Occurrence rule and buried characteristics of dinosaur fossils in the Ganzhou Basin, Jiangxi Province

The Late Cretaceous Maodian and Hekou Formations of the Ganzhou Basin in southern Jiangxi Province were found to host a large number of dinosaur fossils, which are collectedly distributed and well preserved. In particular, well preserved fossilized dinosaur eggs are laid elaborately in circular nests. The paper mainly discusses the fossil-bearing strata and lithology, preserving form and buried characteristics of dinosaur fossils in the basin. It is believed that dinosaur fauna or dinosaur fossils occur mainly within the Late Cretaceous Maodian Formation and Hekou Formation in the basin. The dinosaur fossils preserved in the Maodian and Hekou formations are characterized by occurrence assemblages: single type to various types of dinosaur fossils, and eggs to egg-bone mixing, even embryo-bearing eggs and dinosaur skeletons buried with tortoise fossils. This complex occurrence will provide real materials for further investigating the evolution of the basin and living environment of dinosaurs.