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Sao Khua Formation

Early Cretaceous geological formation in Thailand

Summary

Early Cretaceous geological formation in Thailand

Field	Value
name	Sao Khua Formation
image	File:Sao Khua Formation V2.png
caption	Restoration of Siamosaurus, Sunosuchus and Phuwiangosaurus in the Sao Khua Formation palaeoenvironment.
type	Geological formation
age	late Valanginian-early Hauterivian
~
period	Hauterivian
prilithology	Sandstone, conglomerate
otherlithology	Siltstone, claystone
namedby	Ward & Bunnag
year_ts	1964
region	Indochina
country	Thailand
coordinates
paleocoordinates
unitof	Khorat Group
underlies	Phu Phan Formation
overlies	Phra Wihan Formation
thickness	~120 m
extent	Khorat Plateau
map	{{Location map+	Thailand
relief	1
width	250
float	center
lat_deg	16.7
lon_deg	102.3
mark	Green pog.svg
marksize	12

~ The Sao Khua Formation () is a middle member of the Khorat Group. It consists of an alteration of pale red to yellowish-gray, fine to medium-grained sandstone and grayish-reddish brown siltstone and clay. Rare pale red to light gray conglomerates, containing carbonate pebbles, are also characteristic of this formation. This geological formation in Thailand dates to the Early Cretaceous age, specifically the Valanginian through Hauterivian stages.

Dinosaur remains are among the fossils that have been recovered from the formation.

Depositional environment

Based on paleosols and lithostratigraphy, the Sao Khua Formation is believed to have been deposited in a warm to slightly cool semi-arid climate by a meandering river system. Geochemistry is indicative of a stable humid subtropical climate regime, and sedimentation is thought to have occurred in a floodplain setting which was fed by bedload-rich large meandering channels. Paleocurrent analysis suggests the sand channels at the time of deposition of the formation probably formed a braided channel environment.

Fossil content

Amphibians

Amphibians reported from the Sao Khua Formation	Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Anura indet.	Indeterminate	last1=Nonsrirach	first1=Thanit	last2=Manitkoon	first2=Sita	last3=Lauprasert	first3=Komsorn	date=2021	title=First occurrence of brachyopid temnospondyls in Southeast Asia and review of the Mesozoic amphibians from Thailand	url=https://www.academia.edu/en/69984046/First_occurrence_of_brachyopid_temnospondyls_in_Southeast_Asia_and_review_of_the_Mesozoic_amphibians_from_Thailand	journal=Fossil Record	volume=24	issue=1	page=33	doi=10.5194/fr-24-33-2021	s2cid=233147622	issn=2193-0074	doi-access=free	bibcode=2021FossR..24...33N }}	Humeri (SHM-PT 529 and SHM-PT 530) and a pelvic girdle (SHM-HY 231).	A frog.

Reptiles

Dinosaurs

Dinosaurs reported from the Sao Khua Formation	Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Brachiosauridae	Indeterminate	Phu Wat B Locality, Phu Kao Mountain range	last1=Samathi	first1=Adun	last2=Suteethorn	first2=Suravech	last3=Boonjarern	first3=Tanachot	last4=Sutcha	first4=Krishna	last5=Suteethorn	first5=Varavudh	date=April 2024	title=Dinosaur fauna from the Lower Cretaceous of Phu Kao-Phu Phan Kham, northeastern Thailand: a review and update	journal=Palaeoworld	volume=33	issue=2	pages=420–438	doi=10.1016/j.palwor.2023.03.007	bibcode=2024Palae..33..420S	issn=1871-174X}}	Similar to other brachiosaurid teeth.
Carcharodontosauridae	Indeterminate	last1=Buffetaut	first1=Eric	last2=Suteethorn	first2=Varavudh	date=January 2012	title=A carcharodontosaurid theropod (Dinosauria, Saurischia) in the Sao Khua Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) of Thailand	url=https://www.scribd.com/document/208780191/2012-Eavp-Abstracts	journal=2012 EAVP Abstracts	pages=27–30}}	PRC-61, "Fragment of the posterior part of a right maxilla".	A carcharodontosaur.
Compsognathidae?	Indeterminate		last1=Buffetaut	first1=Eric	last2=Suteethorn	first2=Varavudh	date=1999-06-15	title=The dinosaur fauna of the Sao Khua Formation of Thailand and the beginning of the Cretaceous radiation of dinosaurs in Asia	url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0031018299000048	journal=Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology	language=en	volume=150	issue=1	pages=13–23	doi=10.1016/S0031-0182(99)00004-8	bibcode=1999PPP...150...13B	issn=0031-0182	url-access=subscription }}	A very small theropod form.
Diplodocoidea	Indeterminate
Kinnareemimus	K. khonkaenensis	last1=Buffetaut	first1=Eric	last2=Suteethorn	first2=Varavudh	last3=Tong	first3=Haiyan	date=May 2009	title=An early 'ostrich dinosaur' (Theropoda: Ornithomimosauria) from the Early Cretaceous Sao Khua Formation of NE Thailand	url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/249552003	journal=Geological Society, London, Special Publications	volume=315	issue=1	pages=229–243	doi=10.1144/sp315.16	bibcode=2009GSLSP.315..229B	s2cid=128633687	issn=0305-8719}}	Vertebral, pelvic and limb elements.	An ornithomimosaur.	[[File:Kinnareemimus pack.png	center	150 px]]
Ornithurae?		last1=Buffetaut	first1=Eric	last2=Dyke	first2=Gareth	last3=Suteethorn	first3=Varavudh	last4=Tong	first4=Haiyan	date=2005-12-01	title=First record of a fossil bird from the Early Cretaceous of Thailand	url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1631068305000655	journal=Comptes Rendus Palevol	language=en	volume=4	issue=8	pages=681–686	doi=10.1016/j.crpv.2005.06.002	bibcode=2005CRPal...4..681B	issn=1631-0683	url-access=subscription }}	A humerus fragment.	May represent an early ornithurine, and probably is not an enantiornithine.
Phuwiangosaurus	P. sirindhornae	last1=Suteethorn	first1=Suravech	last2=Loeuff	first2=Jean Le	last3=Buffetaut	first3=Eric	last4=Suteethorn	first4=Varavudh	date=2010	title=Description of topotypes of Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae, a sauropod from the Sao Khua Formation (Early Cretaceous) of Thailand, and their phylogenetic implications	url=https://www.academia.edu/346223	journal=Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen	volume=256	issue=1	page=109	doi=10.1127/0077-7749/2010/0036	issn=0077-7749}} Nong Bua Lamphu Province.	"Partial skeletons, juvenile - adult", & 2 additional vertebrae. A scapula and a partial skeleton have also been referred.	A titanosaur.	[[File:Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae femur.JPG	center	150 px]]
Phuwiang spinosaurid B	Indeterminate	last1=Samathi	first1=Adun	last2=Sander	first2=P. Martin	last3=Chanthasit	first3=Phornphen	date=February 2021	title=A spinosaurid from Thailand (Sao Khua Formation, Early Cretaceous) and a reassessment of Camarillasaurus cirugedae from the Early Cretaceous of Spain	url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/349291782	journal=Historical Biology	volume=33	issue=4	pages=3480–3494	doi=10.1080/08912963.2021.1874372	bibcode=2021HBio...33.3480S	s2cid=233884025 }}	Caudal vertebrae.	A spinosaur.
Phuwiangvenator	P. yaemniyomi	Phu Wiang Site 9B, Phu Wiang Mountain, Khon Kaen province.		A megaraptoran.
Siamosaurus	S. suteethorni		Isolated teeth.	A potentially dubious spinosaur.
Siamotyrannus	S. isanensis		last1=Buffetaut	first1=Eric	last2=Suteethorn	first2=Varavudh	last3=Tong	first3=Haiyan	date=June 1996	title=The earliest known tyrannosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of Thailand	url=https://www.nature.com/articles/381689a0	journal=Nature	language=en	volume=381	issue=6584	pages=689–691	doi=10.1038/381689a0	bibcode=1996Natur.381..689B	s2cid=7350556	issn=1476-4687	url-access=subscription }}	An avetheropodan of uncertain position	[[File:Siamotyrannus pelvis 01.JPG	center	150 px]]
Vayuraptor	V. nongbualamphuensis	Phu Wat Site A1 Locality, Nong Sang, Nong Bua Lamphu province.		A megaraptoran.

Sauropoda indet. 1 and 2

Lizards

Lizards reported from the Sao Khua Formation	Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Anguimorpha indet.		Phu Phok (SK1), Sakhon Nakhorn Province.	Fossilized eggs containing embryos.	last1=Buffetaut	first1=Eric	last2=Grellet-Tinner	first2=Gerald	last3=Suteethorn	first3=Varavudh	last4=Cuny	first4=Gilles	last5=Tong	first5=Haiyan	last6=Košir	first6=Adrijan	last7=Cavin	first7=Lionel	last8=Chitsing	first8=Suwanna	last9=Griffiths	first9=Peter J.	last10=Tabouelle	first10=Jérôme	last11=Le Loeuff	first11=Jean	date=2005-09-13	title=Minute theropod eggs and embryo from the Lower Cretaceous of Thailand and the dinosaur-bird transition	url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/226285347	journal=Naturwissenschaften	volume=92	issue=10	pages=477–482	doi=10.1007/s00114-005-0022-9	pmid=16158273	bibcode=2005NW.....92..477B	s2cid=26168801	issn=0028-1042}}

Pseudosuchians

Pseudosuchians reported from the Sao Khua Formation	Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Goniopholis	G. phuwiangensis	Phu Wiang district.	A dentary.	Reassigned to Sunosuchus.
Siamosuchus	S. phuphokensis	last1=Lauprasert	first1=Komsorn	last2=Cuny	first2=Gilles	last3=Buffetaut	first3=Eric	last4=Suteethorn	first4=Varavudh	last5=Thirakhupt	first5=Kumthorn	date=2007	title=Siamosuchus phuphokensis, a new goniopholidid from the Early Cretaceous (ante-Aptian) of northeastern Thailand	url=https://www.academia.edu/594868	journal=Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France	volume=178	issue=3	page=201	doi=10.2113/gssgfbull.178.3.201	issn=1777-5817}}	A partly articulated skeleton (PPC-1).	A goniopholidid.
Sunosuchus	S. phuwiangensis	Phu Wiang district.	A dentary.	Originally reported as Goniopholis phuwiangensis.
Theriosuchus	T. grandinaris	last1=Lauprasert	first1=Komsorn	last2=Laojumpon	first2=Chalida	last3=Saenphala	first3=Wanitchaphat	last4=Cuny	first4=Gilles	last5=Thirakhupt	first5=Kumthorn	last6=Suteethorn	first6=Varavudh	date=2010-06-12	title=Atoposaurid crocodyliforms from the Khorat Group of Thailand: first record of Theriosuchus from Southeast Asia	url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/215486888	journal=Paläontologische Zeitschrift	volume=85	issue=1	pages=37–47	doi=10.1007/s12542-010-0071-z	s2cid=128623617	issn=0031-0220}}	"PPC-2, a nearly complete rostrum and dentary".	An atoposaurid.
Varanosuchus	V. sakonnakhonensis	last1=Pochat-Cottilloux	first1=Yohan	last2=Lauprasert	first2=Komsorn	last3=Chanthasit	first3=Phornphen	last4=Manitkoon	first4=Sita	last5=Adrien	first5=Jérôme	last6=Lachambre	first6=Joël	last7=Amiot	first7=Romain	last8=Martin	first8=Jeremy E.	date=2024-01-09	title=New Cretaceous neosuchians (Crocodylomorpha) from Thailand bridge the evolutionary history of atoposaurids and paralligatorids	journal=Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society	issue=2	volume=202	pages= 1–27	article-number=zlad195	doi=10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad195	url=https://academic.oup.com/zoolinnean/advance-article-abstract/doi/10.1093/zoolinnean/zlad195/7513556	url-access=subscription }}	A nearly complete skull and skeleton (SM-2021-1-97/101), a nearly complete skull (SM-2023-1-16), and a partial skull table (SM-2023-1-17).	An atoposaurid.

Pterosaurs

Pterosaurs reported from the Sao Khua Formation	Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Ornithocheiridae		last1=Cuny	first1=Gilles	last2=Suteethorn	first2=V.	date=2003-01-01	title=A Pterodactyloid tooth from the Sao Khua Formation (Early Cretaceous) of Thailand.	url=https://www.academia.edu/1391633	journal=Mahasarakham University Journal	volume=22	pages=92–98}}	An isolated tooth crown (SMP25).	Most comparable to ornithocheirid teeth from the Cambridge Greensand and Kem Kem beds.

Turtles

Turtles reported from the Sao Khua Formation	Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Isanemys	I. srisuki	Kalasin, Khon Kaen and Sakon Nakhon provinces.	Over 20 shells & additional isolated shell plates.	An adocid.
Kizylkumemys	K. sp.	Khon Kaen, Kalasin and Nong Bua Lamphu provinces.	Abundant but very fragmentary shell plates.	A carettochelyid.
Protoshachemys	P. rubra	last1=Tong	first1=Haiyan	last2=Buffetaut	first2=Eric	last3=Suteethorn	first3=Varavudh	last4=Suteethorn	first4=Suravech	last5=Cuny	first5=Gilles	last6=Cavin	first6=Lionel	last7=Deesri	first7=Uthumporn	last8=Martin	first8=Jeremy E.	last9=Wongko	first9=Kamonrak	last10=Naksri	first10=Wilailuck	last11=Claude	first11=Julien	date=2019-07-01	title=Phu Din Daeng, a new Early Cretaceous vertebrate locality on the Khorat Plateau, NE Thailand	url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0753396919300229	journal=Annales de Paléontologie	series=Palaeobiodiversity of Southeast Asia, issue 1	language=en	volume=105	issue=3	pages=223–237	doi=10.1016/j.annpal.2019.04.004	bibcode=2019AnPal.105..223T	s2cid=189968031	issn=0753-3969	url-access=subscription }}	Shell material.	An adocid.

Fish

Bony fish

Bony fish reported from the Sao Khua Formation	Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Siamamia	S. naga	Phu Phok.		A bowfin.

Cartilaginous fish

Cartilaginous fish reported from the Sao Khua Formation	Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Heteroptychodus	H. steinmanni		last=M.	first=Cuny, Gilles Guy Roger Suteethorn, V. Buffetaut, E. Philippe	url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/285707153	title=Hybodont sharks from the Mesozoic Khorat Group of Thailand.	date=2003	oclc=842608080}}	A hybodont
Hybodontiformes	Incertae sedis		2 dermal denticles and a cephalic spines.	Indeterminate hybodontiform remains
Hybodus	"H." sp. A		18 fragmentary crowns.	A hybodontid
H. sp. B		Over 170 incomplete teeth.	A hybodontid
Isanodus	I. paladeji	Phu Phan Thong, Nong Bua Lamphu province.	185 incomplete teeth.	A hybodont
Lonchidion	L. khoratensis	Phu Phan Thong, Nong Bua Lamphu province.	25 teeth.	A hybodont
Mukdahanodus	M. trisivakulii	Nong Sung district, Mukdahan province.	11 isolated crowns.	A hybodont
Parvodus	P. sp.		19 teeth.	A hybodont
Sclerorhynchidae		Base of Phu Kum Khao hill in Sahatsakhan, Kalasin province.	A tip of rostral denticle (SM2012-1-021).	last=Kriwet	first=J.	year=1999	title=Neoselachier (Pisces, Elasmobranchii) aus der Unterkreide (unteres Barremium) von Galve und Alcaine (Spanien, Provinz Teruel)	journal=Palaeo Ichthyologica	volume=9	pages=113–142	url=https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234106858}}

Invertebrates

Bivalves

Bivalves reported from the Sao Khua Formation	Genus	Species	Presence	Material	Notes	Images
Pseudohyria	P. (Matsumotoina) somanai	South of Phu Noi, Khon Kaen province.

References

(September 2022). "Age, depositional history, and paleoclimatic setting of Early Cretaceous dinosaur assemblages from the Sao Khua Formation (Khorat Group), Thailand". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology.
Weishampel, David B; et al. (2004). "Dinosaur distribution (Early Cretaceous, Asia)." In: Weishampel, David B.; Dodson, Peter; and Osmólska, Halszka (eds.): The Dinosauria, 2nd, Berkeley: University of California Press. Pp. 563-570. {{ISBN. 0-520-24209-2.
Chenrai, Piyaphong. (2012-01-01). "Paleocurrent Analysis of the Sao Khua Formation, Khorat Group, Nong Bua Lamphu region, NE Thailand". [[Arabian Journal for Science and Engineering]].
(2021). "First occurrence of brachyopid temnospondyls in Southeast Asia and review of the Mesozoic amphibians from Thailand". Fossil Record.
(April 2024). "Dinosaur fauna from the Lower Cretaceous of Phu Kao-Phu Phan Kham, northeastern Thailand: a review and update". Palaeoworld.
(January 2012). "A carcharodontosaurid theropod (Dinosauria, Saurischia) in the Sao Khua Formation (Early Cretaceous, Barremian) of Thailand". 2012 EAVP Abstracts.
(1999-06-15). "The dinosaur fauna of the Sao Khua Formation of Thailand and the beginning of the Cretaceous radiation of dinosaurs in Asia". Palaeogeography, Palaeoclimatology, Palaeoecology.
(January 2005). "The dinosaur fauna from the Khok Kruat Formation (Early Cretaceous) of Thailand". International Conference on Geology, Geotechnology and Mineral Resources of Indochina (GEOINDO 2005).
(May 2009). "An early 'ostrich dinosaur' (Theropoda: Ornithomimosauria) from the Early Cretaceous Sao Khua Formation of NE Thailand". Geological Society, London, Special Publications.
(2005-12-01). "First record of a fossil bird from the Early Cretaceous of Thailand". Comptes Rendus Palevol.
(2010). "Description of topotypes of Phuwiangosaurus sirindhornae, a sauropod from the Sao Khua Formation (Early Cretaceous) of Thailand, and their phylogenetic implications". Neues Jahrbuch für Geologie und Paläontologie - Abhandlungen.
"Table 13.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 268.
(February 2021). "A spinosaurid from Thailand (Sao Khua Formation, Early Cretaceous) and a reassessment of Camarillasaurus cirugedae from the Early Cretaceous of Spain". Historical Biology.
(2019). "Two new basal coelurosaurian theropod dinosaurs from the Lower Cretaceous Sao Khua Formation of Thailand". Acta Palaeontologica Polonica.
Bertin, Tor. (December 2010). "A catalogue of material and review of the Spinosauridae". PalArch's Journal of Vertebrate Palaeontology.
"Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 78.
"Table 4.1," in Weishampel, et al. (2004). Page 74.
(June 1996). "The earliest known tyrannosaur from the Lower Cretaceous of Thailand". Nature.
(2015-07-15). "Evidence of Egg Diversity in Squamate Evolution from Cretaceous Anguimorph Embryos". PLOS ONE.
(2005-09-13). "Minute theropod eggs and embryo from the Lower Cretaceous of Thailand and the dinosaur-bird transition". Naturwissenschaften.
(1983-01-01). "Goniopholis phuwiangensis nov. sp., a newmesosuchian crocodile from the Mesozoic of north-eastern Thailand". Geobios.
(2011). "A new Berriasian species of ''Goniopholis'' (Mesoeucrocodylia, Neosuchia) from England, and a review of the genus". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
(2007). "Siamosuchus phuphokensis, a new goniopholidid from the Early Cretaceous (ante-Aptian) of northeastern Thailand". Bulletin de la Société Géologique de France.
(2010-06-12). "Atoposaurid crocodyliforms from the Khorat Group of Thailand: first record of Theriosuchus from Southeast Asia". Paläontologische Zeitschrift.
(2024-01-09). "New Cretaceous neosuchians (Crocodylomorpha) from Thailand bridge the evolutionary history of atoposaurids and paralligatorids". Zoological Journal of the Linnean Society.
(2003-01-01). "A Pterodactyloid tooth from the Sao Khua Formation (Early Cretaceous) of Thailand.". Mahasarakham University Journal.
(May 2009). "Turtle assemblages of the Khorat Group (Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous) of NE Thailand and their palaeobiogeographical significance". Geological Society, London, Special Publications.
(2019-07-01). "Phu Din Daeng, a new Early Cretaceous vertebrate locality on the Khorat Plateau, NE Thailand". Annales de Paléontologie.
(2007-12-12). "The first sinamiid fish (Holostei: Halecomorpha) from Southeast Asia (Early Cretaceous of Thailand)". Journal of Vertebrate Paleontology.
M., Cuny, Gilles Guy Roger Suteethorn, V. Buffetaut, E. Philippe. (2003). "Hybodont sharks from the Mesozoic Khorat Group of Thailand.".
(2015). "A sclerorhynchoid (Chondrichthyes: Batomorphii) in the Lower Cretaceous of Thailand?". New Mexico Museum of Natural History and Science Bulletin.
Kriwet, J.. (1999). "Neoselachier (Pisces, Elasmobranchii) aus der Unterkreide (unteres Barremium) von Galve und Alcaine (Spanien, Provinz Teruel)". Palaeo Ichthyologica.
(2010). "A New Species of Pseudohyria (Matsumotoina) (Bivalvia: Trigonioidoidea) from the Early Cretaceous Sao Khua Formation, Khorat Group, Northeastern Thailand".

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