Elliot Formation

Elliot Formation Stratigraphic range: Upper Triassic-Lower Jurassic, 210–190 Ma PreЄ Є O S D C P T J K Pg N
Type	Geological formation
Unit of	Stormberg Group
Sub-units	Upper Elliot Formation, Lower Elliot Formation
Underlies	Molteno Formation
Overlies	Clarens Formation

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. Fossils of the prosauropod dinosaur Massospondylus have been recovered from the upper Elliot Formation.

Stratigraphy

Stratigraphy of the Karoo Supergroup in the Karoo Basin
Period	Group	Formation west of 24°E	Formation east of 24°E	Assemblage Zone
Jurassic	Drakensberg	Hiatus	Drakensberg
	Stormberg		Clarens
Triassic			Elliot
			Molteno
	Beaufort
			Burgersdorp	Cynognathus
			Katberg	Lystrosaurus
			Balfour
Permian				Dicynodon
		Teekloof
				Cistecephalus
			Middleton
				Tropidostoma
				Pristerognathus
		Abrahams-Kraal	Koonap
				Tapinocephalus
				Eodicynodon
	Ecca	Waterford	Waterford
		Tierberg / Fort Brown	Fort Brown
		Laingsburg / Ripon	Ripon
		Collingham	Collingham
		White Hill	White Hill
		Prince Albert	Prince Albert
Carboniferous	Dwyka	Elandsvlei	Elandsvlei
References: Rubidge (2005),[1] Selden and Nudds (2011).[2]

Vertebrate fauna

Dinosaurs

Unidentified dinosaur eggs have been recovered from the formation.^[3]

Ornithischia

An unnamed ornithischian genus has been reported from the Upper Elliot Formation.^[3] Geographically it was located in the Mafeteng district, Lesotho.^[3] Ornithischian tracks have been reported from the Upper Elliot Formation.^[3] Geographically they were located in Leribe District,^[4] Mafeteng district, and Mohales Hoek District, Lesotho.^[3] Possible indeterminate ornithischian remains have been reported from the Lower and Upper Elliot Formation of Cape Province, South Africa^[4] and the Mohales Hoek District, Lesotho.^[3]

Color key Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon		Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Ornithischian dinosaurs of the Elliot Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Abrictosaurus[3]	A. consors[3]	Qacha's Nek District[3] Cape Province[3] Free State Province[3]	Upper Elliot[3]	"[Two] skulls, [one] associated with fragmentary skeleton; material consisting of either male and female or adult and juvenile."[5]	The Qacha's Nek District remains were once considered Lycorhinus consors.[3]	Abrictosaurus Heterodontosaurus Heterodontosaurus Heterodontosaurus
Fabrosaurus[3]	F. australis[3]	Mafeteng district[3]	Upper Elliot[3]	"Fragmentary dentary with teeth."[6]	Its remains are now considered indeterminate ornithischian.[3]
Heterodontosaurus[3]	H. tucki[3]	Cape Province[3] Free State Province[3]	Upper Elliot[3]
	Indeterminate[3]	Quthing District[3]	Upper Elliot[3]
Lanasaurus	L. scalpridens	Free State Province	Upper Elliot		Now regarded as a junior synonym of Lycorhinus.
Lesothosaurus[4]	L. diagnosticus[4]	Mafeteng district[3]	Upper Elliot	"At least [four] skulls and associated skeletal material."[6]
Lycorhinus[3]	L. angustidens[3]	Cape Province[3] Free State Province[3]	Upper Elliot	"Isolated dentary maxillae."[5]
	L. consors[3]	Qacha's Nek District[3]	Upper Elliot[3]		Split off as the type species of the new genus Abrictosaurus.
Pegomastax[7]	P. africana[7]	Joe Gqabi District[7]	Upper Elliot

Sauropodomorpha

Prosauropod tracks have been found in the Lower and Upper Elliot Formation.^[4][3] Geographically, these finds have been located in Leribe District, Mafeteng District, Mohales Hoek district, Quthing District,^[3] and Maseru District, Lesotho.^[4] Possible prosauropod tracks have been located in the Lower Elliot Formation. Geographically these were located in Cape Province, South Africa.^[4]

Color key Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon		Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Sauropodomorph dinosaurs of the Elliot Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Aardonyx	A. celestae		Upper Elliot			Massospondylus Massospondylus Melanorosaurus readi
Aetonyx	A. palustris	Free State Province[3]	Upper Elliot[3]	"Cervicals, caudals, partial fore- and hindlimb."[8]	Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]
Antetonitrus[4]	A. ingenipes[4]	Free State Province[4]	Upper Elliot[9]
Blikanasaurus[4]	B. cromptoni[4]	Cape Province[4]	Lower Elliot[4]	"Associated left tibia, fibula, tarsus, [and] pes."[10]
Dromicosaurus	D. gracilis	Free State Province[3]	Upper Elliot[3]		Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]
Eucnemesaurus	E. fortis	Free State Province[4]	Lower Elliot[4]	"Fragmentary skeleton."[8]
Euskelosaurus[4]	E. africanus	Free State Province[4]	Lower Elliot[4]	"Vertebrae, ischia, incomplete ilia, tibiae and femora."[8]	Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[4]
	E. browni[4]	Cape Province[4] Free State Province[4]	Lower Elliot[4]
	Indeterminate[4]	Mohale's Hoek District[4] Cape Province[4]	Lower Elliot[4]
Gryponyx	G. africanus	Free State Province[3]	Upper Elliot[3]	"Vertebrae, both manus, pelvis and hindlimbs."[8]	A valid sauropodomorph genus and species.[11]
	G. taylori	Free State Province[3]	Upper Elliot[3]	"Sacrals, pelvic girdle."[8]	Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]
Hortalotarsus	H. skirtopodus	Cape Province[3] Free State Province[3]	Upper Elliot[3]		Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]
Ignavusaurus[12]	I. rachelis[12]		Upper Elliot[12]
Leptospondylus	L. capensis	Free State Province[3]	Upper Elliot[3]	"Caudals."[8]	Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]
Massospondylus[4]	M. browni	Cape Province[3] Free State Province[3]	Upper Elliot[3]	"Cervicals, dorsal, caudals, pedal elements."[8]	Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]
	M. carinatus[3]	Cape Province[3] Free State Province[3]	Upper Elliot[3]
	M. harriesi	Cape Province[3]	Upper Elliot[3]	"Forelimb."[8]	Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]
	M. schwarzi	Cape Province[3]	Upper Elliot[3]		Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]
	Indeterminate[3]	Mafeteng District[3] Qacha's Nek District[3] Cape Province[4]	Upper Elliot[3] Lower Elliot[4]
Melanorosaurus[4]	M. readi[4]	Cape Province[4]	Lower Elliot[4]	"[Three] partial skeletons, adult."[13]
	Indeterminate[4]	Leribe District[4] Maseru District[4] Mohale's Hoek District[4]	Lower Elliot[4]
Meroktenos[9]	M. thabanensis[9]	Mafeteng District[3]	Lower Elliot[9]	"Femur, adult."[13]
Orinosaurus	O. capensis	Free State Province[4]	Lower Elliot[4]	"Proximal tibia."[8]	Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[4]
Pachyspondylus	P. orpenii	Free State Province[3]	Upper Elliot[3]	"Fragmentary vertebrae."[8]	Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]
Plateosauravus[14][15]	P. cullingworthi[14][15]	Free State Province[4]	Lower Elliot[4]	"Partial skeleton."[8]
Plateosaurus	P. stormbergensis	Free State Province[4]	Lower Elliot[4]		Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[4]
Thecodontosaurus	T. browni	Quthing District[3] Cape Province[3]	Upper Elliot[3]		Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]
	T. minor	Cape Province[3]	Upper Elliot[3]		Elliot material formerly referred to this taxon was later concluded to be indeterminate prosauropod remains.[3]

Theropoda

Theropod tracks are stratigraphically located in both the Lower and Upper Elliot Formation. Geographically, they are located in the Leribe District, Mafeteng District, Quthing District,^[3] Maseru District and Mohales Hoek district,^[4][3] Lesotho.^[4]

Color key Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon		Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited.

Theropod dinosaurs of the Elliot Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Aliwalia[4]	A. rex[4]	Cape Province[4]	Lower Elliot[4]	Partial femur and possible maxilla.[16]	Now known to be a chimera of Eucnemesaurus and a theropod mandible.	Coelophysis rhodesiensis
Dracovenator[17]	D. regenti[17]	Cape Province[17]	Upper Elliot[17]		A dilophosaurid
Coelophysis[3]	C. rhodesiensis[3]	Cape Province[3] Free State Province[3]	Upper Elliot[3]		Former Megapnosaurus rhodesiensis.
Megapnosaurus[3]	M. rhodesiensis[3]	Cape Province[3] Free State Province[3]	Upper Elliot[3]		Note: Referred to as Syntarsus by Weishampel et al.[3]
Syntarsus[3]	S. rhodesiensis[3]	Cape Province[3] Free State Province[3]	Upper Elliot[3]

Mammals

Mammals of the Elliot Formation
Genus	Species	Location	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Megazostrodon[18]	M. rudnerae[18]	Orange Free County[18]	Upper Elliot Formation[18]	Skull and isolated vertebrae[18]

See also

• List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations

Footnotes

1. Rubidge, B.S. (2005). "Re-uniting lost continents – Fossil reptiles from the ancient Karoo and their wanderlust". South African Journal of Geology 108 (1): 135–172. doi:10.2113/108.1.135.
2. Selden, P.; and Nudds, J. (2011). "Karoo". Evolution of Fossil Ecosystems (2 ed.). Manson Publishing. pp. 104–122. ISBN 9781840761603.
3. Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Early Jurassic, Africa)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 535–536. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
4. Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Late Triassic, Africa)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 528–529. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.
5. "Table 18.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 394.
6. "Table 14.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 326.
7. Sereno, Paul C. (2012). "Taxonomy, morphology, masticatory function and phylogeny of heterodontosaurid dinosaurs". ZooKeys 226: 1–225. doi:10.3897/zookeys.226.2840. PMC 3491919. PMID 23166462.
8. "Table 12.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 236.
9. Claire Peyre de Fabrègues and Ronan Allain (2016). "New material and revision of Melanorosaurus thabanensis, a basal sauropodomorph from the Upper Triassic of Lesotho". PeerJ 4: e1639. doi:10.7717/peerj.1639.
10. "Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 261.
11. C. C. Vasconcelos, A. M. Yates (2004). Sauropodomorph biodiversity of the upper Elliot Formation (Lower Jurassic) of southern Africa. Geoscience Africa, Abstract Volume 2:670.
12. Knoll, Fabien (2010). "A primitive sauropodomorph from the upper Elliot Formation of Lesotho". Geological Magazine 147 (6): 814–829. doi:10.1017/S001675681000018X.
13. "Table 12.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 235.
14. Yates, A.M., and Kitching, J.W. (2003). The earliest known sauropod dinosaur and the first steps towards sauropod locomotion. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London B 270(1525):1753-1758.
15. Yates, A.M. (2006). Solving a dinosaurian puzzle: the identity of Aliwalia rex Galton. Historical Biology, iFirst article, 1-30.
16. "Table 2.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 26.
17. A. M. Yates. 2005. A new theropod dinosaur from the Early Jurassic of South Africa and its implications for the early evolution of theropods. Palaeontologia Africana 41:105-122
18. Gow, C.E. (1986). "A new skull of Megazostrodon (Mammalia, Triconodonta) from the Elliot Formation (Lower Jurassic) of Southern Africa" (PDF). Palaeontologia Africana 26 (2): 13–23.

References

• Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. 861 pp. ISBN 0-520-24209-2.