Xingyi National Geopark Knowledge popularization: Xingyi Biota
Release time：2023-06-22 09:29:54
Source：Sohu
Xingyi biota refers to the multi-phyla fossil biota of Zhuganpo Member of the Triassic Fangfu Formation, which is rich in Marine reptiles, fish, bivales, amamites, crustacean arthropods and a small number of terrestrial plants, originating in Dingxiao Town and Wusha Town of Xingyi City, Longguang Town of Anlong County, Banqiao Town and 18 Lianshan Town of Fuyuan County, Luoping County, Yunnan Province. The period is Latin Age of Middle Triassic. The isotopic age is about 239 million years.
Photo by GUI Song, Xingyi National Geopark Museum
This is the first discovery of fish in the Middle Triassic in southern China, making the top effect the first place in southern China to produce both Marine reptiles and fish. Since then, this sleeping Marine vertebrate fauna of more than 200 million years has attracted the attention of the world, and Xingyi has also become a place of concern for the world, and curiosity hunters and researchers have flocked to it. On May 21, 1995, Guangming Daily reported on the front page with the striking headline "Rare Major scientific Discovery in the world, Guizhou Dragon Fossil was identified", which aroused strong repercussions in the society. On June 16, 1995, Guizhou Provincial Department of Culture held the "Guizhou Dragon Protection and Development Symposium", and the experts and scholars at the meeting reaffirmed the scientific significance of the fossil group. In 1995, Guizhou Province listed Guangbaobao, Jackal Bay and Langwu area of Luyin Village, Dingxiao Town, Xingyi City as provincial protection units, which is the first provincial geological heritage type nature reserve in Guizhou Province. The local people's government has set up protection signs in the protected areas, established protection organizations, strengthened protection measures, and effectively controlled indiscriminate digging. Xingyi Municipal Party Committee and Municipal government attach great importance to the protection, management and development of Guizhou dragon fossils and their origin, set up the "Guizhou Dragon Fossil Protection Area Management Office", held the "Guizhou Dragon Fauna Fossil exhibition", and established the "Guizhou Dragon Museum".
Kweichouisaurus fossil photograph by Gao Xue
Since 1998, with the discovery of Guichouisaurus fossils in Wusha Town, Xingyi City, Guizhou Province, Longguang Town, Anlong County, Banqiao Town, Fuyuan 18 Lianshan Town, Luoping County, Yunnan Province, and the subsequent discovery and study of Guanling biota and Panxian biota, the study of this vertebrate fauna has been further advanced. From 2002 to 2004, Li Jinling, a researcher at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, published "A new species of Lariosarus from the Zhuganpo Formation of the Middle Triassic in Xingyi, Guizhou" and "a new species of Nothosaurus from the Middle Triassic in Xingyi, Guizhou" in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Subsequently, Rieppel, LinJun, Lichun (2006), Cheng Long, Chen Xiaohong, Wang Chuanshang (2007) reported the discovery of Anshunsaurus. Yen-Niea Cheng et al (2006) reported and described the world's First complete skeleton specimen of pure Xinsauria, Yunguisauria Lii, in the paper "First copleta Pistosauroides from the Origin of China". Li Chun (2007) published "A new species of Middle Triassic Macrocnemus (Reptilia, Protoposauria) in Yunnan and its Paleogeographic Significance" in Geoscience, Journal of Geology, Science of China. In particular, Xu Guanghui et al. (2012-2014) published a series of articles on the report and description of the Xingyi flying wing fish and Yuleusana. This is the first discovery of flying fish in China, and the record of the occurrence of such fossils 10 million years earlier. In addition, Jin Fan reported the emergence of ebony fish in this biota, which is also the earliest known ebony fish in the world. Due to the emergence of these new fossil materials, Xingyi has once again become the focus of the world's paleontological community.
Asian Lepidodon xingyi photograph by Gao Xue
Since 2010, the School of Earth and Space Sciences of Peking University and the Geological Museum of Peking University, with the support of relevant local departments, have carried out relatively scientific excavations in Nimaigu, Wusha Town, Xingyi City, measuring fossil-containing sections, systematic sampling and comprehensive research, and made some significant progress, confirming the existence of large ichthyosaurs (Sasteosaurs) and Qianichthyosaurs in this biota.
The scientific significance of Xingyi biota is as follows: firstly, Kweichousaurus Hui is the first Triassic Marine reptile fossil found in South China and even East Asia, and its discovery has opened the history of Triassic Marine reptile research in China, which plays a milestone role; Second, Xingyi biota is located between Panxian biota and Guanling biota, filling the gap between them and playing a bridging role in the evolution of Marine reptiles in the Triassic period, so it is of great significance to study the origin, evolution, migration and classification of early Marine reptiles. Third, many new fossils have pushed the date of the emergence of some types of organisms much earlier. (Courtesy of Xingyi National Geopark Administration)
Photo by GUI Song, Xingyi National Geopark Museum
This is the first discovery of fish in the Middle Triassic in southern China, making the top effect the first place in southern China to produce both Marine reptiles and fish. Since then, this sleeping Marine vertebrate fauna of more than 200 million years has attracted the attention of the world, and Xingyi has also become a place of concern for the world, and curiosity hunters and researchers have flocked to it. On May 21, 1995, Guangming Daily reported on the front page with the striking headline "Rare Major scientific Discovery in the world, Guizhou Dragon Fossil was identified", which aroused strong repercussions in the society. On June 16, 1995, Guizhou Provincial Department of Culture held the "Guizhou Dragon Protection and Development Symposium", and the experts and scholars at the meeting reaffirmed the scientific significance of the fossil group. In 1995, Guizhou Province listed Guangbaobao, Jackal Bay and Langwu area of Luyin Village, Dingxiao Town, Xingyi City as provincial protection units, which is the first provincial geological heritage type nature reserve in Guizhou Province. The local people's government has set up protection signs in the protected areas, established protection organizations, strengthened protection measures, and effectively controlled indiscriminate digging. Xingyi Municipal Party Committee and Municipal government attach great importance to the protection, management and development of Guizhou dragon fossils and their origin, set up the "Guizhou Dragon Fossil Protection Area Management Office", held the "Guizhou Dragon Fauna Fossil exhibition", and established the "Guizhou Dragon Museum".
Kweichouisaurus fossil photograph by Gao Xue
Since 1998, with the discovery of Guichouisaurus fossils in Wusha Town, Xingyi City, Guizhou Province, Longguang Town, Anlong County, Banqiao Town, Fuyuan 18 Lianshan Town, Luoping County, Yunnan Province, and the subsequent discovery and study of Guanling biota and Panxian biota, the study of this vertebrate fauna has been further advanced. From 2002 to 2004, Li Jinling, a researcher at the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, published "A new species of Lariosarus from the Zhuganpo Formation of the Middle Triassic in Xingyi, Guizhou" and "a new species of Nothosaurus from the Middle Triassic in Xingyi, Guizhou" in the Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology. Subsequently, Rieppel, LinJun, Lichun (2006), Cheng Long, Chen Xiaohong, Wang Chuanshang (2007) reported the discovery of Anshunsaurus. Yen-Niea Cheng et al (2006) reported and described the world's First complete skeleton specimen of pure Xinsauria, Yunguisauria Lii, in the paper "First copleta Pistosauroides from the Origin of China". Li Chun (2007) published "A new species of Middle Triassic Macrocnemus (Reptilia, Protoposauria) in Yunnan and its Paleogeographic Significance" in Geoscience, Journal of Geology, Science of China. In particular, Xu Guanghui et al. (2012-2014) published a series of articles on the report and description of the Xingyi flying wing fish and Yuleusana. This is the first discovery of flying fish in China, and the record of the occurrence of such fossils 10 million years earlier. In addition, Jin Fan reported the emergence of ebony fish in this biota, which is also the earliest known ebony fish in the world. Due to the emergence of these new fossil materials, Xingyi has once again become the focus of the world's paleontological community.
Asian Lepidodon xingyi photograph by Gao Xue
Since 2010, the School of Earth and Space Sciences of Peking University and the Geological Museum of Peking University, with the support of relevant local departments, have carried out relatively scientific excavations in Nimaigu, Wusha Town, Xingyi City, measuring fossil-containing sections, systematic sampling and comprehensive research, and made some significant progress, confirming the existence of large ichthyosaurs (Sasteosaurs) and Qianichthyosaurs in this biota.
The scientific significance of Xingyi biota is as follows: firstly, Kweichousaurus Hui is the first Triassic Marine reptile fossil found in South China and even East Asia, and its discovery has opened the history of Triassic Marine reptile research in China, which plays a milestone role; Second, Xingyi biota is located between Panxian biota and Guanling biota, filling the gap between them and playing a bridging role in the evolution of Marine reptiles in the Triassic period, so it is of great significance to study the origin, evolution, migration and classification of early Marine reptiles. Third, many new fossils have pushed the date of the emergence of some types of organisms much earlier. (Courtesy of Xingyi National Geopark Administration)
