# Jiufotang Formation

The Jiufotang Formation (Chinese: 九佛堂组; pinyin: jiǔfótáng zǔ) is an Early Cretaceous geological formation in Chaoyang, Liaoning which has yielded fossils of feathered dinosaurs, primitive birds, pterosaurs, and other organisms (see Jehol Biota). It is a member of the Jehol group. The exact age of the Jiufotang has been debated for years, with estimates ranging from the Late Jurassic to the Early Cretaceous. New uranium-lead dates reveal the formation is deposited in the Aptian stage of the Early Cretaceous. Fossils of Microraptor and Jeholornis are from the Jiufotang.

## Fossil content
### Choristoderans

| Genus | Species | Notes |
| Philydrosaurus | P. proseilus | Monjurosuchid |
| Ikechosaurus | I. pijiagouensis | Simoedosaurid |
| Liaoxisaurus | L. chaoyangensis | Simoedosaurid |
| Hyphalosaurus | H. baitaigouensis | Hyphalosaurid |

### Fish

| Genus | Species | County | Notes |
| Caeruleum | C. miraculum | Weichang | A lamprey |
| Caeruleum | C. gracilis | Weichang | A lamprey |
| Jinanichthys | J. longicephalus | | An osteoglossomorph |
| Lycoptera | L. davidi | | An osteoglossomorph |
| Peipiaosteus | P. pani | | A fish related to sturgeons |
| Protopsephurus | P. liui | | A paddlefish |
| Sinamia | S. zdanskyi | | An amiiform |

### Mammaliamorphs

Several mammaliamorph specimens have been found from the Jiufotang, but only a few have been formally described and named.
| Genus | Species | Material | Notes |
| Cokotherium | C. jiufotangensis | Partial skeleton | A eutherian |
| Fossiomanus | F. sinensis | A nearly complete skeleton | A tritylodontid cynodont, likely the youngest known non-mammalian synapsid |
| Liaoconodon | L. hui | A nearly complete skeleton | A eutriconodont |
| Unnamed mammal | Unnamed | Partial remains including a foot and fragments of the skull | A mammal similar to Eomaia and Sinodelphys from the Yixian Formation. Found as stomach contents of Microraptor zhaoianus. |

### Ornithischians

| Genus | Species | County | Member | Material | Notes | Images |
| Chuanqilong | C. chaoyangensis | Liaoning | | A nearly complete skeleton missing only the distal portion of the caudal series. | A basal ankylosaurid, sister taxon to Liaoningosaurus. | |
| Liaoningosaurus | L. paradoxus | | | | | Liaoningosaurus paradoxus |
| Psittacosaurus | Psittacosaurus meileyingensis | | Meileyingzi Bed | "[Four] individuals, [two] complete skulls." | A ceratopsian. | Psittacosaurus meileyingensis Psittacosaurus mongoliensis |
| Psittacosaurus | Psittacosaurus mongoliensis | | Shangheshou and Meileyingzi Beds | | A ceratopsian. | Psittacosaurus meileyingensis Psittacosaurus mongoliensis |

### Pterosaurs

| Genus | Species | County | Member | Material | Notes | Images |
| Chaoyangopterus | C. zhangi | | | | A chaoyangopterid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Eoazhdarcho | E. liaoxiensis | | | | A chaoyangopterid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Feilongus | F. youngi | | Jianshangou Bed | | A boreopterid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Forfexopterus | F. jeholensis | | | | A ctenochasmatid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Gladocephaloideus | G. jingangshanensis | | Jingangshan Bed | | A ctenochasmatid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Guidraco | G. venator | | | | A pteranodontoid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Hongshanopterus | H. lacustris | | | | An istiodactylid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Huaxiadraco | H. corollatus | | | Multiple specimens | A tapejarid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| "Huaxiapterus" | "H." benxiensis | | | | A tapejarid; synonymized with Huaxiadraco in 2023 | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Ikrandraco | I. avatar | | | | A pteranodontoid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Jidapterus | J. edentus | | | | A chaoyangopterid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Liaoningopterus | L. gui | | | | A pteranodontoid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Liaoxipterus | L. brachyognathus | | | | An istiodactylid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Linlongopterus | L. jennyae | | | | A pteranodontoid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Meilifeilong | M. youhao | Jianchang | | A nearly complete skeleton and a partial skull | A chaoyangopterid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Nemicolopterus | N. crypticus | | | | A tapejaromorph; previously and still occasionally thought to be a tapejarid. Most likely a juvenile, hence small size. | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Nurhachius | N. ignaciobritoi | | | | An istiodactylid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Pangupterus | P. liui | | | | A pterodactyloid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Shenzhoupterus | S. chaoyangensis | | | | A chaoyangopterid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Shenzhoupterus | S. sanyainus | | | | A chaoyangopterid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Sinopterus | S. dongi | | | | A tapejarid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Sinopterus | S. jii | | | | Previously known as Huxiapterus jii | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |
| Vesperopterylus | V. lamadongensis | | | | An anurognathid | Liaoningopterus Nemicolopterus NurhachiusSinopterus and Huaxiadraco |

### Saurischians

A large titanosaur is present in the formation.

#### Enantiornithines

| Genus | Species | County | Material | Notes | Images |
| Alethoalaornis | A. agitornis | | | An enantiornithean | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Boluochia | B. zhengi | | "Partial skull [and] partial postcranium." | A longipterygid | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Brevirostruavis | B. macrohyoideus | | "an extremely elongate bony hyoid element (only slightly shorter than the skull), combined with a short cranial rostrum." | An enantiornithine | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Cathayornis | C. aberransis | | | An enantiornithine | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Cathayornis | C. caudatus | | | Nomen dubium | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Cathayornis | C. yandica | | "Partial skeleton." | An enantiornithean | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Cuspirostrisornis | C. houi | | | A possible avisaurid | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Dapingfangornis | D. sentisorhinus | | | An enantiornithean | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Eocathayornis | E. walkeri | | "Partial skeleton." | An enantiornithean | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Gracilornis | G. jiufotangensis | | | An enantiornithean | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Imparavis | I. attenboroughi | Jianchang | An articulated, nearly complete specimen | | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Huoshanornis | H. huji | | | An enantiornithean | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Largirostrornis | L. sexdentoris | | | An enantiornithean | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Longchengornis | L. sanyanensis | | | An enantiornithean | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Longipteryx | L. chaoyangensis | | | A longipterygid | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Musivavis | M. amabilis | | "A nearly complete and articulated skeleton preserved in a single slab." | An euenantiornithean | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Rapaxavis | R. pani | | | A longipterygid | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Shangyang | S. graciles | | | An enantiornithean | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Sinornis | S. santensis | | "Partial skull [and] many nearly complete postcranial skeletons." | An enantiornithean | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Xiangornis | X. shenmi | | | An enantiornithean | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |
| Yuanchuavis | Y. kompsosoura | | | An pengornithid | Longipteryx Rapaxavis Sinornis Yuanchuavis |

#### Euornithines

| Genus | Species | County | Material | Notes | Images |
| Aberratiodontus | A. wui | | | Junior synonym of Yanornis martini | Gansus zheni Shuilingornis angelai Yanornis martini Yixianornis grabaui |
| Chaoyangia | C. beishanensis | | "Partial skeleton." | A basal euornithean | Gansus zheni Shuilingornis angelai Yanornis martini Yixianornis grabaui |
| Gansus | G. zheni | | Multiple complete, articulated skeletons | A basal euornithean | Gansus zheni Shuilingornis angelai Yanornis martini Yixianornis grabaui |
| Jianchangornis | J. microdonta | Jianchang | | A basal euornithean | Gansus zheni Shuilingornis angelai Yanornis martini Yixianornis grabaui |
| Mengciusornis | M. dentatus | | | A schizoourid | Gansus zheni Shuilingornis angelai Yanornis martini Yixianornis grabaui |
| Parahongshanornis | P. chaoyangensis | | | A hongshanornithid | Gansus zheni Shuilingornis angelai Yanornis martini Yixianornis grabaui |
| Piscivoravis | P. lii | | | An ornithuromorph | Gansus zheni Shuilingornis angelai Yanornis martini Yixianornis grabaui |
| Schizooura | S. lii | Jianchang | | A schizoourid with long, forked tail feathers | Gansus zheni Shuilingornis angelai Yanornis martini Yixianornis grabaui |
| Similiyanornis | S. brevipectus | | | An ornithuromorph | Gansus zheni Shuilingornis angelai Yanornis martini Yixianornis grabaui |
| Shuilingornis | S. angelai | | | A gansuid | Gansus zheni Shuilingornis angelai Yanornis martini Yixianornis grabaui |
| Songlingornis | S. linghensis | | | An ornithuromorph | Gansus zheni Shuilingornis angelai Yanornis martini Yixianornis grabaui |
| Yanornis | Y. martini | | | An ornithuromorph | Gansus zheni Shuilingornis angelai Yanornis martini Yixianornis grabaui |
| Yixianornis | Y. grabaui | | | An ornithuromorph | Gansus zheni Shuilingornis angelai Yanornis martini Yixianornis grabaui |
| Zhongjianornis | Z. yangi | | | A basal euornithean | Gansus zheni Shuilingornis angelai Yanornis martini Yixianornis grabaui |

#### Non-ornithothoracean theropods

| Color key Taxon Reclassified taxon Taxon falsely reported as present Dubious taxon or junior synonym Ichnotaxon Ootaxon Morphotaxon | Notes Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; crossed out taxa are discredited. |
| Genus | Species | County | Member | Material | Notes | Images |
| Chongmingia | C. zhengi | | | A partial skeleton with preserved soft tissues | A jinguofortisid avialan | Confuciusornis sanctus Jeholornis prima Microraptor gui Sinotyrannus kazuoensis Wulong bohaiensis |
| Confuciusornis | C. sanctus | | | | A primitive short-tailed avialan (pygostylian). Also present in the Yixian Formation | Confuciusornis sanctus Jeholornis prima Microraptor gui Sinotyrannus kazuoensis Wulong bohaiensis |
| Confuciusornis | C. jianchangensis | Liaoning | | | | Confuciusornis sanctus Jeholornis prima Microraptor gui Sinotyrannus kazuoensis Wulong bohaiensis |
| Cratonavis | C. zhui | Jianchang | | A complete skeleton with preserved feathers | A jinguofortisid avialan | Confuciusornis sanctus Jeholornis prima Microraptor gui Sinotyrannus kazuoensis Wulong bohaiensis |
| Dalianraptor | D. cuhe | | | | Nomen dubium, named from a forged artificially assembled specimen. | Confuciusornis sanctus Jeholornis prima Microraptor gui Sinotyrannus kazuoensis Wulong bohaiensis |
| Jeholornis | J. prima | | | | A jeholornithiform avialan, also present in the Yixian Formation | Confuciusornis sanctus Jeholornis prima Microraptor gui Sinotyrannus kazuoensis Wulong bohaiensis |
| Jeholornis | J. palmapenis | | | | A jeholornithiform avialan | Confuciusornis sanctus Jeholornis prima Microraptor gui Sinotyrannus kazuoensis Wulong bohaiensis |
| Kompsornis | K. longicaudatus | | | "Nearly complete specimen". | A jeholornithiform avialan | Confuciusornis sanctus Jeholornis prima Microraptor gui Sinotyrannus kazuoensis Wulong bohaiensis |
| Microraptor | M. gui | | Shangheshou Bed | Extremely common | Could be synonym of Microraptor zhaoianus | Confuciusornis sanctus Jeholornis prima Microraptor gui Sinotyrannus kazuoensis Wulong bohaiensis |
| Microraptor | M. zhaoianus | | Shangheshou Bed | "At least [three] partial semiarticulated postcrania and several skulls." Feathered integument is also preserved. | A dromaeosaurid. | Confuciusornis sanctus Jeholornis prima Microraptor gui Sinotyrannus kazuoensis Wulong bohaiensis |
| Neimengornis | N. rectusmim | | | | A jeholornithiform avialan | Confuciusornis sanctus Jeholornis prima Microraptor gui Sinotyrannus kazuoensis Wulong bohaiensis |
| Omnivoropteryx | O. sinousaorum | | | | An omnivoropterygiform avialan | Confuciusornis sanctus Jeholornis prima Microraptor gui Sinotyrannus kazuoensis Wulong bohaiensis |
| Sapeornis | S. angustis | | | "Nearly complete skeleton without skull." | An omnivoropterygiform, a primitive short-tailed avialan | Confuciusornis sanctus Jeholornis prima Microraptor gui Sinotyrannus kazuoensis Wulong bohaiensis |
| Sapeornis | S. chaoyangensis | | | | An omnivoropterygiform, a primitive short-tailed avialan | Confuciusornis sanctus Jeholornis prima Microraptor gui Sinotyrannus kazuoensis Wulong bohaiensis |
| Shenshiornis | Shenshiornis primita | | | | An omnivoropterygiform avialan | Confuciusornis sanctus Jeholornis prima Microraptor gui Sinotyrannus kazuoensis Wulong bohaiensis |
| Similicaudipteryx | S. yixianensis | | | | An oviraptorosaur | Confuciusornis sanctus Jeholornis prima Microraptor gui Sinotyrannus kazuoensis Wulong bohaiensis |
| Sinotyrannus | S. kazuoensis | | | | A tyrannosauroid | Confuciusornis sanctus Jeholornis prima Microraptor gui Sinotyrannus kazuoensis Wulong bohaiensis |
| Wulong | W. bohaiensis | Chaoyang, Liaoning | | Complete articulated skeleton (D2933). | A dromaeosaurid | Confuciusornis sanctus Jeholornis prima Microraptor gui Sinotyrannus kazuoensis Wulong bohaiensis |

### Crustaceans

| Genus | Species | County | Member | Material | Notes | Images |
| Eosestheria | Eosestheria middendorfii | | | | A clam shrimp | |

### Plants

| Genus | Species | Notes |
| Czekanowskia | Czekanowskia rigida | A member of Czekanowskiales, Dominant |
| Ginkgo | Ginkgo digitata | A member of Ginkgoales |
| Elatocladus | Elatocladus pinnatus | Conifer foliage |
| Pityolepis | Pityolepis ovatus | Conifer cone |
| Leptostrobus | Leptostrobus sinensis | A member of Czekanowksiales, occasionally misspelled "Leptosthrobus" |
| Baiera | Baiera valida | A member of Ginkgoales |
| Baiera | Baiera cf. gracilis | A member of Ginkgoales |
| Ginkgoites | Ginkgoites trancata | A member of Ginkgoales, dominant |
| Ginkgoites | Gingkgoites trancatus | A member of Ginkgoales, dominant |
| Podozamites | Podozamites sp. | Conifer foliage |
| Sphenopteris | Sphenopteris sp. | Seed plant foliage |