Marnes Irisées Supérieures Formation

Norian

Département de l’Ain, Département du Doubs, and Département du Jura; France

Dinosaurs:

Prosauropoda indet. (including Dimodosaurus poligniensis)

Plateosaurus engelhardti (including Plateosaurus longiceps)

Thecodontosaurus sp.

Theropoda indet.

Other Animals:

            Reptilia indet.

Notes:

Weishampel et al. (2007) tentatively listed Thecodontosaurus for this formation, but that genus has had a very confusing taxonomic history and, because the identification comes from very early in paleontology history (Gervais 1861), it might better be considered an indeterminate prosauropod. Interestingly, Weishampel et al. did not include any theropod remains in their analysis of the formation. Apparently, the only mention of these remains is from early French authors (Chopard 1861). The early date and the lack of reproduction in contemporary writings means this occurrence may not be accurate. If there was a theropod in this formation it was probably a ceratosaur like Liliensternus. The flora, undocumented for this formation, is probably similar to other Triassic habitats.

References:

Chopard, S. 1861. “Decouverte d’ossements fossiles près de Poligny.” Bulletin de la Société d’Agriculture, Sciences et Arts de Poligny (Jura) 2: 200-201.

Gervais, P. 1861. “Présence du genre éteint des Thécodontosaures en France.” Comptes Rendus de l’Académie des Sciences à Paris 52: 347-349.

Weishampel, D. B., P. M. Barrett, R. A. Coria, J. L. Loeuff, X. Xing, Z. Xijin, A. Sahni, E. M. P. Gomani, C. R. Noto. 2007. “Dinosaur Distribution.” In D. B. Weishampel, P. Dodson, and H. Osmólska. The Dinosauria, Second Edition. Berkeley, CA: University of California Press. 517-606.