, namely Maputsoe and Matukeng.-Geography:...
, Mafeteng District
Mafeteng District
Mafeteng is a district of Lesotho. It has an area of 2,119 km² and a population in 2006 of approximately 193,682. Mafeteng is the capital or camptown, and only town in the district.-Geography:...
, Quthing District
Quthing District
Quthing is a district of Lesotho. It has an area of 2,916 km² and a population in 2006 of approximately 120,502. Quthing, also known as Moyeni, is the capital of the district or camptown, and the only town in the district...
, Maseru District
Maseru District
Maseru is a district of Lesotho. It has an area of 4,279 km² and a population in 2006 of approximately 429,823. Maseru is also the name of the district's capital, and is the only city in the district. Additionally it is the capital of the country. It is the largest urban area in the country,...
and Mohales Hoek district, Lesotho.
| Theropod dinosaur Dinosaur Dinosaurs are a diverse group of animals of the clade and superorder Dinosauria. They were the dominant terrestrial vertebrates for over 160 million years, from the late Triassic period until the end of the Cretaceous , when the Cretaceous–Paleogene extinction event led to the extinction of... s of the Elliot Formation |
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| Genus | Species | Location | Stratigraphic position | Material | Notes | Images |
Aliwalia |
A. rex |
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Partial femur and possible maxilla. |
Now known to be a chimera of Eucnemesaurus Eucnemesaurus Eucnemesaurus is a basal sauropodomorph dinosaur genus usually considered to be a synonym of Euskelosaurus. Recent study by Yates , however, indicates that it is valid and the same animal as putative "giant herrerasaurid" Aliwalia.... and a theropod mandible. |
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Megapnosaurus Megapnosaurus Megapnosaurus was a dinosaur of the theropod family Coelophysidae, formerly called Syntarsus , living during the Early Jurassic. It was renamed by American entomologist Dr. Michael Ivie , Polish Australian Dr... |
M. rhodesiensis |
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Note: Referred to as Syntarsus Syntarsus *Syntarsus is a beetle in the Colydiinae subfamily.*Megapnosaurus, a theropod dinosaur, was formerly called Syntarsus, and is occasionally still referred to as such.... by Weishampel et al. |
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Syntarsus Syntarsus *Syntarsus is a beetle in the Colydiinae subfamily.*Megapnosaurus, a theropod dinosaur, was formerly called Syntarsus, and is occasionally still referred to as such.... |
S. rhodesiensis |
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