Clam shrimp of the Middle–Late Jurassic Yanliao Biota in China

Abstract

AbstractFossil clam shrimp are widely distributed in the Jurassic terrestrial sediments of China. The Yanliao Biota, consisting of abundant and diverse well-preserved fossil vertebrates and invertebrates, is one of the most famous Mesozoic terrestrial biotas from around the world. The border area between western Liaoning, northern Hebei and southeastern Inner Mongolia is the core area for the biota. Clam shrimp are abundant and widely distributed in different localities in the area. Research on these clam shrimp has been conducted for decades. However, with advances in research instruments and technologies, great changes have taken place in the taxonomy of these clam shrimp and, consequently, our understanding of the biota in recent years. The fossil content of the Yanliao Biota in the core area consists of an early assemblage and a late assemblage, which are characterized by distinctly different clam shrimp. These clam shrimp all belong to one family: Triglyptidae. Members of the family are widely distributed in the Bathonian to Kimmeridgian of northeastern, northwestern and southwestern China.