 Guizhou
Province in China (PRC) is yet another Lagerstätte in a nation
truly blessed with amazing fossil fauna. The Wayao Formation in
Gauihou is composed of dark-gray to black, laminated marly lime
mudstone and calcareous shale containing abundant organic matter
and feromanganese nodules. Crinoids and marine reptiles occur on
bedding planes and are articulated with exquisite fine-detailed
preservation. Scientists believe the Wayao Formation was deposited
in an anoxic marine setting in water depths exceeding 1/2 kilometer.
Conodonts Paragondolella polygnathiformis, P. foliata, and P. navicula,
and the ammonoid Trachyceras multuberculatum found in the strata
indicate a Late Triassic (Carnian) age.  Studies
of the large crinoid species, Traumatocrinus hsui Mu, Traumatocrinus
guanlingensis Yu may represent some of the first
articulate crinoids.
The crinoids range up to 1m tall with crowns up to 20 cm across
with some occur in "thickets" essentially in the original
growth position. Many species of marine reptiles, including Sauropterygians,
Placodonts, and Ichthyosaurs are both abundant, and exhibiting nearly
perfect preservation have been recovered from Guizhou.
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Studies
of the large crinoid species, Traumatocrinus hsui Mu, Traumatocrinus
guanlingensis Yu may represent some of the first
articulate crinoids.
The crinoids range up to 1m tall with crowns up to 20 cm across
with some occur in "thickets" essentially in the original
growth position. Many species of marine reptiles, including Sauropterygians,
Placodonts, and Ichthyosaurs are both abundant, and exhibiting nearly
perfect preservation have been recovered from Guizhou.
