During which geological epoch did Xiaosaurus roam the Earth, spanning roughly 170.3 to 163.5 million years ago?
Answer
Middle Jurassic
*Xiaosaurus* is firmly placed in the Middle Jurassic epoch, a period in Earth’s history characterized by dynamic changes, including the continued breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea, which led to more diverse climates globally. This temporal setting places the creature significantly after the initial major diversification events that marked the Late Triassic but well before the dominance of the massive dinosaur groups seen in the Late Jurassic and Cretaceous periods. The rock layers associated with its fossils, specifically the lower Xiashaximiao Formation in the Sichuan Basin, are dated within this specific Middle Jurassic time span, covering stages such as the Bajocian and the Bathonian–Callovian.
Related Questions
What is the primary translation of Xiaosaurus, derived from the Chinese word xiao?During which geological epoch did Xiaosaurus roam the Earth, spanning roughly 170.3 to 163.5 million years ago?How many distinct toes terminated the hind feet of the bipedal Xiaosaurus?What term, meaning 'doubtful name,' was applied to Xiaosaurus due to insufficient diagnostic material?What was the measured length of the femur, or thigh bone, of a Xiaosaurus hindlimb?What primary dietary classification defines Xiaosaurus, necessitating adaptations like a beaked mouth for cropping vegetation?What specific autapomorphy, a unique derived trait, was identified to provisionally validate the Xiaosaurus genus?In which specific geological layers within the Sichuan Basin were the fossils of Xiaosaurus found?Which two paleontologists formally assigned the moniker Xiaosaurus dashanpensis in 1983?Despite being bipedal with small forelimbs, how many distinct fingers did the front limbs of Xiaosaurus possess?