Hauterivian

System	Series	Stage	Age (Ma)
Paleogene	Paleocene	Danian	younger
Cretaceous	Upper	Maastrichtian	65.5–70.6
		Campanian	70.6–83.5
		Santonian	83.5–85.8
		Coniacian	85.8–89.3
		Turonian	89.3–93.5
		Cenomanian	93.5–99.6
	Lower	Albian	99.6–112.0
		Aptian	112.0–125.0
		Barremian	125.0–130.0
		Hauterivian	130.0–136.4
		Valanginian	136.4–140.2
		Berriasian	140.2–145.5
Jurassic	Upper	Tithonian	older
Subdivision of the Cretaceous system according to the IUGS, as of July 2009.

The Hauterivian is, in the geologic timescale, an age in the Early Cretaceous epoch or a stage in the Lower Cretaceous series. It spans the time between 136.4 ± 2 Ma and 130 ± 1.5 Ma (million years ago). The Hauterivian is preceded by the Valanginian and succeeded by the Barremian.

Stratigraphic definitions

The Hauterivian was introduced in scientific literature by Swiss geologist Eugène Renevier in 1873. It is named after the Swiss town of Hauterive at the shore of Lake Neuchâtel.

The base of the Hauterivian is defined as the place in the stratigraphic column where the ammonite genus Acanthodiscus first appears. A reference profile for the base (a GSSP) had in 2009 not yet been established. The top of the Hauterivian (the base of the Barremian) is at the first appearance of ammonite species Spitidiscus hugii.

In the ammonite biostratigraphy of the Tethys domain, the Hauterivian contains seven ammonite biozones:

• zone of Pseudothurmannia ohmi
• zone of Balearites balearis
• zone of Plesiospitidiscus ligatus
• zone of Subsaynella sayni
• zone of Lyticoceras nodosoplicatus
• zone of Crioceratites loryi
• zone of Acanthodiscus radiatus

Palaeontology

Aves (birds)

Birds of the Hauterivian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
Gallornis	Disputed Berriasian-Hauterivian	Auxerre, Yonne, France		Iberomesornis
Iberomesornis	Hauterivian to Barremian	La Huérgina Formation, Castilla-la-Mancha, Spain

Ornithopods

Ornithopods of the Hauterivian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
Iguanodon		Asia, Europe, North America	Worldwide distributed, type genus of the Iguanodontia. 10 meters long	Iguanodon Psittacosaurus
Psittacosaurus
Valdosaurus		Isle of Wight, England; Niger, Africa	A dryosaurid

Mammalia (mammals)

Mammals of the Hauterivian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
Eobaatar	several species from Hauterivian to Albian	Spain, Mongolia

Plesiosaurs

Plesiosaurs of the Hauterivian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
Leptocleidus				Leptocleidus

Pterosauria

Pterosaurs of the Hauterivian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
Dendrorhynchoides	Disputed, considered Tithonian by some

Sauropods

Sauropods of the Hauterivian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
Histriasaurus
Aragosaurus

Theropods

theropods of the Hauterivian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
Harpymimus
Ginnareemimus	Valanginian to Hauterivian	Thailand
Harpymimus	Hauterivian to Barremian	Shinekhudug Formation, Eastern Gobi province, Mongolia
Ligabueino

Ammonites

Ammonites of the Hauterivian
Taxa	Presence	Location	Description	Images
Abrytasites
Acanthodiscus		Argentina
Abrytasites		Czech Republic

References

Literature

• Gradstein, F.M.; Ogg, J.G. & Smith, A.G.; (2004): A Geologic Time Scale 2004, Cambridge University Press.

External links

• GeoWhen Database - Hauterivian
• Mid-Cretaceous timescale, at the website of the subcommission for stratigraphic information of the ICS
• Stratigraphic chart of the Lower Cretaceous, at the website of Norges Network of offshore records of geology and stratigraphy