TIME FILE: Yixian Formation - China, 122 million years ago

"The forgotten jungle of feathered dragons"
(based on the Yixian and Huajiying Formations)

Description
Dense in a blanket of thick vegetation, the Yixian Formation was dominated by a vast warm forest within which lived dragons. Not of fire and myth, but feather and blood. The majority of animals here are feathered - predator and prey alike.

Geography
A deep forest covers the whole region. One river starts here and leads north whilst one to the east seperates the easternmost deep jungle from the rest. Especially dense vegetation can be found to the west and south and several lakes lie beneath the horizon-spanning treeline.

Features
Forests, jungles, lakes, rivers and floodplains.

Rock Type
Siltstone and mudstone

Fossilisation Extent
Heavy rainfall has secured many fossils, making Yixian one of the richest fossils sites in the world.
 
Animals
Theropods – Beipiaosaurus, Dilong paradoxus, Huaxiagnathus, Jianchangosaurus, Protarchaeopteryx, Scansoriopteryx, Sinocalliopteryx, Sinosauropteryx, Yutyrannus
Sauropods – Dongbeititan, Euhelopus, Liaoningotitan
Ankylosaurids – Liaoningosaurus, Psittacosaurus 
Pterosaurs – Beipiaopterus, Boreopterus, Cathayopterus, Elanodactylus, Eosipterus, Feilongus, Gegepterus, Gladocephaloideus, Haopterus, Moganopterus, Ningchengopterus, Pterofiltrus, Zhenyuanopterus 
Ceratopsians – Liaoceratops
Hadrosaurids – Bolong, Jeholosaurus, Jinzhousaurus, 
Ornithomimids – Hexing, Shenzhousaurus
Oviraptorsaurids – Caudipteryx, Incisivosaurus, Ningyuansaurus, Similicaudipteryx, 
Dromaeosaurids – Changyuraptor, Graciliraptor, Sinornithosaurus, Tianyuraptor, Zhenyuanlong, Zhongjianosaurus, Microraptor
Troodontids – Daliansaurus, Jianianhualong, Liaoningvenator, Mei long, Sinovenator, Sinusonasus, Jinfengopteryx
Fish – Lycoptera, Mesomyzon, Peipiaosteus, Protopsephurus, Sinamia, Yanosteus, Peipiaosteus
Amphibians – Callobatrachus, Laccotriton, Liaobatrachus, Mesophryne, Sinerpeton
Lizards and Snakes – Dalinghosaurus, Liushusaurus, Xianglong, Yabeinosaurus
Choristodera – Hyphalosaurus, Monjurosuchus
Turtles – Manchurochelys, Ordosemys
Mammals – Acristatherium, Akidolestes, Chaoyangodens, Eomaia, Gobiconodon, Jeholodens, Juchilestes, Maotherium, Meemannodon, Repenomamus, Sinobaatar, Sinodelphys, Yanoconodon, Zhangheotherium
Birds – Archaeorhynchus, Changchengornis, Confuciusornis, 
Dalingheornis, Eoenantiornis, Eogranivora, Confuciusornis, Jixiangornis, Hongshanornis, Jibeinia, Liaoningornis, Liaoxiornis, Longicrusavis, Longirostravis, Protopteryx, Shanweiniao, Vescornis, Yixianosaurus, Zhongornis, Cruralispennia, Shenqiornis
Other – Lacewings, Crayfish, Clams, Crickets, Dragonflies, Antlions, Dung Beetles, Scarab Beetles, Tadpole Shrimp, Clam Shrimp, Shrimp, Snails, Slugs, Jellyfish, Wasps, Flies, Sawflies, Snakeflies, Cockroaches, Cicadas, Water Bugs

 

Plants
Conifers, cycads, ginkgos, tree ferns, horsetails, angiosperms, yews and eudicots

Plants are dominant in Yixian, covering almost all land that can be found. The moist air and soil maintain the hydrosphere and mean that plants can easily live beyond the confines of rivers and lakes.