Learn and talk about Campanian, Cretaceous

System	Series	Stage	Age (Ma)
Paleogene	Paleocene	Danian	younger
Cretaceous	Upper	Maastrichtian	66.0–72.1
		Campanian	72.1–83.6
		Santonian	83.6–86.3
		Coniacian	86.3–89.8
		Turonian	89.8–93.9
		Cenomanian	93.9–100.5
	Lower	Albian	100.5–~113.0
		Aptian	~113.0–~125.0
		Barremian	~125.0–~129.4
		Hauterivian	~129.4–~132.9
		Valanginian	~132.9–~139.8
		Berriasian	~139.8–~145.0
Jurassic	Upper	Tithonian	older
Subdivision of the Cretaceous system according to the IUGS, as of July 2012.

The Campanian is, in the ICS' geologic timescale, the fifth of six ages of the Late Cretaceous epoch (or, in chronostratigraphy: the fifth of six stages in the Upper Cretaceous series). The Campanian spans the time from 83.5 ± 0.7 Ma to 70.6 ± 0.6 Ma (million years ago). It is preceded by the Santonian and it is followed by the Maastrichtian.^[1]

Stratigraphic definition[edit]

The Campanian was introduced in scientific literature by Henri Coquand in 1857. It is named after the French village of Champagne in the département Charente-Maritime. The original type locality was an outcrop near the village of Aubeterre-sur-Dronne in the same region. Due to changes of the stratigraphic definitions, this section is now part of the Maastrichtian stage.

The base of the Campanian stage is laid at the extinction of crinoid species Marsupites testudinarius. A GSSP had not yet been ratified in 2009. One possible candidate is in a section near a dam at Waxahachie, Texas.

The top of the Campanian is defined as the place in the stratigraphic column were the ammonite Pachydiscus neubergicus first appears.

Subdivision[edit]

The Campanian is sometimes subdivided into Lower, Middle and Upper subages. In the Tethys domain, the Campanian encompasses six ammonite biozones. They are, from young to old:

zone of Nostoceras hyatti
zone of Didymoceras chayennense
zone of Bostrychoceras polyplocum
zone of Hoplitoplacenticeras marroti/Hoplitoplacenticeras vari
zone of Delawarella delawarensis
zone of Placenticeras bidorsatum

Paleontology[edit]

During the Campanian age, a radiation among dinosaur species occurred. In North America, for example, the number of known dinosaur genera rises from 4 at the base of the Campanian to 48 in the upper part. This development is sometimes referred to as the "Campanian Explosion". However, it is not yet clear if the event is artificial, i.e. the low number of genera in the lower Campanian can be caused by a lower preservation chance for fossils in deposits of that age. The generally warm climates and large continental area covered in shallow sea during the Campanian probably favoured the dinosaurs. In the following Maastrichtian stage, the number of North American dinosaur genera found is 30% less than in the upper Campanian.^[2]

Animals that lived in the Campanian include:

†Ankylosaurs[edit]

Ankylosaurs of the Campanian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
Aletopelta		Point Loma Formation, California, USA	A medium-sized ankylosaurid, estimated to be around 6 m (20 ft) long	Edmontonia Euoplocephalus Pinacosaurus
Antarctopelta		Santa Marta Formation, James Ross Island, Antarctica	A stocky ankylosaur protected by armor plates embedded in the skin. Although a complete skeleton has not been found, the species is estimated to have reached a maximum length of 4 meters (13 ft). Displays characteristics of both ankylosaurids and nodosaurids
Edmontonia	Campanian to Maastrichtian	Horseshoe Canyon Formation, Alberta, Canada	A bulky nodosaurid at roughly 6.6m (22 ft) long and 2m (6 ft) high. It had small, ridged bony plates on its back and head and many sharp spikes along its back and tail. The four largest spikes jutted out from the shoulders on each side, two of which were split into subspines in some specimens. Its skull had a pear-like shape when viewed from above.
Euoplocephalus
Niobrarasaurus
Nodocephalosaurus
Panoplosaurus		Judith River Formation, Alberta, Canada; Montana, USA	A 5.5-7 m long and 2 m tall nodosaurid
Pinacosaurus
Saichania
Shanxia
Struthiosaurus
Tarchia
Tianzhenosaurus

Birds[edit]

Birds of the Campanian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
Hesperornis				Hesperornis
Neogaeornis wetzeli			A marine bird from Chile. It had the midfeet of a foot-propelled diving bird, but its relationships are enigmatic. The only known species is from the Campanian-Maastrichtian boundary.
Ichthyornis

Bony Fish[edit]

Bony fish of the Campanian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
Xiphactinus				Xiphactinus

Cartilaginous Fish[edit]

Cartilaginous fish of the Campanian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
Chlamydoselachus				Chlamydoselachus
†Schizorhiza

†Ceratopsians[edit]

Ceratopsians of the Campanian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
Achelousaurus				Achelousaurus Agujaceratops Albertaceratops Anchiceratops Avaceratops Bagaceratops
Agujaceratops
Albertaceratops
Anchiceratops
Avaceratops
Bagaceratops
Bainoceratops
Brachyceratops
Breviceratops
Centrosaurus
Cerasinops
Chasmosaurus
?Dysganus
Einiosaurus
Graciliceratops
Lamaceratops
Magnirostris
Medusaceratops
Monoclonius
Pachyrhinosaurus
Prenoceratops
Platyceratops
Protoceratops
Styracosaurus
Udanoceratops

Crocodylomorphs[edit]

Crocodylomorphs of the Campanian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
†Deinosuchus

Mammals[edit]

Mammals of the Campanian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
Alphadon
Didelphodon
Kamptobaatar
Kennalestes
Zalambdalestes

†Ornithopods[edit]

Ornithopods of the Campanian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
Aralosaurus				Edmontosaurus Gasparinisaura Hypacrosaurus Maiasaura Mochlodon Nipponosaurus Prosaurolophus Shantungosaurus Velafrons
Brachylophosaurus
Corythosaurus
Diclonius
Edmontosaurus
Gasparinisaura
Gilmoreosaurus
Gryposaurus
Hadrosaurus
Hypacrosaurus
Hypsibema
Kritosaurus
Lambeosaurus
Lophorhothon
Maiasaura
Mandschurosaurus
Microhadrosaurus
Mochlodon		Austria	A rhabdodontid
Naashoibitosaurus
Nipponosaurus
Orodromeus
Parasaurolophus
Prosaurolophus
Pteropelyx
Rhabdodon		France; Spain; Haţeg Island, Romania	It is unclear whether it was an iguanodont or a hypsilophodont, and may be a "missing link" between the two. Current evidence indicates it is an iguanodont similar to Tenontosaurus.
Saurolophus
Shantungosaurus
Tanius
Trachodon
Tsintaosaurus
Velafrons

†Pachycephalosaurs[edit]

Pachycephalosaurs of the Campanian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
Alaskacephale		Prince Creek Formation, Alaska, USA		Homalocephale
Colepiocephale		Alberta, Canada	The oldest known pachycephalosaurid
Goyocephale		Mongolia
Gravitholus
Hanssuesia		Alberta, Canada; Montana, USA	Distinguished from other pachycephalosaurs by having a depressed parietal region, wide frontoparietal dome, broad nasal characteristics, reduced prefontal lobes, and a reduced parietosquamosal shelf.
?Heishansaurus
Homalocephale		Mongolia	Sporting a flat, wedge-shaped skull roof, Homalocephale was different from other pachycephalosaurs.
?Micropachycephalosaurus
Ornatotholus
Prenocephale
Sphaerotholus
Stegoceras
Tylocephale
Wannanosaurus

†Plesiosaurs[edit]

Plesiosaurs of the Campanian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
†Elasmosaurus		Pierre Shale, Kansas, USA		Elasmosaurus Styxosaurus
†Styxosaurus

†Pterosaurs[edit]

Pterosaurs of the Campanian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
Nyctosaurus				Pteranodon Quetzalcoatlus
Pteranodon
Quetzalcoatlus
Piksi

†Sauropods[edit]

Sauropods of the Campanian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
Alamosaurus				Alamosaurus Saltasaurus
Andesaurus
Bruhathkayosaurus
Quaesitosaurus
Saltasaurus

Squamates[edit]

Squamates of the Campanian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
Halisaurus				Mosasaurus Taniwhasaurus
Mosasaurus
Plotosaurus
Taniwhasaurus		New Zealand, Japan, Antarctica
Tylosaurus

Testudines[edit]

Testudines of the Campanian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
†Archelon				Reconstruction of Archelon

†Theropods (non-avian)[edit]

David J. Varrichio observes that during the late Campanian Alberta and Montana had very similar theropods despite significant differences in the types of herbivorous dinosaur faunas.^[3]

Non-avian theropods of the Campanian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
†Abelisaurus †Abelisaurus comahuensis		Allen Formation?, Anacleto Formation?, Argentina	Bipedal carnivore that probably reached 7 to 9 meters in length; known from only one partial skull.	Abelisaurus Bambiraptor Citipati Portrait of Saurornithoides Velociraptor
Albertosaurus
Appalachiosaurus
Archaeornithomimus
Bambiraptor
Byronosaurus
Citipati
Carnotaurus
Daspletosaurus
Dromaeosaurus
Dromiceiomimus
Dryptosaurus
Gorgosaurus
Harpymimus
Khaan
Luanchuanraptor
Mononykus
Noasaurus
Ornithomimus
Oviraptor		Mongolia
Pyroraptor		Var, France
Saurornithoides
Saurornitholestes
Shuvuuia
Struthiomimus
Troodon
Variraptor		Var, France
Velociraptor		Mongolia and China
Xenotarsosaurus

Footnotes[edit]

^ See Gradstein et al. (2004) for a detailed version of the geological timescale
^ See Weishampel et al. (2004)
^ "Abstract," in Varricchio (2001). Page 42.

References[edit]

Gradstein, F.M.; Ogg, J.G. & Smith, A.G.; 2004: A Geologic Time Scale 2004, Cambridge University Press.
Varricchio, D. J. 2001. Late Cretaceous oviraptorosaur (Theropoda) dinosaurs from Montana. pp. 42–57 in D. H. Tanke and K. Carpenter (eds.), Mesozoic Vertebrate Life. Indiana University Press, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Weishampel, D.B.; Barrett, P.M.; Coria, R.A.; Le Loueff, J.; Xu, X.; Zhao, X.; Sahni, A.; Gomani, E.M.P. & Noto, C.N.; 2004: Dinosaur distribution, in: Weishampel, D.B.; Dodson, P. & Osmólska, H. (eds.): The Dinosauria, University of California Press, Berkeley (2nd ed.), ISBN 0-520-24209-2, pp 517-606.

External links[edit]

GeoWhen Database - Campanian
Late Cretaceous timescale, at the website of the subcommission for stratigraphic information of the ICS
Stratigraphic chart of the Late Cretaceous, at the website of Norges Network of offshore records of geology and stratigraphy
Campanian Microfossils: 75+ images of Foraminifera

Cretaceous Period
Lower/Early Cretaceous	Upper/Late Cretaceous
Berriasian \| Valanginian \| Hauterivian Barremian\| Aptian \| Albian	Cenomanian \| Turonian \| Coniacian Santonian \|Campanian \| Maastrichtian

Geologic history of Earth

Precambrian supereon (4.567 Gya – 541 Mya)

In left column are eons; right column: bold are eras; not bold are periods:

Hadean (4.567 – 4 Gya)	Chaotian (4.567 - 4.4 Gya) Zirconian (4.4 - 4 Gya)

Archean (4 – 2.5 Gya)	Eoarchean (4 – 3.6 Gya) Paleoarchean (3.6 – 3.2 Gya) Mesoarchean (3.2 – 2.8 Gya) Neoarchean (2.8 – 2.5 Gya)

Proterozoic (2.5 Gya – 541 Mya)	Paleoproterozoic (2.5 – 1.6 Gya): Siderian (2.5 – 2.3 Gya) · Rhyacian (2.3 – 2.05 Gya) · Orosirian (2.05 – 1.8 Gya) · Statherian (1.8 – 1.6 Gya) Mesoproterozoic (1.6 – 1 Gya): Calymmian (1.6 – 1.4 Gya) · Ectasian (1.4 – 1.2 Gya) · Stenian (1.2 – 1 Gya) Neoproterozoic (1 Gya – 541 Mya): Tonian (1 Gya – 850 Mya) · Cryogenian (850 – 635 Mya) · Ediacaran (635 – 541 Mya)

Mya = millions years ago. Gya = billions years ago.

Phanerozoic eon (541.0 – 0 Mya)

In horizontal bars are eras; in left column are periods; right column: bold are epochs; not bold not italic are ages; italic are chrons:

Paleozoic (541.0 – 252.2 Mya)

Cambrian (541.0 – 485.4 Mya)	Terreneuvian (541.0 – 521 Mya): Fortunian (541.0 – 529 Mya) · Age 2* (529 – 521 Mya) *Epoch 2 (521 – 509 Mya)*: Age 3 (521 – 514 Mya) · Age 4* (514 – 509 Mya) *Epoch 3 (509 – 497 Mya)*: Age 5 (509 – 504.5 Mya) · Drumian (504.5 – 500.5 Mya) · Guzhangian (500.5 – 497 Mya) Furongian (497 – 485.4 Mya): Paibian (497 – 494 Mya) · Jiangshanian (494 – 489.5 Mya) · Age 10* (489.5 – 485.4 Mya)

Ordovician (485.4 – 443.4 Mya)	Lower Ordovician (485.4 – 470.0 Mya): Tremadocian (485.4 – 477.7 Mya) · Floian (477.7 – 470.0 Mya) Middle Ordovician (470.0 – 458.4 Mya): Dapingian (470.0 – 467.3 Mya) · Darriwilian (467.3 – 458.4 Mya) Upper Ordovician (458.4 – 443.4 Mya): Sandbian (458.4 – 453.0 Mya) · Katian (453.0 – 445.2 Mya) · Hirnantian (445.2 – 443.4 Mya)

Silurian (443.4 – 419.2 Mya)	Llandovery (443.4 – 433.4 Mya): Rhuddanian (443.4 – 440.8 Mya) · Aeronian (440.8 – 438.5 Mya) · Telychian (438.5 – 433.4 Mya) Wenlock (433.4 – 427.4 Mya): Sheinwoodian (433.4 – 430.5 Mya) · Homerian (430.5 – 427.4 Mya) Ludlow (427.4 – 423.0 Mya): Gorstian (427.4 – 425.6 Mya) · Ludfordian (425.6 – 423.0 Mya) Pridoli (423.0 – 419.2 Mya)

Devonian (419.2 – 358.9 Mya)	Lower Devonian (419.2 – 393.3 Mya): Lochkovian (419.2 – 410.8 Mya) · Pragian (410.8 – 407.6 Mya) · Emsian (407.6 – 393.3 Mya) Middle Devonian (393.3 – 382.7 Mya): Eifelian (393.3 – 387.7 Mya) · Givetian (387.7 – 382.7 Mya) Upper Devonian (382.7 – 358.9 Mya): Frasnian (382.7 – 372.2 Mya) · Famennian (372.2 – 358.9 Mya)

Carboniferous (358.9 – 298.9 Mya)	Mississippian (358.9 – 323.2 Mya): Tournaisian (358.9 – 346.7 Mya) · Viséan (346.7 – 330.9 Mya) · Serpukhovian (330.9 – 323.2 Mya) Pennsylvanian (323.2 – 298.9 Mya): Bashkirian (323.2 – 315.2 Mya) · Moscovian (315.2 – 307.0 Mya) · Kasimovian (307.0 – 303.7 Mya) · Gzhelian (303.7 – 298.9 Mya)

Permian (298.9 – 252.2 Mya)	Cisuralian (298.9 – 272.3 Mya): Asselian (298.9 – 295.5 Mya) · Sakmarian (295.5 – 290.1 Mya) · Artinskian (290.1 – 279.3 Mya) · Kungurian (279.3 – 272.3 Mya) Guadalupian (272.3 – 259.9 Mya): Roadian (272.3 – 268.8 Mya) · Wordian (268.8 – 265.1 Mya) · Capitanian (265.1 – 259.9 Mya) Lopingian (259.9 – 252.2 Mya): Wuchiapingian (259.9 – 254.2 Mya) · Changhsingian (254.2 – 252.2 Mya)

Mesozoic (252.2 – 66.0 Mya)

Triassic (252.2 – 201.3 Mya)	Lower Triassic (252.2 – 247.2 Mya): Induan (252.2 – 251.2 Mya) · Olenekian (251.2 – 247.2 Mya) Middle Triassic (247.2 – 235 Mya): Anisian (247.2 – 242 Mya) · Ladinian (242 – 235 Mya) Upper Triassic (235 – 201.3 Mya): Carnian (235 – 228 Mya) · Norian (228 – 208.5 Mya) · Rhaetian (208.5 – 201.3 Mya)

Jurassic (201.3 – 145.0 Mya)	Lower Jurassic (201.3 – 174.1 Mya): Hettangian (201.3 – 199.3 Mya) · Sinemurian (199.3 – 190.8 Mya) · Pliensbachian (190.8 – 182.7 Mya) · Toarcian (182.7 – 174.1 Mya) Middle Jurassic (174.1 – 163.5 Mya): Aalenian (174.1 – 170.3 Mya) · Bajocian (170.3 – 168.3 Mya) · Bathonian (168.3 – 166.1 Mya) · Callovian (166.1 – 163.5 Mya) Upper Jurassic (163.5 – 145.0 Mya): Oxfordian (163.5 – 157.3 Mya) · Kimmeridgian (157.3 – 152.1 Mya) · Tithonian (152.1 – 145.0 Mya)

Cretaceous (145.0 – 66.0 Mya)	Lower Cretaceous (145.0 – 100.5 Mya): Berriasian (145.0 – 139.8 Mya) · Valanginian (139.8 – 132.9 Mya) · Hauterivian (132.9 – 129.4 Mya) · Barremian (129.4 – 125.0 Mya) · Aptian (125.0 – 113.0 Mya) · Albian (113.0 – 100.5 Mya) Upper Cretaceous (100.5 – 66.0 Mya): Cenomanian (100.5 – 93.9 Mya) · Turonian (93.9 – 89.8 Mya) · Coniacian (89.8 – 86.3 Mya) · Santonian (86.3 – 83.6 Mya) · Campanian (83.6 – 72.1 Mya) · Maastrichtian (72.1 – 66.0 Mya)

Cenozoic (66.0 – 0 Mya)

Paleogene, Neogene and early Pleistocene comprise former Tertiary* (66.0 – 1.8 Mya) period. Gelasian and Calabrian comprise Early Pleistocene (2.588 Mya – 781 kya) subepoch.

Paleogene (66.0 – 23.03 Mya)	Paleocene (66.0 – 56.0 Mya): Danian (66.0 – 61.6 Mya) · Selandian (61.6 – 59.2 Mya) · Thanetian (59.2 – 56.0 Mya) Eocene (56.0 – 33.9 Mya): Ypresian (56.0 – 47.8 Mya) · Lutetian (47.8 – 41.3 Mya) · Bartonian (41.3 – 38.0 Mya) · Priabonian (38.0 – 33.9 Mya) Oligocene (33.9 – 23.03 Mya): Rupelian (33.9 – 28.1 Mya) · Chattian (28.1 – 23.03 Mya)

Neogene (23.03 – 2.588 Mya)	Miocene (23.03 – 5.333 Mya): Aquitanian (23.03 – 20.44 Mya) · Burdigalian (20.44 – 15.97 Mya) · Langhian (15.97 – 13.82 Mya) · Serravallian (13.82 – 11.62 Mya) · Tortonian (11.62 – 7.246 Mya) · Messinian (7.246 – 5.333 Mya) Pliocene (5.333 – 2.588 Mya): Piacenzian (5.333 – 3.600 Mya) · Zanclean (3.600 – 2.588 Mya)

Quaternary (2.588 – 0 Mya)	Pleistocene (2.588 Mya – 11.7 kya): Gelasian (2.588 – 1.806 Mya) · Calabrian (1.806 Mya – 781 kya) · Middle Pleistocene / Ionian (781 – 126 kya) · Late Pleistocene / Tarantian (126 – 11.7 kya): Oldest Dryas (18 – 14.67 kya) · Bølling* (14.67 – 14 kya) · Older Dryas* (14 – 13.7 kya) · Allerød* (13.7 – 12.8 kya) · Younger Dryas* (12.8 – 11.7 kya)* Holocene (11.7 – 0 kya): Preboreal (11.7 – 9 kya) · Boreal* (9 – 8 kya) · Atlantic* (8 – 5 kya) · Subboreal* (5 – 2.5 kya) · Subatlantic* (2.5 – 0 kya)*

kya = thousands years ago. Mya = millions years ago. * Not officially recognized by the I.C.S.

Source: International Chronostratigraphic Chart (January 2013). International Commission on Stratigraphy. Retrieved 27 March 2013. Divisions of Geologic Time—Major Chronostratigraphic and Geochronologic Units USGS Retrieved 10 March 2013.

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Campanian

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