Ardol Formation

The Ardol Formation is a geologic formation located in Tacua Province in the southwestern Aurlûnor Velande, dating to the upper Lothranic period between 186 and 183 million years ago. It is named after the ancient city of Ardol, settled by Celestial Elven immigrants thousands of years ago. The formation preserves a regressive sequence, with three distinct members (in order of lowest/oldest to highest/newest): the limestone-dominated Hyalmambal Member, the the Lócesíre Member dominated by mudstones and shales, and the beach sandstone of the Anaróremar Member. This order of rock progression, deposited over the course of nearly three million years, shows an ocean receding and becoming land, as the boundary between the Lothranic and Dracian periods is commonly thought to have been defined by a minor extinction event and rapid climate change. 
The Hyalmambal member preserves a pelagic marine fauna with numerous large reptiles and ammonites, though the Lócesíre member has also turned up plesiosauroid remains and even a theropod washed out to sea. Most fossils of the Anaróremar member are shells of brachiopods or mollusks.
Vertebrate Paleobiota of the Ardol Formation
Species 	Member 	Material 	Notes
Aequor infectorem 	Hyalmambal	"teeth, skull fragments, and mixed postcranial material". 	Peioraid
Belonosaurus natans 	Hyalmambal	Skull and cervical vertebrae. 	Plesiosaur
Dilophosaurus aurlunensis 	Lócesíre 	disarticulated but associated partial skeleton 	Theropod
Dimorphodon grandis 	Lócesíre 	Two mostly-complete skeletons, associated partial remains of a third. 	Pterosaur
Ichthyosaurus yelwanisi 	Hyalmambal	Several complete skeletons, including pregnant mother. 	Ichthyosaur
Leptonectes delphinorostris	Hyalmambal	Skull, with associated vertebrae, rib fragments, and various distal remains. 	Ichthyosaur
Pholidorphus sp. 	Hyalmambal	bonebed of several adults 	Teleost fish
Plesiosauridae indet. 	Lócesíre 	Ribs, gastralia, and flipper elements. 	Plesiosaur?
Tacuanectes longibrachus 	Hyalmambal	At least one articulated skeleton, hundreds of teeth and postcranial elements	Plesiosaur
Venetodon parvus 	Hyalmambal	almost complete skeleton, minus pelvis, spine, right arm & skull 	Theropod
Invertebrate Fauna of the Ardol Formation
Species 	Type 	Presence 	Notes
Ardolospicum lothranica	Sea urchin	Anaróremar	
Rhynchonella rusenisi 	Brachiopod	Anaróremar	
Rhynchonella tacua 	Brachiopod	Anaróremar	
Talhunoceras ouranos 	Ammonite 	Lócesíre 	
Category:Lore
Category:Prehistory
Category:Geology
Category:Traveler's Era