Fossil Vertebrates of the Madygen Formation of Kyrgyzstan

Type Horizon and Locality: Middle or Late Triassic, Upper Grey-coloured Member, Madygen Formation (Ladinian or Carnian) Kyrgyzstan

Represented here:

Longisquama insignis Sharov, 1970, a small lizard-like creature with bizarre integumentary structures on its back.
Kyrgyzsaurus bukhanchenkoi Alifanov & Kurochkin, 2011, a primitive drepanosaur known from a fossil of a partial skeleton surrounded by extensive skin impressions.
Madygenerpeton pustulatus Schoch et al., 2010, a chroniosuchian, a group of enigmatic semi-aquatic reptiles with the shape of an alligator.
Madysaurus sharovi Tatarinov, 2005, a tiny short-snouted primitive cynodont.
Sharovipteryx mirabilis (Sharov, 1971), a small and unique gliding reptile. The very long hind legs and tail supported a wing membrane.
Triassurus sixtelae Ivakhnenko, 1978, known for a poorly preserved specimen, possibly the oldest known salamander (Caudata), but could as well be temnospondyl larvae.

The Madygen Formation has also yielded a rich insect fauna, as well as fish, including primitive shark egg capsules.


February 15, 2020


References:

Alifanov, V. R., & Kurochkin, E. N. (2011). Kyrgyzsaurus bukhanchenkoi gen. et sp. nov., a new reptile from the Triassic of southwestern Kyrgyzstan. Paleontological Journal, 45(6), 639-647.

Gans, C., Darevski, I., & Tatarinov, L. P. (1987). Sharovipteryx, a reptilian glider?. Paleobiology, 13(4), 415-426.
 
Reisz, R. R., & Sues, H. D. (2000). The'feathers' of Longisquama. Nature, 408(6811), 428-428.
 
Schoch, R. R., Voigt, S., & Buchwitz, M. (2010). A chroniosuchid from the Triassic of Kyrgyzstan and analysis of chroniosuchian relationships. Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society, 160(3), 515-530.


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