The Sao Khua Formation (Thai : หมวดหินเสาขัว ) is a middle member of the Khorat Group. It consists of an alteration of pale red to yellowish-gray, fine to medium-grained sandstone and grayish-reddish brown siltstone and clay. Rare pale red to light gray conglomerates, containing carbonate pebbles, are also characteristic of this formation. This geological formation in Thailand dates to the Early Cretaceous age, specifically the Valanginian through Hauterivian stages.[ 1]
Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.[ 2]
Depositional environment
Based on paleosols and lithostratigraphy , the Sao Khua Formation is believed to have been deposited in a warm to slightly cool semi-arid climate by a meandering river system. Geochemistry is indicative of a stable humid subtropical climate regime, and sedimentation is thought to have occurred in a floodplain setting which was fed by bedload-rich large meandering channels.[ 1] Paleocurrent analysis suggests the sand channels at the time of deposition of the formation probably formed a braided channel environment.[ 3]
Fossil content
Color key
Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text ; crossed out taxa are discredited.
Amphibians
Amphibians reported from the Sao Khua Formation
Genus
Species
Presence
Material
Notes
Images
Anura indet.
Indeterminate
Nong Bua Lamphu province.[ 4]
Humeri (SHM-PT 529 and SHM-PT 530) and a pelvic girdle (SHM-HY 231).[ 4]
A frog .
Reptiles
Dinosaurs
Dinosaurs reported from the Sao Khua Formation
Genus
Species
Presence
Material
Notes
Images
Brachiosauridae
Indeterminate
Phu Wat B Locality, Phu Kao Mountain range
A tooth.[ 5]
Similar to other brachiosaurid teeth.
Carcharodontosauridae
Indeterminate
Locality Phu Wiang 1a, Khon Kaen province.[ 6]
PRC-61, "Fragment of the posterior part of a right maxilla".[ 6]
A carcharodontosaur.
Compsognathidae ?
Indeterminate
[ 6] [ 7] [ 8]
A very small theropod form.[ 6] [ 7]
Diplodocoidea
Indeterminate
Kinnareemimus
K. khonkaenensis
Locality Phu Wiang 5, Phu Wiang district, Khon Kaen province.[ 9]
Vertebral, pelvic and limb elements.[ 9]
An ornithomimosaur .
Ornithurae?
Khok Kong, Kalasin province.[ 10]
A humerus fragment.[ 10]
May represent an early ornithurine, and probably is not an enantiornithine .
Phuwiangosaurus
P. sirindhornae
Khon Kaen province.[ 11] Nong Bua Lamphu Province.[ 5]
"Partial skeletons, juvenile - adult", & 2 additional vertebrae.[ 11] [ 12] A scapula and a partial skeleton have also been referred.[ 5]
A titanosaur .
Phuwiang spinosaurid B
Indeterminate
PW9 'Hin Lad Yao' locality site A and site B, Phu Wiang district, Khon Kaen province.[ 13]
Caudal vertebrae.[ 13]
A spinosaur .
Phuwiangvenator
P. yaemniyomi
Phu Wiang Site 9B, Phu Wiang Mountain, Khon Kaen province.[ 14]
A megaraptoran .
Siamosaurus
S. suteethorni
Isolated teeth.[ 15] [ 16]
A potentially dubious spinosaur .
Siamotyrannus
S. isanensis
"Pelvis, dorsal, sacral, and caudal vertebrae."[ 17] [ 18]
An avetheropodan of uncertain position
Vayuraptor
V. nongbualamphuensis
Phu Wat Site A1 Locality, Nong Sang, Nong Bua Lamphu province.[ 14]
A megaraptoran .
Lizards
Lizards reported from the Sao Khua Formation
Genus
Species
Presence
Material
Notes
Images
Anguimorpha indet.
Phu Phok (SK1), Sakhon Nakhorn Province.[ 19]
Fossilized eggs containing embryos .[ 19]
Eggs originally thought to be of theropods like Epidendrosaurus .[ 20]
Pseudosuchians
Pseudosuchians reported from the Sao Khua Formation
Genus
Species
Presence
Material
Notes
Images
Goniopholis
G. phuwiangensis
Phu Wiang district.[ 21]
A dentary.[ 21] [ 22]
Reassigned to Sunosuchus .
Siamosuchus
S. phuphokensis
Phu Phok, Kok Prasil Sub-district, Phu Phan district, Sakon Nakhon province.[ 23]
A partly articulated skeleton (PPC-1).[ 23]
A goniopholidid .
Sunosuchus
S. phuwiangensis
Phu Wiang district.[ 21]
A dentary.[ 22]
Originally reported as Goniopholis phuwiangensis .
Theriosuchus
T. grandinaris
Phu Phok, Kok Prasil Sub-district, Phu Phan district, Sakon Nakhon province.[ 24]
"PPC-2, a nearly complete rostrum and dentary".[ 24]
An atoposaurid .
Varanosuchus
V. sakonnakhonensis
Phu Sung locality near Mueang Sakon Nakhon district, Sakon Nakhon province.[ 25]
A nearly complete skull and skeleton (SM-2021-1-97/101), a nearly complete skull (SM-2023-1-16), and a partial skull table (SM-2023-1-17).[ 25]
An atoposaurid.
Pterosaurs
Turtles
Turtles reported from the Sao Khua Formation
Genus
Species
Presence
Material
Notes
Images
Isanemys
I. srisuki
Kalasin, Khon Kaen and Sakon Nakhon provinces.[ 27]
Over 20 shells & additional isolated shell plates.[ 27]
An adocid .
Kizylkumemys
K. sp.
Khon Kaen, Kalasin and Nong Bua Lamphu provinces.[ 27]
Abundant but very fragmentary shell plates.[ 27]
A carettochelyid .
Protoshachemys
P. rubra
Phu Din Daeng, Nakhon Phanom province.[ 28]
Shell material.[ 28]
An adocid .
Fish
Bony fish
Bony fish reported from the Sao Khua Formation
Genus
Species
Presence
Material
Notes
Images
Siamamia
S. naga
Phu Phok.[ 29]
A bowfin .
Cartilaginous fish
Invertebrates
Bivalves
Bivalves reported from the Sao Khua Formation
Genus
Species
Presence
Material
Notes
Images
Pseudohyria
P. (Matsumotoina) somanai
South of Phu Noi, Khon Kaen province.[ 33]
See also
List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
References
↑ 1.0 1.1 Tucker, Ryan T.; Hyland, Ethan G.; Gates, Terry A.; King, M. Ryan; Roberts, Eric M.; Foley, Elliot K.; Berndt, David; Hanta, Rattanaphorn et al . (September 2022). "Age, depositional history, and paleoclimatic setting of Early Cretaceous dinosaur assemblages from the Sao Khua Formation (Khorat Group), Thailand". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 601 . doi :10.1016/j.palaeo.2022.111107 . ISSN 0031-0182 . Bibcode : 2022PPP...60111107T .
↑ Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Early Cretaceous, Asia)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 563-570. ISBN 0-520-24209-2 .
↑ Chenrai, Piyaphong (2012-01-01). "Paleocurrent Analysis of the Sao Khua Formation, Khorat Group, Nong Bua Lamphu region, NE Thailand" (in en). Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering 37 (1): 115–120. doi :10.1007/s13369-011-0144-7 . ISSN 2191-4281 .
↑ 4.0 4.1 Nonsrirach, Thanit; Manitkoon, Sita; Lauprasert, Komsorn (2021). "First occurrence of brachyopid temnospondyls in Southeast Asia and review of the Mesozoic amphibians from Thailand" . Fossil Record 24 (1): 33. doi :10.5194/fr-24-33-2021 . ISSN 2193-0074 . Bibcode : 2021FossR..24...33N . https://www.academia.edu/en/69984046/First_occurrence_of_brachyopid_temnospondyls_in_Southeast_Asia_and_review_of_the_Mesozoic_amphibians_from_Thailand .
↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 Samathi, Adun; Suteethorn, Suravech; Boonjarern, Tanachot; Sutcha, Krishna; Suteethorn, Varavudh (April 2024). "Dinosaur fauna from the Lower Cretaceous of Phu Kao-Phu Phan Kham, northeastern Thailand: a review and update". Palaeoworld 33 (2): 420–438. doi :10.1016/j.palwor.2023.03.007 . ISSN 1871-174X . Bibcode : 2024Palae..33..420S .
↑ 6.0 6.1 6.2 6.3 Buffetaut, Eric; Suteethorn, Varavudh (January 2012). "A carcharodontosaurid theropod (Dinosauria, Saurischia) in the Sao Khua Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) of Thailand" . 2012 EAVP Abstracts : 27–30. https://www.scribd.com/document/208780191/2012-Eavp-Abstracts .
↑ 7.0 7.1 Buffetaut, Eric; Suteethorn, Varavudh (1999-06-15). "The dinosaur fauna of the Sao Khua Formation of Thailand and the beginning of the Cretaceous radiation of dinosaurs in Asia" (in en). Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology 150 (1): 13–23. doi :10.1016/S0031-0182(99)00004-8 . ISSN 0031-0182 . Bibcode : 1999PPP...150...13B . https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031018299000048 .
↑ Buffetaut, Eric; Suteethorn, Varavudh; Le Loeuff, Jean; Khansubha, Sasa-On; Tong, Haiyan; Wongko, K. (January 2005). "The dinosaur fauna from the Khok Kruat Formation (Early Cretaceous) of Thailand" . International Conference on Geology, Geotechnology and Mineral Resources of Indochina (GEOINDO 2005) : 575–581. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/312976683 .
↑ 9.0 9.1 Buffetaut, Eric; Suteethorn, Varavudh; Tong, Haiyan (May 2009). "An early 'ostrich dinosaur' (Theropoda: Ornithomimosauria) from the Early Cretaceous Sao Khua Formation of NE Thailand" . Geological Society, London, Special Publications 315 (1): 229–243. doi :10.1144/sp315.16 . ISSN 0305-8719 . Bibcode : 2009GSLSP.315..229B . https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249552003 .
↑ 10.0 10.1 Buffetaut, Eric; Dyke, Gareth; Suteethorn, Varavudh; Tong, Haiyan (2005-12-01). "First record of a fossil bird from the Early Cretaceous of Thailand" (in en). Comptes Rendus Palevol 4 (8): 681–686. doi :10.1016/j.crpv.2005.06.002 . ISSN 1631-0683 . Bibcode : 2005CRPal...4..681B . https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1631068305000655 .
↑ 11.0 11.1 Suteethorn, Suravech; Loeuff, Jean Le; Buffetaut, Eric; Suteethorn, Varavudh (2010). "Description of topotypes of Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae, a sauropod from the Sao Khua Formation (Early Cretaceous) of Thailand, and their phylogenetic implications" . Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen 256 (1): 109. doi :10.1127/0077-7749/2010/0036 . ISSN 0077-7749 . https://www.academia.edu/346223 .
↑ "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 268.
↑ 13.0 13.1 Samathi, Adun; Sander, P. Martin; Chanthasit, Phornphen (February 2021). "A spinosaurid from Thailand (Sao Khua Formation, Early Cretaceous) and a reassessment of Camarillasaurus cirugedae from the Early Cretaceous of Spain" . Historical Biology 33 (4): 3480–3494. doi :10.1080/08912963.2021.1874372 . Bibcode : 2021HBio...33.3480S . https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349291782 .
↑ 14.0 14.1 Samathi, Adun; Chanthasit, Phornphen; Sander, P. Martin (2019). "Two new basal coelurosaurian theropod dinosaurs from the Lower Cretaceous Sao Khua Formation of Thailand" . Acta Palaeontologica Polonica 64 (2): 239–260. doi :10.4202/app.00540.2018 . https://www.academia.edu/39636712 .
↑ Bertin, Tor (December 2010). "A catalogue of material and review of the Spinosauridae" . PalArch's Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology 7 (4): 1–39. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/235679976 .
↑ "Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 78.
↑ "Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 74.
↑ Buffetaut, Eric; Suteethorn, Varavudh; Tong, Haiyan (June 1996). "The earliest known tyrannosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of Thailand" (in en). Nature 381 (6584): 689–691. doi :10.1038/381689a0 . ISSN 1476-4687 . Bibcode : 1996Natur.381..689B . https://www.nature.com/articles/381689a0 .
↑ 19.0 19.1 Fernandez, Vincent; Buffetaut, Eric; Suteethorn, Varavudh; Rage, Jean-Claude; Tafforeau, Paul; Kundrát, Martin (2015-07-15). "Evidence of Egg Diversity in Squamate Evolution from Cretaceous Anguimorph Embryos" (in en). PLOS ONE 10 (7). doi :10.1371/journal.pone.0128610 . ISSN 1932-6203 . PMID 26176757 . Bibcode : 2015PLoSO..1028610F .
↑ Buffetaut, Eric; Grellet-Tinner, Gerald; Suteethorn, Varavudh; Cuny, Gilles; Tong, Haiyan; Košir, Adrijan; Cavin, Lionel; Chitsing, Suwanna et al . (2005-09-13). "Minute theropod eggs and embryo from the Lower Cretaceous of Thailand and the dinosaur-bird transition" . Naturwissenschaften 92 (10): 477–482. doi :10.1007/s00114-005-0022-9 . ISSN 0028-1042 . PMID 16158273 . Bibcode : 2005NW.....92..477B . https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226285347 .
↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 Buffetaut, Eric; Ingavat, Rucha (1983-01-01). "Goniopholis phuwiangensis nov. sp., a newmesosuchian crocodile from the Mesozoic of north-eastern Thailand" (in en). Geobios 16 (1): 79–91. doi :10.1016/S0016-6995(83)80048-5 . ISSN 0016-6995 . Bibcode : 1983Geobi..16...79B . https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0016699583800485 .
↑ 22.0 22.1 De Andrade, M. B.; Edmonds, R.; Benton, M. J.; Schouten, R. (2011). "A new Berriasian species of Goniopholis (Mesoeucrocodylia, Neosuchia) from England, and a review of the genus". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 163 : S66–S108. doi :10.1111/j.1096-3642.2011.00709.x .
↑ 23.0 23.1 Lauprasert, Komsorn; Cuny, Gilles; Buffetaut, Eric; Suteethorn, Varavudh; Thirakhupt, Kumthorn (2007). "Siamosuchus phuphokensis, a new goniopholidid from the Early Cretaceous (ante-Aptian) of northeastern Thailand" . Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France 178 (3): 201. doi :10.2113/gssgfbull.178.3.201 . ISSN 1777-5817 . https://www.academia.edu/594868 .
↑ 24.0 24.1 Lauprasert, Komsorn; Laojumpon, Chalida; Saenphala, Wanitchaphat; Cuny, Gilles; Thirakhupt, Kumthorn; Suteethorn, Varavudh (2010-06-12). "Atoposaurid crocodyliforms from the Khorat Group of Thailand: first record of Theriosuchus from Southeast Asia" . Paläontologische Zeitschrift 85 (1): 37–47. doi :10.1007/s12542-010-0071-z . ISSN 0031-0220 . https://www.researchgate.net/publication/215486888 .
↑ 25.0 25.1 Pochat-Cottilloux, Yohan; Lauprasert, Komsorn; Chanthasit, Phornphen; Manitkoon, Sita; Adrien, Jérôme; Lachambre, Joël; Amiot, Romain; Martin, Jeremy E. (2024-01-09). "New Cretaceous neosuchians (Crocodylomorpha) from Thailand bridge the evolutionary history of atoposaurids and paralligatorids" . Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society 202 (2): 1–27. doi :10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad195 . https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad195/7513556 .
↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 Cuny, Gilles; Suteethorn, V. (2003-01-01). "A Pterodactyloid tooth from the Sao Khua Formation (Early Cretaceous) of Thailand." . Mahasarakham University Journal 22 : 92–98. https://www.academia.edu/1391633 .
↑ 27.0 27.1 27.2 27.3 Tong, Haiyan; Claude, Julien; Suteethorn, Varavudh; Naksri, Wilailuck; Buffetaut, Eric (May 2009). "Turtle assemblages of the Khorat Group (Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous) of NE Thailand and their palaeobiogeographical significance" . Geological Society, London, Special Publications 315 (1): 141–152. doi :10.1144/sp315.11 . ISSN 0305-8719 . Bibcode : 2009GSLSP.315..141T . https://www.researchgate.net/publication/240675681 .
↑ 28.0 28.1 Tong, Haiyan; Buffetaut, Eric; Suteethorn, Varavudh; Suteethorn, Suravech; Cuny, Gilles; Cavin, Lionel; Deesri, Uthumporn; Martin, Jeremy E. et al . (2019-07-01). "Phu Din Daeng, a new Early Cretaceous vertebrate locality on the Khorat Plateau, NE Thailand" (in en). Annales de Paléontologie . Palaeobiodiversity of Southeast Asia, issue 1 105 (3): 223–237. doi :10.1016/j.annpal.2019.04.004 . ISSN 0753-3969 . Bibcode : 2019AnPal.105..223T . https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753396919300229 .
↑ Cavin, Lionel; Suteethorn, Varavudh; Buffetaut, Eric; Claude, Julien; Cuny, Gilles; Le Loeuff, Jean; Tong, Haiyan (2007-12-12). "The first sinamiid fish (Holostei: Halecomorpha) from Southeast Asia (Early Cretaceous of Thailand)" . Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology 27 (4): 827–837. doi :10.1671/0272-4634(2007)27[827:tfsfhh 2.0.co;2]. ISSN 0272-4634 . https://www.researchgate.net/publication/216007069 .
↑ 30.00 30.01 30.02 30.03 30.04 30.05 30.06 30.07 30.08 30.09 30.10 M., Cuny, Gilles Guy Roger Suteethorn, V. Buffetaut, E. Philippe (2003). Hybodont sharks from the Mesozoic Khorat Group of Thailand. . OCLC 842608080 . https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285707153 .
↑ 31.0 31.1 31.2 Cuny, G.; Suteethorn, V.; Khansubha, S. (2015). "A sclerorhynchoid (Chondrichthyes: Batomorphii) in the Lower Cretaceous of Thailand?" . New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin 67 : 15–17. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/274699139 .
↑ Kriwet, J. (1999). "Neoselachier (Pisces, Elasmobranchii) aus der Unterkreide (unteres Barremium) von Galve und Alcaine (Spanien, Provinz Teruel)" . Palaeo Ichthyologica 9 : 113–142. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234106858 .
↑ Tumpeesuwan, Sakboworn; Sato, Yoshio; Nakhapadungrat, Somchai (2010). A New Species of Pseudohyria (Matsumotoina) (Bivalvia: Trigonioidoidea) from the Early Cretaceous Sao Khua Formation, Khorat Group, Northeastern Thailand . http://archive.org/details/tropical-natural-history-102944-82488 .
Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sao Khua Formation. Read more