During what geological period did *Xiaosaurus dashanpensis* live?
Answer
Middle Jurassic
The creature *Xiaosaurus dashanpensis* is firmly anchored in the paleontology of the Middle Jurassic period. This time frame places its existence approximately between 169 and 163 million years ago. This era saw a flourishing age for dinosaurs across Asia, where large herbivores and various predators shared the landscape. Knowing the Middle Jurassic context is crucial because it defines the ecological community—the assemblage site—that *Xiaosaurus* belonged to, contrasting it sharply with fauna from earlier periods like the Late Triassic or later ones like the Late Cretaceous.
Related Questions
What does the name *Xiaosaurus* translate to, as noted in its nomenclature?Which specific sedimentary layer is the type species of *Xiaosaurus* firmly anchored to?During what geological period did *Xiaosaurus dashanpensis* live?What specific discovery location does the species epithet *dashanpensis* specifically honor?What term describes the geological makeup of the Xiashaximiao Formation where *Xiaosaurus* remains were found?Which of these associated genera found alongside *Xiaosaurus* is identified as a stegosaurian herbivore?Which two paleontologists formally named *Xiaosaurus dashanpensis* in 1983?What type of environment characterized the Sichuan Basin where *Xiaosaurus* thrived?What fundamental dinosaur group classification is *Xiaosaurus* a member of?What did the co-occurrence of *Xiaosaurus* with *Gasosaurus* help paleontologists define at the Dashanpu digs?