oilshale Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 The order of Acipenseriformes (Sturgeon-like fishes) both includes sturgeons (Acipenseridae) and paddlefish (Polyodontidae). At least three Sturgeon-like fishes (Acipenseriformes) can be found in the Jiufotang Formation (Jehol Group) and in the Yixian Formation in western Liaoning and northern Hebei Province China. The Jiufotang Formation is dated to about 120.3+/-0.7 million years ago, which was during the Aptian age of the Cretaceous; the Yixian Formation is dated slightly older, around 125-121 million years ago (Barremian-early Aptian). Protopsephurus liui Lu 1994 is both the oldest and the most primitive paddlefish (Polyodontidae) known. Paddlefishes remain one of the strongest indicators of historical biogeographic connection between East Asia and North America. Fossil and living members of this family date from the Early Cretaceous and Recent in China, and from the Late Cretaceous, Early Paleocene, Early Eocene and Recent in North America. The total length of Protopsephurus normally is in the range of 20 to 30cm. The large one shown on the picture is around 80cm but I've seen even larger ones. Two sturgeons can be found in these provinces: Yanosteus longidorsalis was first found in the Yixian Formation of Fengning Couny in northern Hebei Province. This Acipenseriformes is characterized by an extraordinarily long dorsal fin; the length of its base is about 1/3 of the total body length. The caudal fin is heterocercal and only slightly forked. The total length of the specimens ranges from 20 to 45 cm. The other extinct relative of nowadays sturgeons is Peipiaosteus pani, Liu and Zhou 1965 from the Jiufotang Formation, Pani Lake, Liaoning. This sturgeon is characterized by a long fusiform trunk and a short dorsal fin. The origin of the dorsal fin is a little before that of the anal fin. The normal size of these specimens normally is around 15 to 30 cm – but I’ve seen a couple of fish exceeding 60cm. 1 Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes (Confucius, 551 BC - 479 BC). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinopaleus Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 very cool thomas! did you get them from the natural museums? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pleecan Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Great to hear for you Thomas! Great report. Peter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glacialerratic Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Wow! Amazing fish! Do you know if these formations are fresh or salt water shales? Thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilshale Posted December 16, 2011 Author Share Posted December 16, 2011 (edited) Wow! Amazing fish! Do you know if these formations are fresh or salt water shales? Thanks! Good question! As far as I know, both formations are sweet water shales. At least the Jiufotang formation frequently shows multi-cyclic deposits of mudstones, siltstones and gravel bearing sandstones formed under gravity flow conditions. The Yixian formation is also characterized by lacustrine depositional sequences interlayered with ash bearing layers. But I think there is still some dispute going on. Jehol.pdf Thomas Edited December 16, 2011 by oilshale Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes (Confucius, 551 BC - 479 BC). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pleecan Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Thank for the pdf Thomas! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
astron Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 This is an example of the high level Thomas' and TFF's topics. Astrinos P. Damianakis Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ludwigia Posted December 16, 2011 Share Posted December 16, 2011 Hi Thomas, It's good to hear from you again in your own inimitable way. It's also good to see that you have the chance to keep up on one of your favorite subjects and to be able to continue sharing your detailed and specialized information with us. Greetings from the Lake of Constance. Roger http://www.steinkern.de/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fossildude19 Posted December 17, 2011 Share Posted December 17, 2011 This is an example of the high level Thomas' and TFF's topics. Hi Thomas, It's good to hear from you again in your own inimitable way. It's also good to see that you have the chance to keep up on one of your favorite subjects and to be able to continue sharing your detailed and specialized information with us. What they said!! I couldn't agree more! Thanks for the further information, Thomas! I enjoy learning from your erudite posts! Regards, Tim - VETERAN SHALE SPLITTER VFOTM --- APRIL - 2015 __________________________________________________ "In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks." John Muir ~ ~ ~ ~ ><))))( *> About Me Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oilshale Posted December 17, 2011 Author Share Posted December 17, 2011 Thanks for the compliments my friends . I try to keep up on fossils, but Shanghai is a terrific city. There is so much to see and to explore - it is hard not to be detracted. This is the view out of from my apartment: I should have added a picture of my favorite Paddlefish, a Crossopholis magnicaudatus from the Green River Formation. This is a dream of a fish! (This is a picture out of Wikipedia, picture made by Ghedoghedo) Be not ashamed of mistakes and thus make them crimes (Confucius, 551 BC - 479 BC). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sinopaleus Posted December 31, 2011 Share Posted December 31, 2011 wow, you're apartment's in waitan? cool! ill come visit you someday! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sixgill pete Posted January 1, 2012 Share Posted January 1, 2012 WOW, they are awesome. I want one!!!!! Bulldozers and dirt Bulldozers and dirt behind the trailer, my desert Them red clay piles are heaven on earth I get my rocks off, bulldozers and dirt Patterson Hood; Drive-By Truckers May 2016 May 2012 Aug 2013, May 2016, Apr 2020 Oct 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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