Advances of the studies on Late Cretaceous vertebrate fauna from Luanchuan in Henan Province

Vertebrate fossils from the Luanchuan area in Henan Province, dominated by small theropods, are mainly from the Late Cretaceous Qiupa Formation(Campanian). Most of the fossil sites are distributed within 2 km in the northern margin of Tantou Basin, and the transport distance is not far. Vertebrate assemblage includes at least 8 dinosaurs(with 6 named dinosaurs), 2 lizards, 2 mammals and abundant dinosaur eggs/eggshells, and it represents a distinct Late Cretaceous fauna named as "Luanchuan Fauna". Luanchuan Fauna is similar to those of the Late Cretaceous dinosaur faunae from the Ganzhou Basin and Nemegt Basin, which are all represented by theropod dinosaurs along with other vertebrate animals. Luanchuan Fauna is of great significance for understanding the ecological features of the Late Cretaceous dinosaur faunae in East Asia, the dinosaur evolution and diversity, and the impact of environment changes on the dinosaur migration and extinction.