Where is the Jiufotang Formation?
The Jiufotang Formation is a fossil-bearing rock unit exposed in Liaoning, China. Fossil Atlas maps selected occurrence records from this formation as modern discovery locations.
Fossil Atlas: Formation and Hotspot ProfileCanonical formation guideCatalog FA·JIUF·120
Jiufotang FormationFossil map, formation guide, and hotspot profile
Liaoning, China
Quick provenance answer
Where is the Jiufotang Formation?
The Jiufotang Formation is represented in Fossil Atlas by 3 selected fossil records from Liaoning, China. Notable fossil animals mapped here include Microraptor. These pins are modern fossil discovery locations, not a complete ancient habitat map.
Fossil Atlas keeps formation and hotspot intent on this one canonical page. The description, timeline, notable animals, fossil map, and expedition-card flow all point to the same source-backed guide.
- Mapped records
- 3
- Region
- Liaoning, China
- Notable animals
- Microraptor
- Map caveat
- Modern fossil locations, not ancient habitat.
Formation description
An Early Cretaceous Jehol Biota formation known for exceptionally preserved feathered dinosaurs, birds, and lake-margin fossils.
When the formation was deposited
Position of this formation’s known age range across 252 million years of the Mesozoic and beyond.
252 MaToday
125-120 million years ago
Notable fossil animals
Animals with source-backed fossil records in the current dataset that are associated with the Jiufotang Formation.
Microraptor
Jiufotang Formation fossil discovery map
Pins show selected fossil records for the Jiufotang Formation; use them as modern discovery evidence, not a complete range map. Modern fossil discovery map: pins show where selected fossil and specimen records were found today, not ancient Earth positions. What does this mean?
Modern Fossil Discovery Map
Shareable asset
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Turn this formation’s geologic age range, notable animals, and 3 mapped discovery records into a source-stamped 4:5 card built for Instagram, Reddit, X, Discord, and Pinterest.
Research notes
Jiufotang Formation fossil map FAQ
Is this map where the animals lived?
No. The map shows modern fossil discovery locations from selected records in this formation. Ancient habitat and paleogeographic reconstructions are separate questions.
What fossils are found in the Jiufotang Formation?
Notable fossil animals mapped within this formation include Microraptor. Formation coverage depends on the selected dataset and may not be complete.
Can I make a Jiufotang Formation expedition card?
Yes. Use the expedition card generator to turn the Jiufotang Formation map and notable animals into a shareable card.
Caveats
Important notes
Selected fossil records from PBDB and museum biodiversity aggregators. Source labels and confidence notes help distinguish canonical paleobiology records from specimen-media records.
Formation profiles and notable animal lists reflect the current selected dataset. Fossil maps show modern discovery locations, not paleogeographic reconstructions. Age ranges are approximate and subject to revision as new stratigraphic data becomes available.
Trust note
Selected source-backed records
Maps use curated PBDB, museum, and specimen-source records with visible caveats.
Trust note
Modern discovery locations
Pins show where fossils were found or reported today, not exact ancient habitat positions.
Trust note
Reconstruction is not evidence
Artwork is labeled separately from specimen photos, maps, and source records.
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