Location: South Kazakhstan
Age: Jurassic
| Name: Karatau Location: South Kazakhstan Age: Jurassic |
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INSECTS: These are different species of Aboilus (Upper Jurassic), which are similar to modern grasshoppers. Generally, wings are the only remains that are found, but occasionally a whole specimen is discovered. Males and females can be identified from the variation in the spots and bands on their front wings. Pollen has been found in the intestines of some of the intact specimens.
| Aboilus amplus insect compression (x1). The wings are the light and dark banded areas on either side of the fossil. Reproduced with permission from the Palaeontological Association, London. |
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SPIDER: Jurarchaea zherikhini (Upper Jurassic)
Female specimen.
CROCODILE: Karatausuchus sharovi (Upper
Jurassic)
This small skeleton is almost complete and is believed to be of
a juvenile. It has a very long tail, 98 jaw teeth and is 190 mm
long.
SALAMANDER: Karaurus
sharovi (Upper Jurassic)
This specimen is also almost complete and is 19 cm long. It is
likely to be the skeleton of a juvenile as some of the bones in
the skull and jaw aren't fused. This is a very early example of
a salamander.
LIZARD: Sharovisaurus karatauensis (Upper
Jurassic)
A lizard with a skeleton of 140 mm long.
PTEROSAURS: Sordes pilosus
and Batrachognathus volans (both Upper Jurassic)
Seven specimens of Sordes pilosus have been found. It had
a wingspan of 80 cm and was a fish eater. Batrachognathus volans
had a wingspan of 65 cm and ate insects.
FISH: Pteroniscus and Coccolepis (Upper
Jurassic)
The plant fossils from Karatau are very
well preserved and abundant. They are
typical of the late Jurassic and there is a dominance of conifers.
The plants document the change in climate from humid in the early-middle
Jurassic to arid in the late Jurassic. Coal later formed from the
plant material and accumulated in huge amounts.
Some of the
plant fossils found at Karatau are:
These are the most common specimens found and the name the 'fish
shales' has been given to the rocks where they occur due to their
abundance.FLORA
FERNS: Stachypteris, Sphenoteris, Coniopteris
CONIFERS: Brachyphyllum, Pagiophyllum
BENNETTITALES: Ptilophyllum, Otozamites
These are an extinct gymnosperm (seed bearing plant)
CYCADS: Paracycas, Nilssonia
GINGKOS: Sphenobaiera, Baierea
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