Halamagai Formation

Halamagai Formation
Halamagai Formation
Stratigraphic range: Early-Middle Miocene ; ~16.8–14.36 Ma PreꞒ Ꞓ O S D C P T J K Pg N Aqu. Burdig. Lan. Ser. Tortonian M Z P
Type	Geological formation
Underlies	Kekemaideng Formation
Overlies	Suosuoquan Formation
Thickness	37 m
Lithology
Primary	Sandstone, Gravel
Other	Mudstone
Location
Coordinates	46°34′N 87°47′E / 46.57°N 87.78°E
Region	Xinjiang Province
Country	China
Extent	Junggar Basin
	Halamagai Formation (China) Halamagai Formation (Xinjiang)

Halamagai Formation is a geological formation located in the Duolebulejin Terrace on the south bank of the Ulungur River near Kalamagai Township, which lies south of Fuhai County, Xinjiang. The location contains various mammalian fossils of artiodactyls, gomphotheres, perissodactyls, rodents, and primates.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Fossil content

Color key

Taxon	Reclassified taxon	Taxon falsely reported as present	Dubious taxon or junior synonym	Ichnotaxon	Ootaxon	Morphotaxon

Notes
Uncertain or tentative taxa are in small text; ~~crossed out~~ taxa are discredited.

Mammals

Artiodactyls

Genus	Species	Material	Notes
Discokeryx^[4]	D. xiezhi	A thick cranium dome skull and neck vertebrae	A domed-skulled prolibytheriid, an early close relative of giraffe and okapi
Ligeromeryx	L. cf. colberti
	L. praestans
	L. sp
Turcocerus^[5]	T. halamagaiensis	A horn core and dentition	An early caprine bovid

Carnivorans

Genus	Species	Locality	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes
Amphicyon	A. ulungurensis				An amphicyonid
Gobicyon^[6]	G. zhegalloi				An amphicyonid
Hoplictis^[7]	H. baihui	Tieersihabahe	Lower		A mustelid
Nimravus^[8]	N? sp.	Tieersihabahe	Lower	Left ramal fragment	A nimravid feline
Pseudaelurus^[8]	P. cuspidatus	Tieersihabahe	Lower	Partial right ramus	An early felid
Protictitherium^[8]	P. intermedium	Tieersihabahe	Lower	The left and right partial ramus	An early hyena
Thalassictis^[8]	T. chinjiensis		Lower	Partial ramal	An early hyaena

Lagomorphs

Genus	Species	Locality	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Alloptox	A. gobiensis
Sinolagomys	S. sp.
Plicalagus	P. junggarensis

Erinaceid

Genus	Species	Locality	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Mioechinus	M. ? sp.
Schizogalerix	S. duolebulejinensis

Rodents

Genus	Species	County	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes
Anchitheriomys	A. tungurensis				An early beaver relative
Atlantoxerus	A. giganteus				An early barbary ground squirrel
Atlantoxerus	A. junggarensis				An early barbary ground squirrel
Cricetodon	C. orientalis
Megacricetodon^[9]	M. yei	Tieersihabahe	Lower	A fragmentary right maxilla	A cricetid
Protalactaga	P. grabaui
Protalactaga	P. major
Sinomylagulus	S. halamagaiensis
Steneofiber	S. depereti				An early beaver relative

Perissodactyls

Genus	Species	Notes
Anchitherium	A. gobiensis	An early horse
Diaceratherium	A. sp.
Aceratheriinae Indet.	indeterminate
Elasmotheriinae Indet.	indeterminate

Primates

Genus	Species	Locality	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Pliopithecus	P. bii				A pliopithecid monkey

Proboscidians

Genus	Species	Locality	Stratigraphic position	Material	Notes	Images
Choerolophodon	C. sp.
Gomphotherium	G. connexum
	G. mogoliense
	G. steinheimense
Miomastodon	M. cf. tongxinensis
Parachoerodon^[10]	P. rhynchus
Platybelodon	P. sp.
Protanancus	P. sp.
Zygolophodon	Z. cf. turicensis

References

↑ (2009). Halamayi Formation. In: Zhang, S. (eds) Geological Formation Names of China (1866–2000). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-93824-8_2578
↑ Li, C., Wang, S. Q., Wang, Y., Deng, T., Ma, J., Wang, B., Jiangzuo, Q., & Sun, D. (2025). Savanna ecosystems and mammalian adaptations in Mid-Miocene Northern China. Scientific reports, 15(1), 25586. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10718-3
↑ Wang 王建, Jian & Xinying, Zhou & Wang, Shiqi & Ye, Jie & Liu, Junchi & Wu, Wenyu & Wu, Yan & Zhao, Keliang & Zheng, Yan & Behling, Hermann & Li, Xiaoqiang. (2024). Steppe development and mammalian adaptation in the middle Miocene, North Junggar Basin, Central Asia. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology. 659. 112634. 10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112634.
↑ Wang, S.-Q.; Ye, J.; Meng, J.; Li, C.; Costeur, L.; Mennecart, B.; Zhang, C.; Zhang, J.; Aiglstorfer, M.; Wang, Y.; Wu, Y.; Wu, W.-Y.; Deng, T. (2022). "Sexual selection promotes giraffoid head-neck evolution and ecological adaptation". Science. 376 (6597) eabl8316. doi:10.1126/science.abl8316. PMID 35653459. S2CID 249313002.
↑ Li, Y., Li, Q., Ni, X., Wang, S., Aiglstorfer, M. and Deng, T. (2021), The oldest known bovid from China and reappraisal of the Chinese ‘Eotragus’. Pap Palaeontol, 7: 913-929. https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2.1319
↑ Jiangzuo, Qigao; Li, Chunxiao; Zhang, Xiaoxiao; Wang, Shiqi; Ye, Je; Li, Yu (2020-02-07). "Diversity of Amphicyonidae (Carnivora, Mammalia) in the Middle Miocene Halamagai formation in Ulungur River area, Xinjiang, Northwestern China". Historical Biology. 32 (2): 187–202. doi:10.1080/08912963.2018.1477142. ISSN 0891-2963. S2CID 90842601.
↑ VALENCIANO, A., JIANGZUO, Q., WANG, S., LI, C., ZHANG, X. and YE, J. (2019), First Record of Hoplictis (Carnivora, Mustelidae) in East Asia from the Miocene of the Ulungur River Area, Xinjiang, Northwest China. Acta Geologica Sinica - English Edition, 93: 251-264. https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-6724.13820
1 2 3 4 Wang, Xiaoming & Ye, Jie & Meng, Jin & Wu, Wenyu & Liu, Liping & Bi, Shundong. (1998). Carnivora from middle Miocene of Northern Junggar Basin, Xinjiang autonomous region, China. Vertebrata PalAsiatica. 36. 218-243.
↑ Bi, Shundong., Meng, Jin, & Wu, Wenyu. (2008). A new species of Megacricetodon (Cricetidae, Rodentia, Mammalia) from the Middle Miocene of northern Junggar Basin, China. American Museum of Natural History. https://doi.org/10.1206/0003-0082(2008)3602[1:ANSOMC]2.0.CO;2
↑ Li, C.; Wang, S.-Q. (2026). "Evolution of choerolophodontids in the Miocene of northern China". Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology: 1–16. doi:10.1080/08912963.2026.2651915.

[1] (2009). Halamayi Formation. In: Zhang, S. (eds) Geological Formation Names of China (1866–2000). Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-540-93824-8_2578

[2] Li, C., Wang, S. Q., Wang, Y., Deng, T., Ma, J., Wang, B., Jiangzuo, Q., & Sun, D. (2025). Savanna ecosystems and mammalian adaptations in Mid-Miocene Northern China. Scientific reports, 15(1), 25586. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-10718-3

[3] Wang 王建, Jian & Xinying, Zhou & Wang, Shiqi & Ye, Jie & Liu, Junchi & Wu, Wenyu & Wu, Yan & Zhao, Keliang & Zheng, Yan & Behling, Hermann & Li, Xiaoqiang. (2024). Steppe development and mammalian adaptation in the middle Miocene, North Junggar Basin, Central Asia. Palaeogeography Palaeoclimatology Palaeoecology. 659. 112634. 10.1016/j.palaeo.2024.112634.

[4] Wang, S.-Q.; Ye, J.; Meng, J.; Li, C.; Costeur, L.; Mennecart, B.; Zhang, C.; Zhang, J.; Aiglstorfer, M.; Wang, Y.; Wu, Y.; Wu, W.-Y.; Deng, T. (2022). "Sexual selection promotes giraffoid head-neck evolution and ecological adaptation". Science. 376 (6597) eabl8316. doi:10.1126/science.abl8316. PMID 35653459. S2CID 249313002.

[5] Li, Y., Li, Q., Ni, X., Wang, S., Aiglstorfer, M. and Deng, T. (2021), The oldest known bovid from China and reappraisal of the Chinese ‘Eotragus’. Pap Palaeontol, 7: 913-929. https://doi.org/10.1002/spp2.1319

[:1-6] Jiangzuo, Qigao; Li, Chunxiao; Zhang, Xiaoxiao; Wang, Shiqi; Ye, Je; Li, Yu (2020-02-07). "Diversity of Amphicyonidae (Carnivora, Mammalia) in the Middle Miocene Halamagai formation in Ulungur River area, Xinjiang, Northwestern China". Historical Biology. 32 (2): 187–202. doi:10.1080/08912963.2018.1477142. ISSN 0891-2963. S2CID 90842601.

[7] VALENCIANO, A., JIANGZUO, Q., WANG, S., LI, C., ZHANG, X. and YE, J. (2019), First Record of Hoplictis (Carnivora, Mustelidae) in East Asia from the Miocene of the Ulungur River Area, Xinjiang, Northwest China. Acta Geologica Sinica - English Edition, 93: 251-264. https://doi.org/10.1111/1755-6724.13820

[:2-8] 1 2 3 4 Wang, Xiaoming & Ye, Jie & Meng, Jin & Wu, Wenyu & Liu, Liping & Bi, Shundong. (1998). Carnivora from middle Miocene of Northern Junggar Basin, Xinjiang autonomous region, China. Vertebrata PalAsiatica. 36. 218-243.

[9] Bi, Shundong., Meng, Jin, & Wu, Wenyu. (2008). A new species of Megacricetodon (Cricetidae, Rodentia, Mammalia) from the Middle Miocene of northern Junggar Basin, China. American Museum of Natural History. https://doi.org/10.1206/0003-0082(2008)3602[1:ANSOMC]2.0.CO;2

[10] Li, C.; Wang, S.-Q. (2026). "Evolution of choerolophodontids in the Miocene of northern China". Historical Biology: An International Journal of Paleobiology: 1–16. doi:10.1080/08912963.2026.2651915.

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