Haoling Formation

Haoling Formation
Stratigraphic range: Aptian–Albian PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N
Type	Geological formation
Underlies	Shangdonggou Formation
Overlies	Xiahedong Formation
Lithology
Primary	Siltstone
Other	Mudstone, Shale
Location
Coordinates	34°06′N 112°30′E / 34.1°N 112.5°E / 34.1; 112.5
Approximate paleocoordinates	30°48′N 126°12′E / 30.8°N 126.2°E / 30.8; 126.2
Region	Henan Province
Country	China
Extent	Ruyang Basin
Haoling Formation (China) Show map of China Haoling Formation (Henan) Show map of Henan

The Haoling Formation is a Mesozoic geologic formation in the Ruyang Basin of Henan, Province, central China. Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.

The Haoling Formation was originally treated as part of the Mangchuan Formation and considered to be of Paleocene age before being recognized as Mesozoic in age.^[1][2] A 2012 paper divided the Mangchuan into the Xiahedong, Haoling, and Shangdonggou Formations, assigning the dinosaur-bearing horizon to the Haoling Formation and constraining the age of the Haoling as Aptian-Albian based on fieldwork and invertebrate and microfossil assemblages.^[3]

Paleofauna

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.

Dinosaurs

Ornithischians

Ornithischians of the Haoling Formation
Genus	Species	Locality	Material	Notes	Images
Iguanodontia[4]	Indeterminate	Shaping Donggou, Liudan	Nine nearly articulated anteromiddle caudal vertebrae	An indeterminate iguanodontia.
Zhongyuansaurus	Z. junchangi[5]	300 miles east of Zhongwa Village (17 meters south of the road), Liudian	A single partial skeleton consists of a right mandible, 14 free caudal vertebrae and seven fused caudal vertebrae forming the club 'handle', ten haemal arches, four ribs, the left humerus, one metatarsal, and 41 osteoderms.	An ankylosaur
	Z. luoyangensis	Liufugou, Liudan	A partial skeleton consists of a nearly complete skull, fragments of the lower jaw, a cervical neural spine, dorsal vertebrae, caudal vertebrae, posterior caudal vertebral centra, fused distal caudal vertebrae, ribs, a humerus, both ischia, a pubis, and osteoderms

Sauropods

Sauropods of the Haoling Formation
Genus	Species	Locality	Material	Notes	Images
Huanghetitan	H. ruyangensis	Liufugou, Liudan	A partial skeleton consists of a nearly complete sacrum, ten proximal caudals, haemal arches, dorsal ribs, and an incomplete ischium.	A Somphospondyli sauropod.
Ruyangosaurus	R. giganteus	Shengshuigou, Shaping village,	A set of postcrania consists of femur, tibia, and dorsal vertebrae.	A titanosaur.
Xianshanosaurus[6]	X. shijiagouensis	Haoling Village, Liudian Town.	A partial skeleton consists of ten caudal vertebrae, a coracoid, a femur, and several ribs.	A Somphospondyli sauropod.
Yunmenglong	Y. ruyangensis	Huamiaogou Village, Liudian	A set of postcrania consists of nine cervicals, a single dorsal, four caudals & a right femur.	A Somphospondyli sauropod.

Theropods

Theropods of the Haoling Formation
Genus	Species	Locality	Material	Notes	Images
Carcharodontosauridae[7]	Indeterminate	Haoling Village and Shijiagou quarry, Liudian	Several teeth.	An indeterminate Carcharodontosaur.
Luoyanggia	L. liudianensis	Shijiagou quarry, Liudian	A partial skeleton	An oviraptorosaur.
Ornithomimidae[8]	O. spp	Shijiagou quarry, Liudian		An ornithomimid.
Spinosauridae	Indeterminate	Shijiagou quarry, Liudian		A spinosaurid.

See also

• Earth sciences portal
• Paleontology portal
• Dinosaurs portal

• List of dinosaur-bearing rock formations
  • List of stratigraphic units with few dinosaur genera

References

1. Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources of Henan Province. 1989. Regional geology of Henan Province. Beijing: Geological Publishing House; p. 1–772.
2. Lu ¨ JC, Xu L, Jia SH, Zhang XL, Ji Q. 2006. Discovery of a gigantic sauropod femur in Ruyang, Henan, China and its stratigraphic significance. Geol Bull China. 25(11):1299–1302.
3. Xu, L., Pan, Z.C., Wang, Z.H., Zhang, X.L., Jia, S.H., Lü, J.C., Jiang, B.L., 2012. Discovery and significance of the Cretaceous system in Ruyang Basin, Henan Province. Geological Review 58, 601-613
4. Zhang YY, Lu¨ JC, Pu HY, Xu L, Shang YH, Jia SH, Zhang JM. 2013. The discovery of iguanodontid dinosaur from the late Early Cretaceous strata of Ruyang Basin, Henan and its stratigraphic significance. Geol Bull China. 32(9):1344– 1348.
5. Zhang, Ji-ming; Jia, Lei; Xu, Li; You, Hai-lu; Gao, Dian-song; Liu, Di; Li, Yu; Wang, Yan-chao (March 2025). "河南汝阳盆地早白垩世甲龙科化石新材料" [New ankylosaurid material from the Lower Cretaceous of the Ruyang Basin, Henan Province]. Acta Palaeontologica Sinica (in Chinese) (1): 60–73. doi:10.19800/j.cnki.aps.2024037.
6. Lü, J.; Xu, L.; Jiang, X.; Jia, S.; Li, M.; Yuan, C.; Zhang, X.; Ji, Q. (2009). "A preliminary report on the new dinosaurian fauna from the Cretaceous of the Ruyang Basin, Henan Province of central China". Journal of the Paleontological Society of Korea. 25: 43–56. Archived from the original on 2010-02-08. Retrieved 2010-02-03
7. Lü, Junchang; Xu, Li; Pu, Hanyong; Jia, Songhai; Azuma, Yoichi; Chang, Huali; Zhang, Jiming (2016-02-17). "Paleogeographical significance of carcharodontosaurid teeth from the late Early Cretaceous of Ruyang, Henan Province of central China". Historical Biology. 28 (1–2): 8–13. doi:10.1080/08912963.2014.947287. ISSN 0891-2963. S2CID 53410808.
8. A preliminary report on the new dinosaurian fauna from the Cretaceous of the Ruyang Basin, Henan Province of central China. J Paleontol Soc Kor. 25(1):43–56.