Historical distribution patterns of trigonioidids (non-marine Cretaceous bivalves) in Asia and their palaeogeographic significance
The non-marine trigonioidid bivalves show five phases of radiation in the Cretaceous of Pal-Asia: pre-Aptian (?Valanginian/Hauterivian–Barremian), Aptian, Albian, Cenomanian and Turonian–Maastrichtian. Their distribution patterns show two distinct palaeo-river systems feeding trigonioidids. Before the Cenomanian, the river system occupied the southwestern–southern–southeastern Pal-Asian continental margin areas. During the Turonian–Maastrichtian, it extended along the line of southcentral China−eastern China−northeastern China−northern China and Mongolia−northwestern China–eastern Fergana Basin of Kyrgyzstan−western Tajikistan Basin of Tajikistan–Tashkent area of Kazakhstan−central Kyzylkum of northern Uzbekistan–Aral Sea area of Kazakhstan. Furthermore, the general trigonioidid distribution pattern demonstrates that Japan was probably attached to part of eastern China and/or Korea during the ?Valanginian/Hauterivian–Cenomanian stages.
Nonmarine Cretaceous bivalve assemblages in China
Abstract Bivalve fossils are very abundant in nonmarine Cretaceous rocks in China. Six assemblages are documented: Nakamuranaia-Margaritifera ( Mengyinaia )- Neomiodonoides and Peregrinoconcha-Koreanaia-Pseudohyrioides (Berriasian-Barremian); Trigonioides (T.)-Plicatounio (P.)-Nippononaia (N.) (Aptian-Albian); Plicatounio (P.?)-Maninsonella-Kwanmonia (?) and Trigonioides (Hoffetrigonia)-Trigonioides (Kumamotio?)-Plicatounio (P.) (Cenomanian Santonian); and Pseudohyria-Sainshandia Limnocyrena (Campanian -Maastrichtian). During the Early Cretaceous there appears to have been provincialism of these assemblages, notably the second-named assemblage which is limited to the extreme southwest of China.
Taphonomy of Isisfordia duncani specimens from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) portion of the Winton Formation, Isisford, central-west Queensland
Taphonomic analysis of fossil material can benefit from including the results of actualistic decay experiments. This is crucial in determining the autochthony or allochthony of fossils of juvenile and adult Isisfordia duncani, a basal eusuchian from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Albian) distal-fluvial-deltaic lower Winton Formation near Isisford. The taphonomic characteristics of the I. duncani fossils were documented using a combination of traditional taphonomic analysis alongside already published actualistic decay data from juvenile Crocodylus porosus carcasses. We found that the I. duncani holotype, paratypes and referred specimens show little signs of weathering and no signs of abrasion. Disarticulated skeletal elements are often found in close proximity to the rest of the otherwise articulated skeleton. The isolated and disarticulated skeletal elements identified, commonly cranial, maxillary and mandibular elements, are typical of lag deposits. The holotype QM F36211 and paratype QM F34642 were classified as autochthonous, and the remaining I. duncani paratypes and referred specimens are parautochthonous. We propose that I. duncani inhabited upper and lower delta plains near the Eromanga Sea in life. Their carcasses were buried in sediment-laden floodwaters in delta plain overbank and distributary channel deposits. Future studies should refer to I. duncani as a brackish water tolerant species.