释义 |
- Stratigraphic definitions Subdivision
- Lithofacies
- Palaeontology †Ankylosaurs Theropods †Basal Ornithischians †Ceratopsians †Ornithopods †Plesiosauria †Pterosauria †Stegosaurs †Sauropods †Thalattosuchians †Belemnites
- References Notes Literature
- External links
{{Jurassic}}In the geological timescale, the Tithonian is the latest age of the Late Jurassic epoch or the uppermost stage of the Upper Jurassic series. It spans the time between 152.1 ± 4 Ma and 145.0 ± 4 Ma (million years ago). It is preceded by the Kimmeridgian and followed by the Berriasian stage (part of the Cretaceous).[1] Stratigraphic definitionsThe Tithonian was introduced in scientific literature by German stratigrapher Albert Oppel in 1865. The name Tithonian is unusual in geological stage names because it is derived from Greek mythology. Tithonus was the son of Laomedon of Troy. He fell in love with Eos, the Greek goddess of dawn and finds his place in the stratigraphy because this stage, the Tithonian, finds itself hand in hand with the dawn of the Cretaceous. The base of the Tithonian stage is at the base of the ammonite biozone of Hybonoticeras hybonotum. A global reference profile (a GSSP or golden spike) for the base of the Tithonian had in 2009 not yet been established. The top of the Tithonian stage (the base of the Berriasian stage and the Cretaceous system) is marked by the first appearance of small globular calpionellids of the species Calpionella alpina, at the base of the Alpina Subzone . SubdivisionThe Tithonian is often subdivided into Lower/Early, Middle and Upper/Late substages or subages. The Late Tithonian is coeval with the Portlandian stage of British stratigraphy. The Tithonian stage contains seven ammonite biozones in the Tethys domain, from top to base: - zone of Durangites
- zone of Micracanthoceras micranthum
- zone of Micracanthoceras ponti or Burckardticeras peroni
- zone of Semiformiceras fallauxi
- zone of Semiformiceras semiforme
- zone of Semiformiceras darwini
- zone of Hybonoticeras hybonotum
LithofaciesIn the ocean of Tethys, the Tithonian has a calcareous facies with a typical cephalopod fauna. The Solnhofen limestone of southern Germany, which is known for its fossils (especially Archaeopteryx), is of Tithonian age. Palaeontology†AnkylosaursAnkylosauria of the Tithonian |
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Taxa | Presence | Location | Description | Images |
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Morrison Formation, Wyoming, USA | The smallest and the earliest well-known ankylosaur. Its skull measures only 29 cm in length, and its total body length is an estimated three to four meters. | | - Mymoorapelta
- Mymoorapelta maysi
Morrison Formation, Colorado, USA | A poorly known early ankylosaurian. | |
TheropodsTheropods of the Tithonian |
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Taxa | Presence | Location | Description | Images |
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Morrison Formation, USA | The most common and most highly studied theropod dinosaur. | | Solnhofen, Germany | The late Jurassic is notable for the first appearance in the fossil record of birds, in the form of Archaeopteryx, found in limestone quarries in Germany. | Morrison Formation, USA | Fossils are less common than those of Allosaurus. | Solnhofen, Germany | Found near Archaeopteryx fossils. | - Compsognathus-like creature
Port Waikato, New Zealand | Only known Tithonian dinosaur in New Zealand. | Kimmeridge Clay Formation | known from a single specimen consisting of an associated partial skeleton represented by a complete pelvis as well as a partially complete leg, and neck, back, and tail vertebrae. | Morrison Formation, Utah | Morrison Formation, Wyoming | Morrison Formation, Colorado and Wyoming and Lourinhã Formation, Portugal | |
†Basal OrnithischiansBasal ornithischians of the Tithonian |
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Taxa | Presence | Location | Description | Images |
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Fruita, Colorado, USA | Fruitadens was a heterodontosaurid and the smallest known ornithischian dinosaur, weighing less than {{convert>2|lb|kg}} and measuring a little over {{convert|2|ft|m}} in length. It is also one of the latest surviving heterodontosaurids known. | | |
†CeratopsiansCeratopsia of the Tithonian |
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Taxa | Presence | Location | Description | Images |
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Chaoyang area, Liaoning, China | One of the earliest ceratopsians | | Hebei, China | A member of the family Chaoyangsauridae, it was one of the earliest ceratopsians | |
†OrnithopodsOrnithopoda of the Tithonian |
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Taxa | Presence | Location | Description | Images |
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Kimmeridgian to Tithonian | Wyoming, USA | Camptosaurus could be more than {{convert>7.9|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} long, and {{convert|2.0|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}} tall at the hips. They had heavy bodies but, as well as walking on four legs (quadrupedal), could also rear up to walk on two legs (bipedal). This genus is closely related to iguanodontid and hadrosaurid dinosaurs. It probably ate cycads with its beak. | | Lourinhã, Portugal | A camptosaurid iguanodont | |
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†PlesiosauriaPlesiosaurs of the Tithonian |
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Taxa | Presence | Location | Description | Images |
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†PterosauriaPterosaurs of the Tithonian |
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Taxa | Presence | Location | Description | Images |
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Solnhofen, Germany | Short head with pin-like teeth, short tail but from a normally long tailed group "Rhamphorhynchoidea" | | Morrison Formation, Wyoming, United States | Known only from an intact fourth metacarpal, 57.5 millimetres long | Solnhofen, Germany | Solnhofen, Germany | Morrison Formation, Wyoming, United States | Solnhofen, Germany | Solnhofen, Germany | Neuquén, Argentina | Solnhofen, Germany | - Rhamphorhynchus muensteri
Solnhofen, Germany | |
†StegosaursStegosaurs of the Tithonian |
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Taxa | Presence | Location | Description | Images |
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Kimmeridgian to Early Tithonian | Morrison Formation, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, USA | 9|m|ft|abbr=off}} long and {{convert|4|m|ft|abbr=off}} tall, the quadrupedal Stegosaurus is one of the most easily identifiable dinosaurs, due to the distinctive double row of kite-shaped plates rising vertically along its arched back and the two pairs of long spikes extending horizontally near the end of its tail. | | |
†SauropodsSauropoda of the Tithonian |
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Taxa | Presence | Location | Description | Images |
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- Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Wyoming, Morrison Formation, USA
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†ThalattosuchiansThalattosuchians of the Tithonian |
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Taxa | Presence | Location | Description | Images |
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- Cricosaurus
- C. elegans
- C. gracilis
- C. macrospondylus
- C. suevicus
Germany | - Dakosaurus
- D. maximus
- D. andiniensis
A large genus of metriorhynchid, that was a high order predator which fed on other marine reptiles - The type species from Western Europe of the Late Jurassic (Early Tithonian).
- Argentina of the Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous (Early Tithonian), nicknamed "Godzilla".
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- Geosaurus
- G. giganteus
- G. grandis
- Western Europe
- Western Europe
A relatively small metriorhynchid genus. No known species of Geosaurus attained lengths in excess of {{convert|3|m|ft|abbr=off|sp=us}}. There were multiple Geosaurus species alive during the Tithonian. - The type species from Western Europe of the Late Jurassic (Early Tithonian).
- Western Europe of the Late Jurassic (Early Tithonian).
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An opportunistic carnivore that fed on fish, belemnites and other marine animals and possible carrion. |
Mörnsheim Formation, Solnhofen, Bavaria, Germany | A piscivorous rhacheosaurine | |
†BelemnitesBelemnites of the Tithonian |
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Taxa | Presence | Location | Description | Images |
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References Notes1. ^See for a detailed version of the geologic timescale Gradstein et al. (2004)
Literature- {{aut|Gradstein, F.M.; Ogg, J.G. & Smith, A.G.}}; (2004): A Geologic Time Scale 2004, Cambridge University Press.
- {{aut|Oppel, C.A.}}; 1865: Die Tithonische Etage, Zeitschrift der Deutschen Geologischen Gesellschaft, 1865: pp 535–558. {{de icon}}
External links- GeoWhen Database - Tithonian
- Jurassic-Cretaceous timescale, at the website of the subcommission for stratigraphic information of the ICS
- [https://web.archive.org/web/20060518101431/http://norges.uio.no/timescale/Fig17.1_Jur_colA.pdf Stratigraphic chart of the Upper Jurassic], at the website of Norges Network of offshore records of geology and stratigraphy
{{Jurassic Footer}}{{Geological history|p|m}} 3 : Tithonian|Late Jurassic|Geological ages |