Sinemurian

System Series Stage Age (Ma)
Cretaceous Lower Berriasian younger
Jurassic Upper Tithonian 145.5–150.8
Kimmeridgian 150.8–155.7
Oxfordian 155.7–161.2
Middle Callovian 161.2–164.7
Bathonian 164.7–167.7
Bajocian 167.7–171.6
Aalenian 171.6–175.6
Lower Toarcian 175.6–183.0
Pliensbachian 183.0–189.6
Sinemurian 189.6–196.5
Hettangian 196.5–199.6
Triassic Upper Rhaetian older
Subdivision of the Jurassic system according to the IUGS, as of July 2009.

In the geologic timescale, the Sinemurian is an age or stage in the Early or Lower Jurassic epoch or series. It spans the time between 196.5 ± 2 Ma and 189.6 ± 1.5 Ma (million years ago). The Sinemurian is preceded by the Hettangian and is followed by the Pliensbachian.[1]

In Europe the Sinemurian age, together with the Hettangian age, saw the deposition of the lower Lias, in Great Britain known as the Blue Lias.

Contents

Stratigraphic definitions

The Sinemurian stage was defined and introduced into scientific literature by French palaeontologist Alcide d'Orbigny in 1842. It takes its name from the French town of Semur-en-Auxois, near Dijon. The calcareous soil formed from the Jurassic limestone of the region is in part responsible for the character of the classic Sancerre wines.

The base of the Sinemurian stage is at the first appearance of the ammonite genera Vermiceras and Metophioceras in the stratigraphic record. A global reference profile (GSSP or golden spike) for the Sinemurian stage is located in a cliff north of the hamlet of East Quantoxhead, 6 kilometres east of Watchet, Somerset, England.[2]

The top of the Sinemurian (the base of the Pliensbachian) is at the first appearances of the ammonite species Bifericeras donovani and ammonite genus Apoderoceras.

The Sinemurian contains six ammonite biozones in the Tethys domain:

Palaeontology

†Ichthyosaurs

Ichthyosauria of the Sinemurian
Taxa Presence Location Description Images
From Hettangian to Sinemurian Belgium, England, Germany Among the best known ichthyosaur genera, was smaller than most of its relatives, measuring 2 m (6 ft 8 inches) in length.

Mammaliaformes

Mammaliaformes of the Sinemurian
Taxa Presence Location Description Images
Yunnan, China The earliest known example of several features distinctive to mammals, including mammal-like mandible and middle-ear structures and a relatively large brain cavity.
From Norian to Sinemurian Greenland and Western Europe A Late Triassic-Early Jurassic symmetrodontan.

†Ornithischians

Ornithischians of the Sinemurian
Taxa Presence Location Description Images
From Hettangian to Sinemurian Upper Elliot Formation, Lesotho and Cape Province, South Africa Considered the most basal member of the family Heterodontosauridae
From Hettangian to Sinemurian Lesotho As the only fossil known of it is a partial jawbone with three teeth, Fabrosaurus is a nomen dubium and may in fact be the same as Lesothosaurus.
Clarence Formation, Cape Province, South Africa With few remains, it is considered a nomen dubium. It is classified as an ornithischian based on the jaw.
From Hettangian to Sinemurian Upper Elliot Formation, Orange Free State, South Africa A heterodontosaurid ornithischian
Dated disputed Unknown location in Portugal Only known from a partial snout with teeth
From Hettangian to Sinemurian Upper Elliot Formation, Cape Province, South Africa A small herbivore dinosaur despite long canines it sported in its jaws; due to this unique characteristic it is very clearly allied to Heterodontosaurus
England Disputed, considered by some to be a tetanuran theropod
From Hettangian to Sinemurian Charmouth, West Dorset, England; Kayenta Formation, Arizona, USA A genus of quadrupedal, lightly plated, herbivorous dinosaur about 4 meters long (13 ft)
From Hettangian to Sinemurian Stormberg Series Formations, South Africa, Lesotho A primitive ornithischian, about 2 meters (6 ft 6 in) long. The proportions of the posterior limbs show differences with those of Lesothosaurus, and reveal a lower ability to run

†Plesiosaurs

Plesiosauria of the Sinemurian
Taxa Presence Location Description Images
Granby, Leicestershire, England May have been a rhomaleosaurid, pliosaurid or elasmosaurid
Sinemurian and Toarcian Lyme Regis, Dorset, England A large (about 3 to 5 meters long), marine sauropterygian reptile, it was distinguished by its small head, long and slender neck, broad turtle like body, a short tail, and two pairs of large, elongated paddles

Theropoda

Theropods of the Sinemurian
Taxa Presence Location Description Images
Sinemurian to Pliensbachian Arizona, USA; Yunnan, China Measured around six meters (20 ft) long and may have weighed half a ton. The most distinctive characteristic of Dilophosaurus is the pair of rounded crests on its skull, possibly used for display.
Sinemurian Leicestershire, England Measured around 3.5 meters (12 ft) long. The most distinctive characteristic of Sarcosaurus is its pelvis which is remarkably similar to the later Ceratosaurus.
Sinemurian Saltrio, Northern Italy

References

Notes

  1. ^ For a detailed geologic timescale see Gradstein et al. (2004)
  2. ^ See for the description of the GSSP Bloos & Page (2001)

Literature

See also

External links

Jurassic Period
Lower/Early Jurassic Middle Jurassic Upper/Late Jurassic
Hettangian | Sinemurian
Pliensbachian | Toarcian		 Aalenian | Bajocian
Bathonian | Callovian		 Oxfordian | Kimmeridgian
Tithonian
 
In horizontal bars are eras; in left column are periods; right column: bold are epochs; not bold not italic are ages; italic are chrons:
 
Triassic
(251 – 199.6 Mya)
Jurassic
(199.6 – 145.5 Mya)
Cretaceous
(145.5 – 65.5 Mya)
kya = thousands years ago. Mya = millions years ago. * Not officially recognized by the I.C.S.